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  1. #1
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    Default Variable speed problem

    Have an old Woodfast lathe that has variable speed that you engage by turning the motor on and tilting (pulling towards you) the lever then you hear a click of it engaging then turn to adjust the speed of the lathe.

    I was showing someone this last night after i had moved the lathe. I dont know for sure if someone or something has moved the lever while the machine was turned off or not but now when i turn it back on and attempt to change the speed it only spins at rhe slowest speed it last spun at and when i try to speed it up the pully actually dis engages and the motor still runs but the head stock stops spinning as there is no trackion from the pully cones.

    It seems that the pulley cones have been put into the wrong position while the lathe is turned off and then now its turned back on its not applying the correct pressure on the belt to increase the speed.

    i found another guy online that had a similar issue but he said he fixed it by cleaning the dust out fo the head unit so the variable speed lever would move more freely. im not convinced this would be the same solution for mine but am willing to give it a shot and clean it out.

    Has anyone experienced any variable speed issues on older lathes? It is mechanical variable speed based on a spring tension and cones that move in and out pinching and relaxing on the pully to increase/decrease the speed.

    Any help would be much appreciated. This has only happen once before on the lathe and before i was going to ask the question on here i corrected it by moving the lever around and fiddling around with it then it come good. and has been running perfectly since then. Funny enough that occured when i purchased it and moved it so the lever could have moved while turned off back then also. Sounds like the same issue has occured again im just not 100% of what is occuring to make it happen and what i did to fix it.

    Thanks
    Nathan

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  3. #2
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    Default

    I don't have or know much about those VSDs but I believe one pulley is adjustable while the other is spring loaded. It sounds like the spring loaded pulley is stuck, probably from a build up of sawdust, so that it will only sit on one speed and if you try to go the other way the adjustable pulley is opening up and disengaging because the spring loaded pulley is not closing to maintain tension on the belt.
    Give it a good clean. Some photos would be good too. It sounds very interesting.
    Those were the droids I was looking for.
    https://autoblastgates.com.au

  4. #3
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    Mine operates the same way and it did the same thing stayed on lowest speed . So I took top cover off and blew out the dust with compressed air then used wd40 on it the spring released did the same to the motor spindle. working like a charm now.
    Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they
    bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs .

  5. #4
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    Default

    Thanks for the responses, I will get photos up when i can but yes your correct NCArcher the top pulley that moves in the head stock is spring loaded it looks and the bottom set of pulleys must move also, it does have a bit of dust build up so ill try clean it out and clean the shaft the pulleys move on incase they are stuck.

    It was a trivial fix last time with me just playing around with it then it came good. Ill give it a shot again.

  6. #5
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Hi delbs,
    These drives are called Reeves drives. Whilst I can't help you at least you now know what they are called and can google armed with the right terms.

    Cheers,
    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  7. #6
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    Default

    Here is some relevant info

    Woodturning: Lathe Repair: Reeves Drive

    These are on all the MC900 and MC1100 wood lathes.

  8. #7
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    Thanks to both Ew and Big shed for interpreting my vague description correctly. Thats what i have. Will look into this.

    Cheers!

  9. #8
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    Ok so here is a video of what occurs. So when the handle is facing right down its suppose to increase in speed. Which it does but not very much. When I pull the handle up it slows down to the point the pulley is disconnected from the reeve and doesnt spin at all. Variable speed issue - YouTube

    It seems that the handle has been put into the wrong gear or something and the tension has been released from the belt. I fixed it by fiddling around ages ago but cannot remember what I did. anyone that has advice on this topic would be very appreciated

    I cleaned out what I could get access to just today so it is easier to change speeds

  10. #9
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    I used to have an MC100 which developed the same (or similar) problem. Like Fubar, I gave top and bottom pulleys a good clean and sprayed with WD40 - it then ran like a charm.

    Good luck

  11. #10
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    Thanks McFrez where specifically did you apply the wd-40, on the shaft that supports the reeves etc or on the reeves themselves

  12. #11
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    Hi delbs,
    Don, t know to much about this sort of thing
    But the belt looks to be loose on the video
    Might be a silly question but is the belt the right size?
    Cheers smiife

  13. #12
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    Yeah its the right size. Theres nothing been added or taken away from this. Its a matter of the reeve pulleys not putting enough pressure or something on the belt. The belt is certainly loose at the moment but its due to the pulleys

  14. #13
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    Mobyturns is offline In An Instant Your Life Can Change Forever
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    Quote Originally Posted by delbs View Post
    Yeah its the right size. Theres nothing been added or taken away from this. Its a matter of the reeve pulleys not putting enough pressure or something on the belt. The belt is certainly loose at the moment but its due to the pulleys
    Broken spring, or spring has lost tension on bottom reeves pulley assy or the pulleys are not closing due to binding on the shaft?

  15. #14
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    Is the bottom reeve pulley thingo meant to move? It doesnt seem to move at all. Ive tried to see if there were any wiggle room but nothing.

    What can cause binding on the shaft? On the top shaft? Dust etc? Seems I may need to take it apart or something to give it a good clean out

  16. #15
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    Looks to me that the bottom drive reeve set isn't closing.
    Cheers

    DJ

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