Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe. I've enjoyed learning on it, but
now I have a little trouble, or at least I hope it's little. My lathe won't
run on the higher speeds. The lathe uses a lever to change speeds, and when
I try fast speeds, lever won't go and the belt stops turning. Can I solve
this trouble by getting a new belt? If so, I might have a new problem. My
wife bought me the lathe, and I have no documentation with it. I might be
able to figure out the size, but I'm not sure how to take it off or replace
it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it. Thanks,

Tom

Sounds like one of the reeves drive pulleys is stuck. Remove
the cover and blow the dust and grime out then try a light
coat of oil. Don't oil the belt.


Tom Huntress wrote:
Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe. I've enjoyed learning on it, but
now I have a little trouble, or at least I hope it's little. My lathe won't
run on the higher speeds. The lathe uses a lever to change speeds, and when
I try fast speeds, lever won't go and the belt stops turning. Can I solve
this trouble by getting a new belt? If so, I might have a new problem. My
wife bought me the lathe, and I have no documentation with it. I might be
able to figure out the size, but I'm not sure how to take it off or replace
it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it. Thanks,

Tom

Tom,
I have a similar lathe and when it was new I went through many belts
until a guy in Ireland suggested that I work the edges of the movable
pulleys with a file and fine emery cloth. I had just bought five belts
from a motor parts supplier as they were a lot cheaper than from the
lathe manufacturer. After doing as he suggested I fitted one and it is
still going five years later! In fact I have misplaced the other spare
belts so I hope this one goes on forever. The other suggestions re
lubrication are also essential.

Regards

Michael Jackson

Tom Huntress wrote:

Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe. I've enjoyed learning on it, but
now I have a little trouble, or at least I hope it's little. My lathe won't
run on the higher speeds. The lathe uses a lever to change speeds, and when
I try fast speeds, lever won't go and the belt stops turning. Can I solve
this trouble by getting a new belt? If so, I might have a new problem. My
wife bought me the lathe, and I have no documentation with it. I might be
able to figure out the size, but I'm not sure how to take it off or replace
it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it. Thanks,

Tom

Tom Huntress wrote:

Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe. I've enjoyed learning on it, but
now I have a little trouble, or at least I hope it's little. My lathe
won't
run on the higher speeds. The lathe uses a lever to change speeds, and
when
I try fast speeds, lever won't go and the belt stops turning. Can I solve
this trouble by getting a new belt? If so, I might have a new problem.
My
wife bought me the lathe, and I have no documentation with it. I might be
able to figure out the size, but I'm not sure how to take it off or
replace
it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it. Thanks,

Tom



It could well be the Reeves drive. I had one of the lathes you currently
have, learned a lot and am very glad I had it as an entry level lathe.

When you are checking the Reeves drive, don't forget that both the motor and
the headstock shaft both have movable pulleys. On my Jet 1442, the one on
the headstock was bone dry. Amazing what a light coat of grease did for
the smoothness of operation.


Deb

Tom,
I have a similar lathe and when it was new I went through many belts
until a guy in Ireland suggested that I work the edges of the movable
pulleys with a file and fine emery cloth. I had just bought five belts
from a motor parts supplier as they were a lot cheaper than from the
lathe manufacturer. After doing as he suggested I fitted one and it is
still going five years later! In fact I have misplaced the other spare
belts so I hope this one goes on forever. The other suggestions re
lubrication are also essential.

Regards

Michael Jackson

Tom Huntress wrote:

Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe. I've enjoyed learning on it, but
now I have a little trouble, or at least I hope it's little. My lathe won't
run on the higher speeds. The lathe uses a lever to change speeds, and when
I try fast speeds, lever won't go and the belt stops turning. Can I solve
this trouble by getting a new belt? If so, I might have a new problem. My
wife bought me the lathe, and I have no documentation with it. I might be
able to figure out the size, but I'm not sure how to take it off or replace
it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it. Thanks,

Tom

When I had similar problems on my Jet, the customer service guy told me to
set the lathe on low speed, then use WD40 (with the little straw attached to
the spray tip) and spray the shaft that I could see through the slots on the
motor pulley. Then run the lathe and run through the speeds a couple of
times. Warning--the lathe will throw off some WD40 while you do that.

Then shift to the highest speed you can, and do the same thing with the
lathe headstock shaft. Repeat the running and speed shifting process.

It fixed the problem, and I've had to repeat it every once in a while when
things start slipping.

If you look at how the speed changer operates, you will see how the only
thing that keeps the belt tight is the spring that pushes the two halves of
the pulleys together.

Good Luck

Old Guy



"Tom Huntress" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe. I've enjoyed learning on it, but
now I have a little trouble, or at least I hope it's little. My lathe
won't run on the higher speeds. The lathe uses a lever to change speeds,
and when I try fast speeds, lever won't go and the belt stops turning.
Can I solve this trouble by getting a new belt? If so, I might have a new
problem. My wife bought me the lathe, and I have no documentation with
it. I might be able to figure out the size, but I'm not sure how to take
it off or replace it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,

Tom

Tom Huntress wrote:
Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe.

Tom I have the same lathe, lube the shaft that the pulley slides on. I
lube mine about once a month to keep it free and easy to use. While in
their, check all nuts,bolts and set screws you can find. It is a good
habit to start. Belts can be gotten from auto parts stores or your
local small hardware store and are better quality then the one that
came with the lathe. As all ready mentioned also check your Reeves
drive pulleys for casting burrs and lightly sand them down if needed.
Another thing to check is the pin that holds the springs for the
pulleys ( it is in the shaft the pulley is on ). Others have had them
shear off and take the pulley plate with it. Ordering parts from HF is
cheap but can take a while to get to you (even if in stock). Having
spares around can be a good idea. I`ve had mine for a 1 1/2 years and
have had to replace 1 belt and the tool rest (broke when a large peice
of oak came apart). If ordering parts get a few extra face plates ($6
each) , they come in handy for making donut chucks etc. To give an idea
how cheap parts are, the spindle only costs $8.50 ( thought I had bent
mine but didn`t).

Thanks,

If I have to remove and replace the belt, how do I do that? I didn't get
any documentation with the lathe?

Thanks again,

Tom
"BAM" wrote in message
oups.com...

Tom Huntress wrote:
Ok, I know it may not have been the smartest thing, but I have a central
machines (harbor freights) 3/4 hp lathe.

Tom I have the same lathe, lube the shaft that the pulley slides on. I
lube mine about once a month to keep it free and easy to use. While in
their, check all nuts,bolts and set screws you can find. It is a good
habit to start. Belts can be gotten from auto parts stores or your
local small hardware store and are better quality then the one that
came with the lathe. As all ready mentioned also check your Reeves
drive pulleys for casting burrs and lightly sand them down if needed.
Another thing to check is the pin that holds the springs for the
pulleys ( it is in the shaft the pulley is on ). Others have had them
shear off and take the pulley plate with it. Ordering parts from HF is
cheap but can take a while to get to you (even if in stock). Having
spares around can be a good idea. I`ve had mine for a 1 1/2 years and
have had to replace 1 belt and the tool rest (broke when a large peice
of oak came apart). If ordering parts get a few extra face plates ($6
each) , they come in handy for making donut chucks etc. To give an idea
how cheap parts are, the spindle only costs $8.50 ( thought I had bent
mine but didn`t).

Once you get it working, do a little cleaning/lubrication/preventive
maintenance every few months. It is so much easier to take care of BEFORE
the pulley seizes up.

If you have to take the pulley apart, tie a string to the spring. It will
want to jump into your pile of wood chips and hide.

Tom Huntress wrote:
Thanks,

If I have to remove and replace the belt, how do I do that? I didn't get
any documentation with the lathe?

Thanks again,

Tom

I was able to just pop it off by hand and reinstall the new also by
hand. Nothing but the outer cover has to be removed.
BAM

"Tom Huntress" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks,

If I have to remove and replace the belt, how do I do that? I didn't get
any documentation with the lathe?

Kill two birds with one proverbial stone. Sever the belt and replace it
with a link belt. It's easier, requiring no pulley disassembly, and the
link belt will run significantly more smoothly, not to mention lasting quite
a bit longer. The original rubber belt on my Jet 1442 was showing wear at
roughly 50 hours of use. My current link belt looks fine after an estimated
150 hours.

Max

"Tom Huntress" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks,

If I have to remove and replace the belt, how do I do that? I didn't get
any documentation with the lathe?

Tom,

Go to the HF website, locate the lathe, and download the manual free.

B.

Tom Huntress wrote:

it. If anyone could give me advice, I'd appreciate it. Thanks,

Tom


Tom, I own the 12x36 (SKU T34706) lathe from them.

Remove the sheet metal plate and oil the motor pulley. You'll see a hole
(should be plugged by a ball bearing). Give it a couple shots of
regular oil (10w what ever is handy). Then, unless you've got a flexible
spout oil can, pull the headstock off the base and invert it. You'll
find a corresponding oil hole for the headstock reeves drive pulleys
drilled through a machine screw. Now is also a good time to oil the
gearing that the speed crank operates. There is another lubrication
passage directly under the spindle. I'm not sure what Central Machinery
suggests for lube, but here I use grease from a needle nose fitting.

Once all is lubed, and with the belt removed, try moving the pulleys in
and out by hand. Keep your fingers out of the opened pulleys. Once they
move smoothly, replace the belt and the headstock. Then, with the motor
running, move the speed control lever. All should be smooth at this
point. Probably smoother than it came from the factory, actually. (The
speed control uses rack and pinion shafts made from SOFT metal ... do
NOT force them. Not even a little bit. DAMHIKT)

The pulleys are fragile ... don't whack them with anything or you'll end
up having to talk with the glaciers in HF parts dept.

Hope this helps ... just had to do it with mine.

Bill
--

When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.
Henry J. Kaiser (1882 - 1967)


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