Has anyone experimented with taking the middle (removable) pulley lever out
and run their drill press with just one long belt? Obviously it would have
fewer speeds but I am wondering if there is a reason for the third pulley
besides adding speeds.
I just purchased some link belts and am thinking of doing it as one long
belt.
It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages. I do mostly
wood.
Opinions are appreciated.
Geoff
Don't have a keyless chuck on the drill press. Never found using a key all
that inconvenient to justify the cost of a new chuck. Biggest problem I
think people have is keeping track of the chuck key. I solved that by
drilling a hole on top of the pulley cover that I slip one leg of the key
into. Always know where the key is.
Woody
"Geoff Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Did you get one of those keyless chucks for yours? If so, do you like it?
>
I glued a rare earth magnet into the hole that existed on the back of my
chuck key and it sticks to the DP most anywhere.
BRuce
Woodpecker wrote:
> Don't have a keyless chuck on the drill press. Never found using a key all
> that inconvenient to justify the cost of a new chuck. Biggest problem I
> think people have is keeping track of the chuck key. I solved that by
> drilling a hole on top of the pulley cover that I slip one leg of the key
> into. Always know where the key is.
>
> Woody
>
>
> "Geoff Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Did you get one of those keyless chucks for yours? If so, do you like it?
>>
>
>
>
--
---
BRuce
wrap rope around pulley and measure?
BRuce
Dan Valleskey wrote:
> Ahhhhh...... yes! that is why I read the wreck. I've been thinking
> about what a hassle it is to change speeds. It seems like I always
> had the wrong belt on top.
>
> Thank you all for posting. I will certainly try this out. Especially
> as the change is reversible.
>
> Next question- if I don't want to buy a link belt- what is an easy
> way to figure out what length (single) belt I should get?
>
> I'm using the big Delta, I think it is a 17-965.
>
>
>
> -Dan V.
>
>
> On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 23:54:10 -0500, "Woodpecker"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>I took the middle pulley out of my drill press about two years ago for the
>>very reason you mention. I put in one long link belt and everything has
>>been working fine, just a few less speeds. Changing speeds got a whole lot
>>easier and I do it more now than I did with all three pulleys. Tension is
>>not a problem since it is accomplished via a movable motor mount.
>>
>>Woodpecker
>>
>>
>>"Geoff Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Has anyone experimented with taking the middle (removable) pulley lever
>>
>>out
>>
>>>and run their drill press with just one long belt? Obviously it would have
>>>fewer speeds but I am wondering if there is a reason for the third pulley
>>>besides adding speeds.
>>>
>>>I just purchased some link belts and am thinking of doing it as one long
>>>belt.
>>>
>>>It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages. I do
>>
>>mostly
>>
>>>wood.
>
>
--
---
BRuce
Ahhhhh...... yes! that is why I read the wreck. I've been thinking
about what a hassle it is to change speeds. It seems like I always
had the wrong belt on top.
Thank you all for posting. I will certainly try this out. Especially
as the change is reversible.
Next question- if I don't want to buy a link belt- what is an easy
way to figure out what length (single) belt I should get?
I'm using the big Delta, I think it is a 17-965.
-Dan V.
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 23:54:10 -0500, "Woodpecker"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I took the middle pulley out of my drill press about two years ago for the
>very reason you mention. I put in one long link belt and everything has
>been working fine, just a few less speeds. Changing speeds got a whole lot
>easier and I do it more now than I did with all three pulleys. Tension is
>not a problem since it is accomplished via a movable motor mount.
>
>Woodpecker
>
>
>"Geoff Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Has anyone experimented with taking the middle (removable) pulley lever
>out
>> and run their drill press with just one long belt? Obviously it would have
>> fewer speeds but I am wondering if there is a reason for the third pulley
>> besides adding speeds.
>>
>> I just purchased some link belts and am thinking of doing it as one long
>> belt.
>>
>> It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages. I do
>mostly
>> wood.
thanks! I may just go with the link belt. Though I never noticed a
real big difference on my contractores saw.
-Dan
>>Next question- if I don't want to buy a link belt- what is an easy
>>way to figure out what length (single) belt I should get?
>>
>>I'm using the big Delta, I think it is a 17-965.
>
>Here's a calculator:
>http://www.baumhydraulics.com/belt_length.htm
It will be easier to change one belt than two. Seems like nine times
out of 10, the wrong belt was on top, so I would end up taking both
belts all the way off the machine.
Also, the tension mechanism is clumsy, two screws, one on each side.
I am sure they could have found a better way to tighten the belt.
Might have cost more though.
Remember, I am using a 16.5 inch Delta. "YMMV"
-Dan V.
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 22:17:19 GMT, "Mark Jerde"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Geoff Clark wrote:
>
>> It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages.
>
>I don't have a problem changing speeds, maybe it's a technique thing. How
>do you try to move the belts?
>
> -- Mark
>
>
You guys will love this.
After vowing to squeeze in a trip to Harbor Freight in the morning for
a link belt, I went out to the shop tonight to pull off the center
pulley and take some measurements just for S's & G's.
I took the belts off, than got out my (automotive) gear puller, as I
could not remove the motor pulley, of course it will have to be
flipped over. It came off okay with the puller. I turned my
attention to the center pulley. I applied the gear puller the same
way I had on the motor shaft. Nothing budged. I came in to the
computer, looked up the parts list (deltamachinery.com, nice having
that online). I couldn't see why the pulley would not lift off. I
went back, applied a little more pressure. Sure enough, cracked the
pulley. Damn. Just as the gear puller went flying, the whole center
pulley assembly lifted out from where it sits in the head casting.
shit. Nothing holding it there!
Okay- glad I can laugh at myself. And now I am committed to a 5 speed
drill press in place of a 16 speed. Guess I got what I wanted.
-Dan V.
On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:20:48 GMT, Larry Jaques
<novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote:
>On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 04:17:34 GMT, [email protected] (Dan
>Valleskey) brought forth from the murky depths:
>
>>
>>Ahhhhh...... yes! that is why I read the wreck. I've been thinking
>>about what a hassle it is to change speeds. It seems like I always
>>had the wrong belt on top.
>>
>>Thank you all for posting. I will certainly try this out. Especially
>>as the change is reversible.
>
>Link belts are under $20
>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43771
>
>My Griz bandsaur got so smooth and quiet that she thinks she's a
>Powermatic now that I'm running a link belt on 'er.
>
>
>>Next question- if I don't want to buy a link belt- what is an easy
>>way to figure out what length (single) belt I should get?
>>
>>I'm using the big Delta, I think it is a 17-965.
>
>Here's a calculator:
>http://www.baumhydraulics.com/belt_length.htm
>
>
>
>--
> Vidi, Vici, Veni
> ---
>http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Development
Well Mark, the pain in the butt starts with figuring out what speed I am
"supposed" to be using, and opening the top. Then its unloosening the motor
mount, figuring which pulley slots to use, shimming the belts to where they
should be and then retightening the motor mount. And all because someone
decided that a 5/64ths brad bit should go at a faster speed than a 3/8ths.
Yeuch. It is this kind of thing that makes ww'ing suck. More time is spent
preparing than doing, and I spend entirely too much time preparing and not
enough doing. I am learning tho.
Now I have the DP at a constant, fairly unagressive, speed. Haven't had a
problem since and it leads me to believe that in a 16 speed DP, 13 of the
speeds are really quite unnecessary.
In a nutshell, I want to woodwork from my gut more and my head less.
Opinion de moi only,
Geoffrey
"Mark Jerde" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Geoff Clark wrote:
>
> > It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages.
>
> I don't have a problem changing speeds, maybe it's a technique thing. How
> do you try to move the belts?
>
> -- Mark
>
>
In article <q%[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Dan Valleskey wrote:
> > It will be easier to change one belt than two. Seems like nine times
> > out of 10, the wrong belt was on top, so I would end up taking both
> > belts all the way off the machine.
> >
> > Also, the tension mechanism is clumsy, two screws, one on each side.
>
> Maybe it's background... <g> I grew up on a farm/ranch in western South
> Dakota, USA, and messing with belts on farm equipment often required two
> people, 4' bars, multiple screwdrivers, and fluent profanity... ;-) My Jet
> 16" floor DP and the 9" Craftsperson Bench that preceeded it are trivial in
> comparison. Using just a thumb I can get one part of any belt over the next
> smaller pulley, turn the pulley about 190 degrees, and the belt pops off!
> Installing the belts on the desired pulley is equally easy: Put the belt on
> the smaller of the two pulleys, hook part of the belt over the larger
> pulley, & turn about 270 degrees. No problem! Then adjust the tensioner.
>
> Of course, if I didn't have the background (and scars <g>) of really
> bitchin' belt changing gymnastics in sub-zero Farenheit temperatures as a
> teen, changing the speed of my DP might seem difficult and lengthy. <g>
>
> (No, I'm not going to thank my Dad for giving me a point of reference. <g>)
>
> -- Mark
>
I agree, changing the Jet DP belts around is a trivial task. [Went
through the same routine as you on a farm north of Denver].
Mark & Juanita wrote:
> I agree, changing the Jet DP belts around is a trivial task. [Went
> through the same routine as you on a farm north of Denver].
Where abouts? I recall when Denver was a cluster of lights, then you drove
north on the Interstate and Boulder was the next real cluster of lights off
on the left. <g>
-- Mark
I took the middle pulley out of my drill press about two years ago for the
very reason you mention. I put in one long link belt and everything has
been working fine, just a few less speeds. Changing speeds got a whole lot
easier and I do it more now than I did with all three pulleys. Tension is
not a problem since it is accomplished via a movable motor mount.
Woodpecker
"Geoff Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Has anyone experimented with taking the middle (removable) pulley lever
out
> and run their drill press with just one long belt? Obviously it would have
> fewer speeds but I am wondering if there is a reason for the third pulley
> besides adding speeds.
>
> I just purchased some link belts and am thinking of doing it as one long
> belt.
>
> It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages. I do
mostly
> wood.
>
> Opinions are appreciated.
>
> Geoff
>
>
>
>
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Mark & Juanita wrote:
>
> > I agree, changing the Jet DP belts around is a trivial task. [Went
> > through the same routine as you on a farm north of Denver].
>
> Where abouts? I recall when Denver was a cluster of lights, then you drove
> north on the Interstate and Boulder was the next real cluster of lights off
> on the left. <g>
>
I grew up more northeast, around a town called Brighton. Went to
school in Boulder though.
On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 04:17:34 GMT, [email protected] (Dan
Valleskey) brought forth from the murky depths:
>
>Ahhhhh...... yes! that is why I read the wreck. I've been thinking
>about what a hassle it is to change speeds. It seems like I always
>had the wrong belt on top.
>
>Thank you all for posting. I will certainly try this out. Especially
>as the change is reversible.
Link belts are under $20
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43771
My Griz bandsaur got so smooth and quiet that she thinks she's a
Powermatic now that I'm running a link belt on 'er.
>Next question- if I don't want to buy a link belt- what is an easy
>way to figure out what length (single) belt I should get?
>
>I'm using the big Delta, I think it is a 17-965.
Here's a calculator:
http://www.baumhydraulics.com/belt_length.htm
--
Vidi, Vici, Veni
---
http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Development
Thanks Woody. I think that is the direction I am heading. I have left my DP
at one speed for a couple of years now. Just too much of a hassle to change,
and for what really. Slow for metal, no need to be so slow for wood. Did you
get one of those keyless chucks for yours? If so, do you like it?
And Silvan, I appreciate your response and your time. I should have
mentioned that the DP I have has the motor mount which Woody writes of.
My thanks to both of you.
Geoff
"Woodpecker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I took the middle pulley out of my drill press about two years ago for the
> very reason you mention. I put in one long link belt and everything has
> been working fine, just a few less speeds. Changing speeds got a whole lot
> easier and I do it more now than I did with all three pulleys. Tension is
> not a problem since it is accomplished via a movable motor mount.
>
> Woodpecker
>
>
> "Geoff Clark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Has anyone experimented with taking the middle (removable) pulley lever
> out
> > and run their drill press with just one long belt? Obviously it would
have
> > fewer speeds but I am wondering if there is a reason for the third
pulley
> > besides adding speeds.
> >
> > I just purchased some link belts and am thinking of doing it as one long
> > belt.
> >
> > It's a pain in the butt to change speeds, so I haven't in ages. I do
> mostly
> > wood.
> >
> > Opinions are appreciated.
> >
> > Geoff
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
Dan Valleskey wrote:
> It will be easier to change one belt than two. Seems like nine times
> out of 10, the wrong belt was on top, so I would end up taking both
> belts all the way off the machine.
>
> Also, the tension mechanism is clumsy, two screws, one on each side.
Maybe it's background... <g> I grew up on a farm/ranch in western South
Dakota, USA, and messing with belts on farm equipment often required two
people, 4' bars, multiple screwdrivers, and fluent profanity... ;-) My Jet
16" floor DP and the 9" Craftsperson Bench that preceeded it are trivial in
comparison. Using just a thumb I can get one part of any belt over the next
smaller pulley, turn the pulley about 190 degrees, and the belt pops off!
Installing the belts on the desired pulley is equally easy: Put the belt on
the smaller of the two pulleys, hook part of the belt over the larger
pulley, & turn about 270 degrees. No problem! Then adjust the tensioner.
Of course, if I didn't have the background (and scars <g>) of really
bitchin' belt changing gymnastics in sub-zero Farenheit temperatures as a
teen, changing the speed of my DP might seem difficult and lengthy. <g>
(No, I'm not going to thank my Dad for giving me a point of reference. <g>)
-- Mark
Geoff Clark wrote:
> Has anyone experimented with taking the middle (removable) pulley lever
> out and run their drill press with just one long belt? Obviously it would
> have fewer speeds but I am wondering if there is a reason for the third
> pulley besides adding speeds.
Yes. *Tension*.
How are you going to tension the belt properly without the idler pulley and
tensioner lever? It can be done. My benchtop DP had no idler pulley, but
instead an awkward, sliding motor mount.
However, if yours is a typical 12ish-speed drill press, you'll be looking at
a bit of an engineering challenge to figure out some new way to tension the
belt by moving the motor instead of the tensioner lever. It could
certainly be done somehow, but I submit that it would probably be far less
trouble just to use two belts and leave well enough alone.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/