(super) noob question

[gilgamo]

Just got a new lathe it's basically a WM210 except with the 1.5 in spindle bore in MT5 taper. Problem I've got is I've got to change the speed from low to high and I can't for the life of me figure out how to loosen the tension on the belt to get the belt to move between the two sets of pulleys. I've managed to break one belt already and figure it I'd ask for help from the experts.

Would really appreciate it if someone could point out what I should be loosening to get the tension down. I've loosened and even removed the bolt with the holding nut under and perpendicular to the variable speed pulley that's missing the belt now but it didn't seem to loosen it at all.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

 

[homebrewed]

Nice looking lathe. What are the two control knobs for at the bottom of the left photo?

 

[markba633csi]

I'm not an expert on that model but I will mention that it's possible that the factory made a mistake and it doesn't work correctly
out of the box without some modification by you. Lots of import equipment is that way these days, unfortunately.

I would disassemble the tensioner and examine it to understand how it works (or is supposed to work)
Maybe there is a spring missing or a piece wasn't made to the right dimensions
These are not complex machines but the with the speed and quantity they push them out the quality control sometimes slips

-Mark

 

[WobblyHand]

Nice looking lathe. What are the two control knobs for at the bottom of the left photo?

If you zoom into the picture, the left one is forward and reverse, and the right one is low, mid, and high. Low, mid, and high what, not sure.

 

[gilgamo]

Nice looking lathe. What are the two control knobs for at the bottom of the left photo?

Power feed levers. Direction and speed. They take some persuasion to work but they do what they're supposed to

 

[WobblyHand]

Just got a new lathe it's basically a WM210 except with the 1.5 in spindle bore in MT5 taper. Problem I've got is I've got to change the speed from low to high and I can't for the life of me figure out how to loosen the tension on the belt to get the belt to move between the two sets of pulleys. I've managed to break one belt already and figure it I'd ask for help from the experts.

Would really appreciate it if someone could point out what I should be loosening to get the tension down. I've loosened and even removed the bolt with the holding nut under and perpendicular to the variable speed pulley that's missing the belt now but it didn't seem to loosen it at all.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

Where did the broken belt go originally? A little hard to tell. Around the possible 3 step pulley? I see some bolts near that pulley, do you see any slots in that region that would allow the bottom motor pulley section or that step pullley to rock or rotate some?

 

[gilgamo]

I'm not an expert on that model but I will mention that it's possible that the factory made a mistake and it doesn't work correctly
out of the box without some modification by you. Lots of import equipment is that way these days, unfortunately.

I would disassemble the tensioner and examine it to understand how it works (or is supposed to work)
Maybe there is a spring missing or a piece wasn't made to the right dimensions
These are not complex machines but the with the speed and quantity they push them out the quality control sometimes slips

-Mark

Starting to think that may be the case too... That's true clearly looks like it's got something to do with tensioning. There's a block in t
he gap that is connected to but it's not moving with the screw so I'm wondering if it's jammed. Can't really get to the back of it but I guess you'll be some unbolting and poking around later today

 

[Huub Buis]

This lathe looks like mine (HBM290). I have to tension the belt by loosening 4 screws that holds the motor and use the motor to tension the belt.

 

[homebrewed]

Power feed levers. Direction and speed. They take some persuasion to work but they do what they're supposed to

Low, mid and high, huh? That would appear to match the 3 step pulley, but it's hard to see how that can work. At this point I would suggest: RTFM. If you don't have a manual I bet the internet will produce something.

A bit of online searching on my part suggests your machine is made/sold by Vevor. One youtube video I found was not particularly positive in terms of the build quality, but that's not all that unusual for inexpensive lathes. One potentially valuable insight I garnered from the video was regarding the direction and speed selectors. It apparently is all to easy to turn them too far, which can result in damage to the scarce-as-hen's-teeth gears in there. Apparently Vevor doesn't sell replacements for them......

The comments about build quality suggest that perhaps you are NOT doing anything wrong, maybe the lathe is at fault. Caution: learning experience ahead .

The spindle bore ID is a nice upgrade from the 7x series of lathes from Sieg and Real Bull so I hope you can solve the issues you encounter.

 

[gilgamo]

Where did the broken belt go originally? A little hard to tell. Around the possible 3 step pulley? I see some bolts near that pulley, do you see any slots in that region that would allow the bottom motor pulley section or that step pullley to rock or rotate some?

The belt originally went there you can see in the picture. There's a mechanism that you can see in this picture taken from the side. There's a bolt going into the side plate and it looks like it connects to some kind of carrier for the pulley. When it's fully tightened it doesn't seem to change anything and then when you loosen it it actually leaves the carrier behind. So it ends up not doing anything.

The last picture is a picture of the bolt in the mechanism.

I'm almost sure this has got to be it but it sure does seem broken or I'm doing it wrong

Low, mid and high, huh? That would appear to match the 3 step pulley, but it's hard to see how that can work. At this point I would suggest: RTFM. If you don't have a manual I bet the internet will produce something.

A bit of online searching on my part suggests your machine is made/sold by Vevor. One youtube video I found was not particularly positive in terms of the build quality, but that's not all that unusual for inexpensive lathes. One potentially valuable insight I garnered from the video was regarding the direction and speed selectors. It apparently is all to easy to turn them too far, which can result in damage to the scarce-as-hen's-teeth gears in there. Apparently Vevor doesn't sell replacements for them......

The comments about build quality suggest that perhaps you are NOT doing anything wrong, maybe the lathe is at fault. Caution: learning experience ahead .

The spindle bore ID is a nice upgrade from the 7x series of lathes from Sieg and Real Bull so I hope you can solve the issues you encounter.