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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.

Reply to
pankr003
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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.

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

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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Reply to
Arch

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.

Reply to
Steve A

You likely have a jammed sheave or pulley. There is a possibilty of really gunking up the works with dust in the oil or grease on the shaft. On the upper shaft it is the pulley next to the spring that moves. Soak it with WD40 or similar and let it rest a while so the solvent and lubricant work. Then work it back and forth to get it loose before turning on the lathe and going through the full range of speeds a few times. I have the same lathe and lubricate the pulleys with graphite every 3 to 6 months when I think of it. No problems for the last 3 or 4 years.

Reply to
Darrell Feltmate

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.

Reply to
pankr003

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