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Leather Belt Lathe - Removing the Spindle

mpoore

Plastic
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Here is my question: Can babbit bearing caps be removed and re-installed like shell bearing caps?

I recently bought an old lathe made by A. V. Carroll in the 1920's. It is very similar to the South Bend lathes of the era. It has an electric v-belt motor that drives a countershaft that drives the head via leather belt. The leather belt needs to be replaced.

Replacing the leather belt with rubber seems like a nice upgrade. Gates makes a serpentine belt of the correct length and width that could be used as is, if I can safely disassemble the headstock to slip the belt on. It looks like it has poured babbit bearings, which I have never dealt with before. The spindle spins well without slop and I'd like it to stay that way. I'd rather cut and stitch the belt than pour new bearings, if those are my only options.
 
Yes, you can remove the caps and spindle and the lathe will be fine although it is much more convenient to stitch the belt than to remove the spindle to get the belt on.
 
I use old timing belts. Honda belts work well. Cut, then glue them together.
 








 
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