Variable speed pulley on Sears 15" lathe
 

I'm not sure how I managed it, but I put the following item in another
group. (Thanks to anyone who answered it there - I will keep checking
back there also). I am doing some background research since Sears is
having a problem getting a repairman to where I live in the middle of
no where to honor the service contract I have for the lathe. I meant
to put the item here since this group is only on turning.

original question: :

I saw several posts from several years ago about what I assume was an
older version of the 15" Sears lathe. The one I have is about a year
old. It worked pretty well until the last month or so when what I was
turning began to stop when I set the hand wheel dial below about 500
rpms. Now if I press with what used to be normal force and use sharp
tools the work slows down at 1000 rpms. I pulled the covers off to see
what I could learn and noticed that although half of the bottom pulley
moved left and right, the moveabvle (?) top pulley with the spring
never moved (I measured it at about 500 and 2000 rpms and the
measurement of the widths was the same. I had assumed the variable
speed belt was worn and had gotten smaller and ordered a new one. When
it came the new one did not look much different than the one on the
lathe so I have not tried to install it yet. When I tried measuring the
two belts I came up with the same measurements. Have any of you seen
anything similar and what did you do to fix the problem? Thanks.

Variable speed pulley on Sears 15" lathe
 

wrote: (clip) although half of the bottom pulley moved
left and right, the moveabvle (?) top pulley with the spring never moved
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Without knowing more about your lathe, I am just guessing, but what you
describe sounds like classic Reeves drive behavior. The sliding pulley-half
gets dirty, and the spring is not strong enough to close it and keep the
belt tight. The answer is to clean it up--force it to more a little--spray
it with WD-40. If you can, disassemble it and clean it well. Then lube it
with a little wax (preferably.)

In the future, clean it before it gets stuck--it will be a lot easier.

Variable speed pulley on Sears 15" lathe
 

After the drive is deburred, cleaned and lubed, run it through all its
speeds frequently with the lathe empty. Leave the drive in lowest speed
and don't try to set speed when the lathe's not running.

I'd just about prefer to change pulleys and maybe use a belt tension
clutch as to mess with a Reeve's. I think these drives, like Babbitt
bearings, solid spindles, independent jaw chucks and fixed tail centers
are almost obsolete for today's woodturning lathes. YMMV


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter



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Variable speed pulley on Sears 15" lathe
 

If I recall, one time my Craftsman lathe did that, there is a ball
bearing separating the sliding sheave from the speed adjustment fork
that moves it. The balls fell out of the bearing. Another time the
sliding sheave just locked up on the shaft.

Variable speed pulley on Sears 15" lathe
 

I got the lathe apart, cleaned the pulley and it now moves freely.
Thanks to all who helped me figure out what was going on.