Help!

[DiscoStu]

Hi guys,

My lathe has just gone very slow and won't change speeds. It's set on the highest speed but goes slowly and I cannot change gear when I try it grinds to a halt and it won't change and I don't want to force it.

Any ideas?


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[chipmunk]

Hi Stu,
What sort of lathe is it?
Is it Reeves Drive based?
Jon

 

[CHJ]

If low cost reeves drive, when did you last lubricate the motor drive shaft and pulley assembly.

 

[DiscoStu]

Thanks for the replies. I think I've sorted it. No idea what a reeves drive is but if it's where you have cones that move the belt in and out then yes! As for lubrication - never, but I've only owned it a couple of months. I took the cover off and figured out how it worked and have given it a good spray of silicone lubricant and it seems to be happier.

Thanks again for the replies

 

[marcros]

be careful of using silicone in the workshop, it can give you problems with finishes

 

[CHJ]

be careful of using silicone in the workshop, it can give you problems with finishes

+1, a real No No where cross contamination of surfaces requiring a bonded surface finish of any description is concerned.

A reeves drive normally has grease lubrication of the motor shaft, often with a grease nipple in the end of the motor shaft.
Dry PTFE Lubricant is best for the headstock end pulley and adjusting linkage.


Motor drive shaft lubrication should be just enough to bleed out gradually in use, excess will foul the cones and drive belt.
Dry PTFE should in theory adversely affect the drive belt/cone grip but I never detected a problem with slippage.

 

[DiscoStu]

My choices were limited last night. I have to hand:

White Lithium grease
Silicone grease
WD40
GT85
And probably some copper slip!

So given the choices was silicone ok? I doubt it went anywhere near any work.



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[CHJ]

White Lithium grease would have been better for the motor shaft lubrication.
Copper slip is more of an anti seize product rather than a lubricant.

WD40 is basically a water dispersant product, it's prime aim to form a barrier between the metal surface and any water contaminant.

 

[DiscoStu]

I think the GT85 might have been a better choice as that's got PTFE in it?


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