Power Station Belt Tension

[dusty]

What should the drive belt tension be on the two belts in the Power Station.

I have not worked on the Power Station during the entire time that I have had it. It has not been lubricated and I have not retensioned the belts.

It seems that the bearings are all sealed and don't need lubrication but I am not sure.

One of the two belts cannot be adjusted therefore if improperly tensioned the only corrective action would be to replace it. But how does one know what the correct tension is?

The other belt is so loose that I can compress one side against the other. This one is adjustable by repositioning the motor. I have done that but I am not sure that it is correct. The manual doesn't address this, at least I haven't found it.

Your inputs will be appreciated.

The speed control works sort of like the sheaves in the SS. Changing speed is accomplished by changing pulley size thus changing the ratio between the drive and load pulleys.

Load speed changes from 850 to 3850 rpms (per the manual) while the motor is 3450 rpm.

From this I conclude that at low speed the pulleys reduce the speed by a factor of 4 (3450/4=850).

At high speed the effective pulley ratio is something just a bit greater that 1:1 as the motor speed of 3450 is slightly increased to a load speed of 3850.

All of this may be true but only if the belts don't slip and as loose as my belts are - they probably slip.

PS This is a repost of a previously unansered question.

[alancooke]

Dusty,

I have the same questions!

According to the power station manual, lubrication is not neccessary.

The only thing I can find on belt tension is:
1)If you have a loss of power at high speed, Belt is too loose.
2)If you have a loss of power at low speed, Belt is too tight.

So, from this I assume as long as you have sufficient power through the speed range, the belt tension is OK.

Does your PS seem louder and vibrate more than it should?

The manual has a trouble shooting section with cures for 'excessive vibration/noise'. My problem is, with only 1 power station, I'm not sure what excessive is! It's louder and vibrates more than the MKV, but that could be b/c it's lighter, has a small bulge in the belt, etc. It doesn't bounce around the floor or anything, it just doesn't seem 'right'.

I've thought of trying a link belt per suggestions in other threads. Have you thought of this and/or tried it?

[audir10]

Gents

My power station requires lube of the motor. There are two plastic
plugs in the motor front and rear that are removed and a few drops
of light lube oil put in. I'm sure these are for the bearings. I understand
that some power stations require this and some don't. I do it once a
year. As far as belt tension, I just can't recall. I'll dig out the book and
look at mine Wed. Might be a good idea to call customer service for
much better advice than mine. Good luck.

[audir10]

My power station has an "information update" sheet concerning lube of the
motor. It says to lube the motor according to the directions on the "motor
label". If label is missing or unreadable oil motor every 50 hours of use
with 150 drops (1 tsp) of SAE 20. I haven't done a search for straight
20wt oil, I just use light machine oil/sewing machine oil from the hardware
store. There are two plastic plugs one on each side of the motor-remove
plugs and put in oil-replace plugs. Plugs on mine are yellow. The "informa-
tion update" is document 877055 6/93. I have no more info than you
have on belt tension, mine works I shall not fix it.....

[james.miller]

Just my two cents worth.

If you don't have a shopsmith oiler then use Singer sewing machine oil, not something like 3-in-1 which is also a penetrating oil. Also here in the South West they sell a Zoom-Spout Oiler at the hardware stores for oiling coolers and motors.

You could also call a local electric motor re-builder and ask where to buy an oiler for electric motors in your area.

[charlese]

Has anyone tried Slick 50 oil? My wife runs 3 embroidery machines, one serger, and one regular sewing machine. She uses Slick 50 oil for all "oiling points" in those machines, including the bobbin races. She found Singer oil to be too sticky.

They all run like champs!

[audir10]

I'm using the zoom spout thing filled with Norvey Inc "turbine oil". I was
worried I might have to chase my SS equipment down the block using
that turbine oil. Didn't think of Slick 50. How about Mobil 1 or Redline.
A quart of that should last quite a while. Guess Dusty hasn't gotten any
good info belt tension.

[billmayo]

Dusty,

The manual has a trouble shooting section with cures for 'excessive vibration/noise'. My problem is, with only 1 power station, I'm not sure what excessive is! It's louder and vibrates more than the MKV, but that could be b/c it's lighter, has a small bulge in the belt, etc. It doesn't bounce around the floor or anything, it just doesn't seem 'right'.

I've thought of trying a link belt per suggestions in other threads. Have you thought of this and/or tried it?

I have used flex (link) belts as Shopsmith motor drive belts (35 links) for several years and on my other belt driven equipment. So far, the vibrations are greatly reduced and I am not seeing any excessive wear on the sliding sheaves. The belts are adjustable by adding or removing a link. They are 2-3 times more expensive than the normal V belt but well worth it to me.

Bill Mayo