Jet 1442 Drive and Belt.

I would replace it with a link belt. Mine runs quieter and seems more efficient with the link belt. Plus it shows no sign of wear on the sides, and I had replaced the original twice with regular belts before changing to the link belt.

I never gave my original belt a chance to wear. I replaced it with a link belt almost immediately, based upon the recommendations of others. It has worked fine ever since. I turn about two hours per day--not a lot, but a good test of the belt, which is showing no apparent wear after almost two years. FWIW . . .

Max

The belt on my 1442 seems to be 3/8 wide. It has had a lot of use so maybe it's just worn down. I can only find 1/2 link belt replacement. Will this work?

"Walt Cheever" wrote: (clip) can I safely use a link belt? (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Link belt is better, for the following reasons:

1.) Belt does not take a set, so it will run smoother. 2.) Belt length can be fine tuned to match the requirements of your Reeves drive. You want the belt to use the maximum travel of the movable side of the motor pulley--not bottoming out at low speed, nor rising past the rim at the highest speed setting. Link belt length can be changed in 1/2" increments. Regular V-belt comes only in 1" increments. Besides, with non-link belt, you what to buy a different belt to try a different length. 3.) If you stall the lathe, and damage a short part of the belt, you can replace a few links--you don't need to replace the whole belt. 4.) It is never necessary to disassemble the lathe to change a link belt.

Mine has looked "loose at high speeds since new but never seems to slip or anything... (thought I wish I could make it loose enough to slip)

I've had a couple of feet of 3/8" link belt handy for 6 months but so far the belt seems fine..

I probably put what would be a lifetime of hours on the 1442 in a few months and abuse it occasionally but the only problems I've had were the need to lean and lube the pulley slide shafts or whatever they are and the worm gear on the shaft that goes to the speed handle..

I've had the handle come off twice, but it's a 5 minute fix once you get the belt cover off..

One of the times that I had the belt cover off, I ran a bead of silicon over the mating surfaces of the lathe and cover and it's been much quieted now... amazing how annoying a vibration buzz can be and how much it adds to the general noise level..

When I run the lathe at high (2,000+) speed with the cover off, the belt appears to loop upwards and looks very loose, but doesn't seem to be... If the belt ever breaks or I get the nerve to cut it off, I'll see if the link belt is any different...

Mac

NO...

The saw shop that I bought my 1442 sold me 1/2" link because they thought that was the size it took... I got it home and held it against the Jet belt and it was obviously too wide, so I bought a couple of feet of 3/8" for when I decide or need to change the belt... From comments today, I think I'll probably cut the old one off and go to link this weekend..

BTW: I had no experience with link belt, so I kept the 1/2" and put it on my Ridgid 14" band saw... Immediate improvement in noise level and (I think) vibration..

Mac

#4 is THE reason that I have the link belt handy, Leo...

After reading the instructions for changing the belt on the Jet 1442, (which strongly suggested having a dealer doing it), I decided that the ONLY way I was going to change the belt would be to put link on it..

I can just imagine trying to disassemble the headstock, bearings, etc. in my dusty, shavings filled garage... and hoping to get it together properly with no lost parts.. Mac