Need Reeves drive expert...

No expert but experienced...

Doug Leite

>Bubba,

I have never seen one of those lathes, but I have a drill press with the same sort of drive.

Here's how it works. Both pulleys are of an adjustable width nature, which allows the belt to move up and down through the different diameters created as the width of the pulley is change.The handle is attached to one of the pulleys by a fork. This pulley is forced to change its width as the handle is rotated. The other pulley is simply spring loaded to move in accordance to the other pulley.

My guess is that the main pulley, or both, has some sawdust on the section of the shaft that was exposed when you last used the machine, and has since dried and hardened, thus preventing movement over the full range.In my case, it would also possibly be caused by rust, due to our constant high humidity(rain).

I would think that a good cleaning and some lube should take care of that.I use LPS non oily lube. Should be no problem for a fellow ex-Drag racer.

Aloha,

Doug

Re: No expert but experienced...

John Lucas

>I think Doug is on the right track. You may get lucky and be able to squirt some lubricant on the shaft driving the pulleys and get them to move. I used to have that problem all the time on my Shopsmith.

Thanks guys...

BubbaBob

>...I pulled the cover and cleaned up the shaft and put a dab of lithium grease, and it works like a charm.

I did make one potentially HUGE mistake.

I had a 17" x 6" bowl chucked up that I roughed out 8 mos ago that I was going to finish turn and start with putting the finish on. Well, since I have NO patience, you know the answer to the question, "Did you take it off the lathe first, Bob?"

No, stupid Bob didn't. Turning the lathe on so I could see just how the drive worked, I started running the speed up. Thank God I was standing out of the line of fire, because when I hit about 2800 RPM, the bowl exploded. Divided itself very nicely into three pieces. I didn't get hit by any of them, but I did almost have to change underwear before posting this. Whew...that's a lot of wood when it's running around out of control.

Bob has to remember to engage brain before touching a tool.

BubbaBob

Save the bowl.....

Russ Fairfield

>Glue all of the pieces bacl together with Titebond. Add some black dye or India Ink to the glue and the joints will look l;ike spalting.

Don't throw anything away.

Can't find all of the pieces??

Russ Fairfield

>If you can't find all of the pieces, leave the gaps, roughen the edges with your Poulan if they are big enough, with a Dremel tool or small hand saw if they aren't. Add a little color to the open edges and they will look like they belong there.

Re: Save the bowl.....

John Lucas

>Russ

I did the same thing once with a mirror that broke. I stuck tooth picks in the cracks before glueing back together with colored epoxy. This left a fairly large colored line. The toothpicks were located on the outer edge so I was able to turn them away. When given a lemon make lemonade.

Come on now Bubba

Dustmaker Mike

>"(having too much fun making pens on the mini)" You where doing flat work wern't YA.

I tried flatwork...

BubbaBob

>...one time...damned if it turn out round. I'll stick to the lathe.

BubbaBob

Re: Need Reeves drive expert...

Rick Strawser

>what a great place to learn! I was having the same problem as BubbaBob with my new Jet 1442. You gentlemen were right and now it works like a charm. Used dry spray lube, may go back and try the white lithium grease. Thanks!

Re: Need Reeves drive expert...

Doug Leite

>If the drive is able to arttact dust and chips, I would not use any grease as it would really create a "dust magnet", whereas the dry lube would not.If dust and chips is the cause of the problem, it needs to be kept as dry as possible.

Aloha

Doug

Re: Need Reeves drive expert...

Brad Vietje

>Ditto that -- same problem is very common with the Jet 1236. If you use the spray dry lube (I use spray dry graphite), be aware that some of it will likely get on the belt, too, which can then slip. It can be cleaned off with alcohol. I left mine with some slip in it as an additional sefety factor, as I make mostly hollow forms, and like the lathe to slip if there are any internal catches.

A fellow I spoke with at General, says Reeves drive users should run up and down the entire range of speeds aech time the lathe is used to push aside any dust or gunk that stucks to the shafts, to keep the entire range working well -- I'm sure he meant without a large bowl on the spindle, though !

Safe Spinning,

Brad Vietje

thetford, VT