Does anybody have a secret potion to spray or apply to the lathe pullies to make the belt less likely to slip. For some reason, after years with no problem, I am getting slippage. I am using one of those segmented belts. Perhaps it has glazed over. I have checked the tension and it seems fine. I will certainly appreciate any suggestions.
Bob Ivey Northwest Woodturners Oregon
It makes a difference what lathe you're turning on and the lathe's provisions for tightening the belt. If your lathe's provision for tightening the belt is primitive, it may have been that the belt has just stretched.
That said, I always adjust the belt on my lathe so that it will slip if I do something bad. Better a slip than a catch. Also, if I forget to release the spindle lock, the squeal tells me I've done something wrong.
Bill
Bob Ivey wrote:
Bob , I would imagion that if you take the belt off and pull one link out, that should fix the problem. If not there is something sold at auto parts stores for slipping belts. robo hippy
"robo hippy" wrote: I would imagion that if you take the belt off and pull one link out, that should fix the problem. If not there is something sold at auto parts stores for slipping belts. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If your belt tension seems okay, I would be inclined to for the the auto parts product--it's called "belt dressing," and it comes in either spray or stick form. If you use the spray, the belt may briefly slip MORE, and then start to grip.
=============== Bob, Is there any chance you got some oil or slippery stuff on one of the pulleys? I'd take the belt off and clean the pulleys with some lacquer thinner, and maybe run some 500 grit paper over them, then try again. Also, turn the belt over and see if it looks glazed or burnt. If all that fails, try taking a link out of the belt.
Ken Moon Webberville, TX
I have a can of that stuff that I've never used... I just had to buy it for display on a shelf in the shop, since the product name was "Rubber Rejuvenater".. lol
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
You probably won't believe this but it works, and it works VERY well. A 'good' shot of WD-40 will assist greatly at cleaning off any glaze and liven up the rubber. I've been using it on all my vehicles for years and know lots of people who do the same. A serious response! Grandpa John
Bob Ivey wrote:
IMHO, your best bet is to remove the belt, clean the pulleys with great care, and get a new belt. They do age, stiffen, and need replacement after a while. Belt dressing is a stopgap, and it makes more of a mess to clean off when you finally do put on a new belt, or else it's a supply of crud to start spoiling the surface of the new belt.
Hi Bob
Sorry for wading in so late, but the experience I have with the link belts is, first they work better when installed in the right direction, they work but slip easier when installed backwards, also the belts are not made like regular V-belts with a rubber outside layer like automotive belts, and the products to help stop slipping etc., made for those belts usually do not work for link-belts. The next reason for slipping might be the pulleys, they do wear out, especially if made from wood or alluminium, even cast iron pulleys will wear out eventually, when this is the case the link-belt will run on the bottom of the pulley, and you will have slippage, of course the belt could be wore out and the same conditioning happens. So if you have proper tensioning than the most probable reason is belt installed backwards or wore out pulley or/and belt, in which case you will have to replace the worn out parts. Hope this is some help to you.
Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo
Bob Ivey wrote:
Thanks for all of the help and suggestions. I ended up taking a link out of the belt and cleaned the pullies. Seems to be working.
Bob Ivey
Starter fluid also works and diesel fuel doesn't. Diesel seems to add to the silent slip problem (it's more oily) more than the stop slipping solution.
We used to use starter fluid for gasoline engines (cleans and softens the rubber) on Tractor Belts, when they reached the last of their days. Seemed to work pretty good, but was really a stop gap fix instead of a long term solution. We would usually get another week to month of daily
12 hour use out of the belt, But you ended up having to reapply for shorter and shorter periods of silence before finally giving in and fixing the darn belt. (belt more likely to stretch now)Thing to remember is to spray the belt not the pulley. Starter Fluid seems to eats grease, and if you have bearings getting ready to go out the starter fluid fix for a belt problem applied to a bad pulley always seemed to finish off the alternator right quick.
Of course I was a teenager during all this so my memory may be a bit fuzzy. YMMV.
Roland J Rankin Jr.
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