Dawson Mossman
Member
- Messages
- 95
I have a fairly standard Lathe that came from Canadian Tire some time ago (I bought it second hand). The motor is behind the headstock and there is a single belt between motor and the pulley wheel (see pics). There is a lever on the front of the headstock that controls the speed.
When I move the lever to the right, I can see the "wheel" that the belt sits on in the headstock "spread apart", which in my case appears to loosen the tension on the belt significantly (not sure if this is what should happen or not).
Here are my problems:
1 - When set on the slowest speed, the belt is tight. The speed appears to be very fast for the "slow" setting.
2 - When I turn the speed dial to the right (to increase the speed), the belt tension is loosened and speed appears to decrease (?).
3 - In scenario #2, the lathe appears to also lose more torque as I move the dial to the right. In fact, I can actually cause the lathe to stop turning (quite easily) by applying a bit of pressure on my tool against the bowl (this does not happen in the "slow" speed).
4 - If no bowl is mounted on the lathe and I turn the speed dial to the right about 3/4 or more, the lathe actually stops spinning (I assume because there is not enough belt tension) ... and I have to get it going again with my hand.
In short, my variable speed control does not seem to be working. I am wondering if this is a major problem, or something others have seen before. All the major components appear to be working correctly, motor and mechanism that "spreads" the pulley wheel. I really don't know much about the belt and if that is the problem or not.
Pictures to help explain.
pic1 - tight belt, speed set at "slow"
pic2 - belt / pulley wheels from above. notice big wheel is "together"
pic3 - belt loosening ... as speed is "increased"
pic4 - big wheel (in the headstock) is "spreading" ... its hard to tell, but the wheel spreads about 1/4" as I increase the speed
Thanks!
When I move the lever to the right, I can see the "wheel" that the belt sits on in the headstock "spread apart", which in my case appears to loosen the tension on the belt significantly (not sure if this is what should happen or not).
Here are my problems:
1 - When set on the slowest speed, the belt is tight. The speed appears to be very fast for the "slow" setting.
2 - When I turn the speed dial to the right (to increase the speed), the belt tension is loosened and speed appears to decrease (?).
3 - In scenario #2, the lathe appears to also lose more torque as I move the dial to the right. In fact, I can actually cause the lathe to stop turning (quite easily) by applying a bit of pressure on my tool against the bowl (this does not happen in the "slow" speed).
4 - If no bowl is mounted on the lathe and I turn the speed dial to the right about 3/4 or more, the lathe actually stops spinning (I assume because there is not enough belt tension) ... and I have to get it going again with my hand.
In short, my variable speed control does not seem to be working. I am wondering if this is a major problem, or something others have seen before. All the major components appear to be working correctly, motor and mechanism that "spreads" the pulley wheel. I really don't know much about the belt and if that is the problem or not.
Pictures to help explain.
pic1 - tight belt, speed set at "slow"
pic2 - belt / pulley wheels from above. notice big wheel is "together"
pic3 - belt loosening ... as speed is "increased"
pic4 - big wheel (in the headstock) is "spreading" ... its hard to tell, but the wheel spreads about 1/4" as I increase the speed
Thanks!