Lathe and motor pulleys for a total novice

[DaveeeeDave]

I have an old Pools lathe with flat belt drive pulleys much like this one

and a motor with a v belt pulley. Will I need to take the v belt pulley off the motor and replace it with a flat belt pulley or will it work as it is? I have tried to remove the pulley from the motor spindle/axle with a puller but it's not moving and I'm concerned I will break something if I keep going, there is no screw at the side, it seems pushed on with a bolt through the centre of the spindle securing it.
Any support, thoughts or advice other than scrap both and start again will be much appreciated

 

[6ply]

I have an old Pools lathe with flat belt drive pulleys much like this oneView attachment 475790 and a motor with a v belt pulley. Will I need to take the v belt pulley off the motor and replace it with a flat belt pulley or will it work as it is? I have tried to remove the pulley from the motor spindle/axle with a puller but it's not moving and I'm concerned I will break something if I keep going, there is no screw at the side, it seems pushed on with a bolt through the centre of the spindle securing it.
Any support, thoughts or advice other than scrap both and start again will be much appreciated

You need additional speed reduction to drive that lathe. If the motor pulley is small, keep it. I'd be surprised if it doesn't come off with with a puller though. Is it aluminium or steel/iron?

Rig up a countershaft to reduce the speed. If you want to keep the original lathe pulleys, you can use a poly vee belt or vee belt running inside out.

 

[6ply]

Lathe Countershaft, jackshaft and line shafting

The Lathe Countershaft & Jackshaft<br>and Line Shafting

www.lathes.co.uk

 

[Agroshield]

If you want to keep the original lathe pulleys, you can use a poly vee belt or vee belt running inside out.

Thanks for the countershaft link. I had not seen that page.

The advice above comes with the proviso that in order to install the belt, the spindle needs to be pulled. A traditional leather or canvas flat belt is joined when on the machine.

 

[iNf]

Maybe stating the obvious but have you checked there's no grub screws down the centre of the 'v' ? If you have removed one there's sometimes 2, one on top of the other.

 

[dave h 2]

This link might have been more useful to you. It makes you think about inflation when this lathe new was @£13 7s 6d in 1939.
These things had felt in the bearings, don't loose them. Also note the supplied motor was only 1/4hp, it's a bit flimsy for a 1hp.

 

[MattF]

I have an old Pools lathe with flat belt drive pulleys much like this oneView attachment 475790 and a motor with a v belt pulley. Will I need to take the v belt pulley off the motor and replace it with a flat belt pulley or will it work as it is? I have tried to remove the pulley from the motor spindle/axle with a puller but it's not moving and I'm concerned I will break something if I keep going, there is no screw at the side, it seems pushed on with a bolt through the centre of the spindle securing it.
Any support, thoughts or advice other than scrap both and start again will be much appreciated

You don't run the lathe directly from the motor. You need a countershaft unit inbetween. That would have a stepped pulley matching tbe headstock pulley, & your motor pulley belt will drive the drive pulley on that countershaft, for which you'd use a Vee pulley.

 

[DaveeeeDave]

Maybe stating the obvious but have you checked there's no grub screws down the centre of the 'v' ? If you have removed one there's sometimes 2, one on top of the other.

Thats a possibility many thanks

 

[DaveeeeDave]

You don't run the lathe directly from the motor. You need a countershaft unit inbetween. That would have a stepped pulley matching tbe headstock pulley, & your motor pulley belt will drive the drive pulley on that countershaft, for which you'd use a Vee pulley.

Would the countershaft be built in and able to be engaged and disengaged?

 

[DaveeeeDave]

This link might have been more useful to you. It makes you think about inflation when this lathe new was @£13 7s 6d in 1939.
These things had felt in the bearings, don't loose them. Also note the supplied motor was only 1/4hp, it's a bit flimsy for a 1hp.

Thats really interesting many thanks

 

[6ply]

Would the countershaft be built in and able to be engaged and disengaged?

You can rig up your own countershaft. Easiest way to do this is to use some pillow block bearings. If you make the assembly hinged, it's easy to change the pulley combination or slacken/tighten the belt.

Look online and I think you'll find many examples. If you need cheap and/or flat-belt crowned pulleys you can do like this: https://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/reedlathes03.html

 

[DaveeeeDave]

You can rig up your own countershaft. Easiest way to do this is to use some pillow block bearings. If you make the assembly hinged, it's easy to change the pulley combination or slacken/tighten the belt.

Look online and I think you'll find many examples. If you need cheap and/or flat-belt crowned pulleys you can do like this: https://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/reedlathes03.html

Many thanks - just checked the link and I was taken by the last sentence "I'd rather just buy a small lathe and be able to use it rather than keep working on this." but I'm not ready to give up yet LOL

 

[MattF]

Would the countershaft be built in and able to be engaged and disengaged?

You could loosen tension so that the belt just slips on the pulleys. Easier to simply turn on/off though.

This's my lathe, as an example of the type of setup.