Fix it or junk it?

What exactly is wrong with the reeves drive? Did one of the pulley sides break or is it something else? Certainly wouldn’t anchor it though.

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Sounds like it would make a great anchor. 23 years of use you have more than got your moneys worth. For a little more money than the repair cost you can get a new variable speed lathe.

What exactly is wrong with the reeves drive? Did one of the pulley sides break or is it something else? Certainly wouldn t anchor it though.

Cheers,
Brad

- MrUnix

Hi Brad,
The right side spindle pulley is worn on the shaft that the shifting lever bracket goes over. It’s lose on the shaft due to a bad bearing inside the shifting lever bracket. Another one of the spindle bearings is bad also. And the teeth on the shaft of the shifting lever is a little buggered too but still works. I called Jet and the guy told me he couldn’t even find any aftermarket vendors either. If those parts are not available as I have a feeling I’m just going to put it to rest I’m afraid.

MIke

-- Mike in FL.

Sounds like it would make a great anchor. 23 years of use you have more than got your moneys worth. For a little more money than the repair cost you can get a new variable speed lathe.

- Woodmaster1

You may be right. The thing is my Powermatic 3520C is really all that I need but IF I can acquire the parts for $180 or less I would give it a new life otherwise anchor away.

-- Mike in FL.

Put it on Ebay for parts. You could be surprised at what you can get for it. The cash may allow you to buy accessories for your new PM. When I bought my new Laguna, I held on to the old one for a spell, only to realize the new one was so much better, and that is why I bought it. I gave the old one to my son hoping he will get as much joy from it as I did.

-- Mike, Massachusetts

Put it on Ebay for parts. You could be surprised at what you can get for it. The cash may allow you to buy accessories for your new PM. When I bought my new Laguna, I held on to the old one for a spell, only to realize the new one was so much better, and that is why I bought it. I gave the old one to my son hoping he will get as much joy from it as I did.

- mike02719

I was thinking about that also. Your right, might be worth it to do that. About the only thing I would keep would be the switch. Maybe throw a wire wheel on the motor. As far as the bed maybe get gas money at the scrap yard.

-- Mike in FL.

Doesn’t sound too bad based on your description… maybe just a few new off the shelf bearings (6205’s and a 6006) and perhaps some Loctite 660. I have the same lathe, and it’s a very simple design. If you want to get creative, I bet it would be fairly simple to retrofit the motor with a variable speed DC motor out of a treadmill and replace the reeves drive with a simple v-belt or serpentine pulley setup. Regardless, don’t trash it!

Oh – another thought. That lathe is basically the same as the Harbor Freight one, and all of their parts AFAIK are interchangeable. You may be able to get a replacement pulley from them if it really is buggered past the point of use or repair. Wouldn’t hurt to contact them and ask.

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

If a true Reeves drive, what probably went bad, are the plastic sleeves inside the sheaves ID. These are made to fail first, before any damage to the sheave or shaft occurs. If not a true Reeves drive, then all bets are off, as many equipment makers produce their own version of a mechanical variable drive, per a Reeves knock-off design.

A design of this type can last virtually forever, but the key to longevity is to run the speed up and down, once a week or so, so the sheave does not run in one place on the shaft all the time.

You might want to post photos of the parts you need to replace. You might be able to effect a JB Weld sort of re-bushing repair!

You might want to post photos of the parts you need to replace. You might be able to effect a JB Weld sort of re-bushing repair!

- AMZ

Here’s a shot of the worn shaft on the right pulley and the bearing inside the shifting lever bracket.

-- Mike in FL.

You might want to post photos of the parts you need to replace. You might be able to effect a JB Weld sort of re-bushing repair!

- AMZ

Here s a shot of the worn shaft on the right pulley and the bearing inside the shifting lever bracket.

- MBY852

I guess it would help to attach the pic’s.

-- Mike in FL.

..

Doesn t sound too bad based on your description… maybe just a few new off the shelf bearings (6205 s and a 6006) and perhaps some Loctite 660. I have the same lathe, and it s a very simple design. If you want to get creative, I bet it would be fairly simple to retrofit the motor with a variable speed DC motor out of a treadmill and replace the reeves drive with a simple v-belt or serpentine pulley setup. Regardless, don t trash it!

Oh – another thought. That lathe is basically the same as the Harbor Freight one, and all of their parts AFAIK are interchangeable. You may be able to get a replacement pulley from them if it really is buggered past the point of use or repair. Wouldn t hurt to contact them and ask.

Cheers,
Brad

- MrUnix

I’m going down HF tomorrow and I’ll ask them. I’ll try a internet search for HF lathe and see if it’s available. HF usually doesn’t sell parts to fix anything.
I’m also thinking about tearing it down and greasing it up and stick it in the shed so I can free up some space in my shop. I’m moving in about a year so if it hasn’t been fixed by then I’ll probably just scrap it. But I’m going to try to find the parts I need until then.

Mike

-- Mike in FL.

In a Reeves Drive, one sheave is fixed and the other moves. Was there a spring on the worn area of your sheave? On yours, did the worn area move against the shifting lever? If so, you might just go to a local bearing supplier to replace the bearing in the shifting lever. In the sheave, if the bore is wore into an egg shape, you might be SOL! If not, measure the bore and the OD of the shaft & look for a bronze sleeve (same bearing supplier), to press into the sheave.

I can’t imagine, though, the pieces being completely wore out, unless the lathe ran 24/7! You took it apart, and a bit more fussing, might save you some jack!

You can’t buy a new 12×36 lathe for $180 so it will be worth it to someone.

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

Doesn t sound too bad based on your description… maybe just a few new off the shelf bearings (6205 s and a 6006) and perhaps some Loctite 660. I have the same lathe, and it s a very simple design. If you want to get creative, I bet it would be fairly simple to retrofit the motor with a variable speed DC motor out of a treadmill and replace the reeves drive with a simple v-belt or serpentine pulley setup. Regardless, don t trash it!

Oh – another thought. That lathe is basically the same as the Harbor Freight one, and all of their parts AFAIK are interchangeable. You may be able to get a replacement pulley from them if it really is buggered past the point of use or repair. Wouldn t hurt to contact them and ask.

Cheers,
Brad

- MrUnix

I’m going down HF tomorrow and I’ll ask them. I’ll try a internet search for HF lathe and see if it’s available. HF usually doesn’t sell parts to fix anything.
I’m also thinking about tearing it down and greasing it up and stick it in the shed so I can free up some space in my shop. I’m moving in about a year so if it hasn’t been fixed by then I’ll probably just scrap it. But I’m going to try to find the parts I need until then.

Mike

In a Reeves Drive, one sheave is fixed and the other moves. Was there a spring on the worn area of your sheave? On yours, did the worn area move against the shifting lever? If so, you might just go to a local bearing supplier to replace the bearing in the shifting lever. In the ,sheave, if the bore is wore into an egg shape, you might be SOL! If not, measure the bore and the OD of the shaft & look for a bronze sleeve (same bearing supplier), to press into the sheave.

I can’t imagine, though, the pieces being completely wore out, unless the lathe ran 24/7! You took it apart, and a bit more fussing, might save you some jack!

- AMZ

I maxed out the lathe turning mostly hollow forms. Really the lathe is made for turning spindles mostly. The inside bore if fine, the outside is worn. Going to check 2 places for that pully and if no luck I’ll store it for awhile in hopes of finding what I need.

-- Mike in FL.