Wells Index 55 Belt Tension Mechanism

oldtom01 · May 26, 2020

Just bought one of these, have figured out everything except how to tension/detension belts to change speeds.

On my machine there is a crank that drives a screw that appears to be meant to push the motor forward and decrease tension. However when the crank is turned in reverse there is nothing for it to catch on to pull motor backwards.

The motor is mounted to a plate and the plate rides in a channel for tension/detension. I can push the motor backwards with muscles to provide tension, but surely there must be something I'm missing. I'm expecting a lever that moves the motor in and out of tension but cannot see one in any pictures of other 55 mills.

What am I missing?

Cheers,
Pat

MetalCarnage · May 26, 2020

Would the manual help any? - manual model 55.pdf - Google Drive

On the bottom of page 2 there is a sub-section that starts with E. Drive Belts but it doesn't mention a crank just a "belt tension handle". Could be more information elsewhere in the manual.

Hope that helps,

-Ron

oldtom01 · May 27, 2020

Yeah. Had already read through the manual. You'll notice that section E refers you to drawing 9072 which is missing from the online documentation.

macgyver · May 27, 2020

On mine, the tensioner bolt does both, it pushes it forward to loosen and then in reverse it tightens it. There is a groove machined into the end of the bolt that fits in the mount plate, it could be that the end of the bolt on yours has broken off. Mine is worn quite a bit and it takes a few turns before it takes up the slack. If I remember, I will get some pics of it.

Jason

oldtom01 · May 28, 2020

Jason,

Awesome. That makes complete sense. I knew that bold had to do more than just push. If you could take a picture that would be amazing. I think with a picture I could fabricate up what I need.

We really need a Wells-Index sub forum.

Cheers,
Pat

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

Well your in luck because my index 55 is ripped apart for cleaning and lube. Congrats on your index55 there’s not a lot of us index guys on here I think. For such a big company and such a long history you would think they would be a lot more abundant. And Mac is right that screw does both push and pull

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

I loaded these off my phone so the pics will be smaller then usual, let me know if you need bigger pics and I’ll load them full size from my computer

Also I had some trouble tightening my belts first time to. On my index the middle idler pulley set (and yours) rides on a pivoting arm. My arm was a bit rusted and seized so when I tightened my belts only the motor belt would actually tighten and the rest of the belts would stay loose, make sure when you loosen the belts that you manually swing that “idler arm” back and fro a few times for good measure

Oh yeah my pictures are not free, I take payment in form of pictures of others machines! Post some pics of your beast!

oldtom01 · May 29, 2020

Thanks! Looks like on mine its just broken or wallered out so bad the screw isn't being captured. I'm assuming that material is cast? Guess one of my first jobs will be making a new mounting plate.

Here's a picture of Bertha and her brother Sheldon:

HurleyByrd · May 29, 2020

I have a Super 55 and the tensioner is on the backside of the machine under the motor.

Pete

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

HurleyByrd said:
I have a Super 55 and the tensioner is on the backside of the machine under the motor.

Pete

That’s were ours is aswell.

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

oldtom01 said:
Thanks! Looks like on mine its just broken or wallered out so bad the screw isn't being captured. I'm assuming that material is cast? Guess one of my first jobs will be making a new mounting plate.

Here's a picture of Bertha and her brother Sheldon:
View attachment 290071
View attachment 290072

That’s a nice setup, what’s the size of your lathe? And boy are them toys dirty!

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

Also when I put my motor back on top after moving the machine I had the screws backed all the way out so it wouldn’t pull the motor tight either so check for that. I’m not sure what the screw is made of but I think steel, the bracket with the screw tab and that holds the motor could be either steel or cast not sure. Do you guys have the dial indicators and rails for your x and y movements??

HurleyByrd · May 29, 2020

Homebrewblob said:
Do you guys have the dial indicators and rails for your x and y movements??

Were these an option? I very quickly installed a cheap digital readout. If I recal correctly it was something in the $400 neighborhood. BEST investment for this machine hands down.

Does everyone's machines here have the Brown & Sharpe spindle still installed or the Index upgrade to an R8? Mine is still the original B&S. Mine came with a HUGE set of B&S collects, drill bits, holders, etc.....

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

this is my SB16. She’s good to me. I had the door and covers off in this pic but put them back on after I changed the belts.

my lathes serial card from SB

I don’t have a good pic of my index 55 yet as the cleanup is still in process so this is the best I got

My index serial card from wells index

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

HurleyByrd said:
Were these an option? I very quickly installed a cheap digital readout. If I recal correctly it was something in the $400 neighborhood. BEST investment for this machine hands down.

Does everyone's machines here have the Brown & Sharpe spindle still installed or the Index upgrade to an R8? Mine is still the original B&S. Mine came with a HUGE set of B&S collects, drill bits, holders, etc.....

Yes my index still has the bs9 spindle. I’m uploading some pictures now so they are full size. I’ll post them shortly

oldtom01 · May 29, 2020

Homebrewblob said:
That’s a nice setup, what’s the size of your lathe? And boy are them toys dirty!

Its a Sheldon XL56 with a 10" swing and 36" between centers.

Sheldon has been cleaned up, but not repainted.

The Index has only been here a few days and was rescued by the seller from an open air golf course maintenance shed. It's in remarkably good shape as far as the mechanisms go, but the paint is absolutely leprous.

And yes, B&S 9, which I will be sticking with.

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

HurleyByrd said:
Were these an option?

Sure was an option. I’m keeping mine bs9 too as the cost from wells index to grind to R8 is Ridiculous. I hear r8 is not as rigid as bs9 anyway. And the dials use a square head stud that’s bent down and rides in the v of the dial rail, but I don’t know what you use to “fill” the rail up to the rail tip. Like a very skinny screw jack on its side??

HurleyByrd · May 29, 2020

That's pretty cool!!!! Nice add on for sure.

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

I think they are the coolest little add on this machine has. Mine was missing on of the indicators and housing, I actually found one on eBay and swooped it up. In the pics with both dials side by side, the one on the bottom or left of pic is the replacement.

Homebrewblob · May 29, 2020

Hey oldtom wells index will do a serial card look up for you for 25$ and email you the copy just like south bend and menu others do

Wells Index 55 Belt Tension Mechanism

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