After many years of use, the drive belt on my lathe is about to bite the dust. I have known it was wearing out for the last couple of months, but I was doing some machining over Christmas and it started an exponential decline toward death, unfortunately, everyone was closed so I couldn't do anything about it...so I nursed it through and finished the job, "I will fix it later". I am amazed that it has continued to hold on with what it has got anyway, what do you reckon? Do you think I might get a couple of more years out of it?
I know the lathe is a bit messy....but I wasn't expecting visitors!
The belt looks a bit like the one on the works drill press. But if I get a new one I won't be able to stretch it enough to change speeds without loosening the motor mounts, They look like they are seized I haven't touched them in years.
If you don't show that thing the love and attention it deserves it
will repay you with travel play and tapered cuts you
will have nightmares about.
Seriously though, surface rust is my biggest problem being near the
coast and having no roof insulation. If there is a dewy night all the
metal on the lathe goes straight to dew point first and beads up
in a fine mist of moisture. Lots of regular oiling needed.
Look after that thing boyo!
That sounds like a nightmare ! Many cans of WD40 there Steve?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kinetic
Shame, shame , shame!
If you don't show that thing the love and attention it deserves it
will repay you with travel play and tapered cuts you
will have nightmares about.
Seriously though, surface rust is my biggest problem being near the
coast and having no roof insulation. If there is a dewy night all the
metal on the lathe goes straight to dew point first and beads up
in a fine mist of moisture. Lots of regular oiling needed.
Look after that thing boyo!
Picked up a new belt from Blackwoods last night....cost me $11, it had better last at least 20 years for that price! I will see if I can borrow another trolley jack from a neighbour at the weekend so I can get it out from the wall. One at each end should do the trick.
I suppose it hasn't done too bad. It was in the Amunitions Factory in WWII making bullets, then the PMG Research Labs for about 20 years, than my bosses garage for about 10 years, then stored at the back of a panel beaters shop under rubbish for another 5, then in my garage for nearly another 20. It just keeps on going...
Picked up a new belt from Blackwoods last night....cost me $11, it had better last at least 20 years for that price! I will see if I can borrow another trolley jack from a neighbour at the weekend so I can get it out from the wall. One at each end should do the trick.
I suppose it hasn't done too bad. It was in the Amunitions Factory in WWII making bullets, then the PMG Research Labs for about 20 years, than my bosses garage for about 10 years, then stored at the back of a panel beaters shop under rubbish for another 5, then in my garage for nearly another 20. It just keeps on going...
I have never had any trouble moving my lathe. Only keeping it clean!
The chain block has been there for 10 years now. Probably needs oiling.
Got the old belt off and went to put the new one on only to discover it is about 100mm too big . I didn't want to take it off to measure it earlier, just in case I need to do a quick bit of machining, so I put a white mark on the belt, turned it around a bit, put on another mark..every 100mm. I ended up with 17 by the end of the exercise...or was that 16 .
Oh well, I have it off now, so another trip out to Blackwoods tomorrow or Wednesday.
Finally got it fixed on Sunday morning! I was hoping to get it done in ten minutes, but it took more than an hour. I loosened the screws holding the motor so I could swing it around and get the belt on, only to find they hand nothing holding the other side, so they just went round and round and I couldn't get the nuts back on. In the end I found the motor had been mounted (at least 30 years ago) on a timber frame that was attached to four bolts that allowed it to slide up and down to tension the belt. It was these bolts I should have loosened . The original motor had been replaced before it made it way to the PMG!
Instead of the clunk (as the worn section goes around the pulley), clunk (as it goes around the other pulley), flap (as the loose bits of belt hit various parts of the lathe)....clunk, clunk, flap, clunk, clunk, flap! It now goes "whirrrrr" . Just need to do a bit of machining to check the belt tension is ok.
I have a little job for your lathe.
.
That sounds like a nightmare ! Many cans of WD40 there Steve?
. In the end I found the motor had been mounted (at least 30 years ago) on a timber frame that was attached to four bolts that allowed it to slide up and down to tension the belt. It was these bolts I should have loosened 
. Just need to do a bit of machining to check the belt tension is ok.
