Bought this machine near Olean NY thinking the line shaft system would be acceptable till finances allow it to be switched to variable speed DC powered system. Copied the set up as it was in owners shop, learning about flat belt-step pulleys while re-assembling. Hooked up the ancient motor whose brushes spark and smell on start up. Over motor, hung the 4speed transmission(3 forward,1 reverse) and drive chain. Bolted steel frame that carries line shaft system to wall & floor. Bought a new flat belt as the old canvas one was very fraided. All parts are assembled cleaned(more or less)re-greased and oiled, every thing works with some minor faults.
1- The 'chain gear-ring & levered clutch' rotate together when transmission is shifted from neutral to 1-3 or Reverse, independent of the shaft. To get the whole shaft and step pulley to turn the 'friction cone' is pushed under the 'clutch lever'. The raised or 'engaged' lever wedges itself into the 'inner collar' pinching it to the shaft and starting the 'shaft with pulley' to rotate. To stop shaft rotation the ' friction cone' is disengaged.
PROBLEM: While turning wood, the 'chain-ring and engaged levered clutch' slips, losing power if aggressive cuts are made into wood project. Any ideas on maintaining power?
2- When transmission is shifted to high speed or with certain positions of belt on pulleys also at the higher speeds, the Lathe vibrates. Even with the lathes legs bolted to the (some what uneven) concrete floor!
PROBLEM: What steps should be taken to stop 1300 pounds of cast iron from vibrating?
Below is a link to photographs of this lathes Line shaft system.
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIn ... 2061127&f=
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIn ... 2061127&f=
Password= ejbroze@pronetisp.net[url]
My technical vocab. to describe the mechanics is piss-poor, so the photos make the set up clearer. Any thoughts to get this dinosaur going with "super power" would be appreciated.
Bernie
Lathe> Step Pulley PROBLEMS
Moderator: crzypete
Hey Berhnard, sorry for the slow response time.
Problem 1. do you need the clutch- it would be a tad more inconvenient, but you could pin the clutch, and then make all speed changes from a stand still. Also perhaps the clutch has an adjusment to make it tighter as it wears.
Problem 2. What speeds are you vibrating at? what do you have mounted to the spindle when this vibration occurs? I would think it would be important the level the lathe before you bolt it down- use a level perpendicular to the ways and take readings near the headstock and near the far end. Also are the bearings tight? Is the Belt too tight? Am I asking Too many questions?
Pete
Problem 1. do you need the clutch- it would be a tad more inconvenient, but you could pin the clutch, and then make all speed changes from a stand still. Also perhaps the clutch has an adjusment to make it tighter as it wears.
Problem 2. What speeds are you vibrating at? what do you have mounted to the spindle when this vibration occurs? I would think it would be important the level the lathe before you bolt it down- use a level perpendicular to the ways and take readings near the headstock and near the far end. Also are the bearings tight? Is the Belt too tight? Am I asking Too many questions?
Pete
Oh forgot to mention, I do not think I would spend the money to make it DC powered. All of the modern wood lathes are usings a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) to power a 3 phase motor. If this one is already three phase you are miles ahead of the game.
you can check out VFD's at www.driveswarehouse.com
Pete
you can check out VFD's at www.driveswarehouse.com
Pete
Had succes locking the drive shaft with a bolt pin so wood shavings are flying! This lathe came with a single phase motor, but a fellow turner in the neighborhood has a 3 phase that might do; and then get the unit some speed control via variable frequency motor. But for now great performance!
There is a cousin to my lathe currently on E-bay, Prentice Machinery and Tool Co. located in N.J.:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-ANTIQUE-PRENTI ... dZViewItem
Interesting to see something else by the same company on the web, and a different power drive system. The seller has some other "antique machines". I have seen the drill press elsewhere, I think it is a Prentice Co. tool ? The spindle on these lathes is one-inch so they can be abused without worries. OWWM site does not have any Prentice info or photos listed but the search will continue...
This is a great, tite, easy and funny site, thanks!
There is a cousin to my lathe currently on E-bay, Prentice Machinery and Tool Co. located in N.J.:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-ANTIQUE-PRENTI ... dZViewItem
Interesting to see something else by the same company on the web, and a different power drive system. The seller has some other "antique machines". I have seen the drill press elsewhere, I think it is a Prentice Co. tool ? The spindle on these lathes is one-inch so they can be abused without worries. OWWM site does not have any Prentice info or photos listed but the search will continue...
This is a great, tite, easy and funny site, thanks!
Glad to hear you are up and running. I think of prentice more as a metal lathe company, and am more familiar with its later incarnation as reed-prentice.
that being said there is no information on tony's site- although he tends to focus on smaller machines, and as I recall they made larger ones. http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html
I did find two entries at OWWM on prentice:
http://owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.asp?ID=662
http://owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.asp?ID=664
The drive on the ebay is not original and there is a good chance that the drive on your lathe is a retrofit. These are old machines that predate the widespread existence of individual motors. They were intended to be run by overhead lineshaft drives, all power by one power source.
How are the vibration issues?
Pete
that being said there is no information on tony's site- although he tends to focus on smaller machines, and as I recall they made larger ones. http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html
I did find two entries at OWWM on prentice:
http://owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.asp?ID=662
http://owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.asp?ID=664
The drive on the ebay is not original and there is a good chance that the drive on your lathe is a retrofit. These are old machines that predate the widespread existence of individual motors. They were intended to be run by overhead lineshaft drives, all power by one power source.
How are the vibration issues?
Pete