HomeBrew Buffers

[DavePEI]

If I were building one, I would use a 2 inch pulley on the motor and a 3 1/2 inch pulley on the arbor simply because it would be easier to keep the belt tight with the larger pulleys.

Andrew: I challenge you to make the belt slip on mine - you can't do it - proof that the cogged belt on smaller pulleys works perfectly well. And the belt is held tight only by the weight of the motor on the Laval mount..

This is one of the advantages a cogged belt has - it will rotate smoothy around smaller pulleys and doesn't develop as much of a memory as traditional v-belts. A traditional belt has a tendency to "thump" just as some winter tires do when they are cold. These are more flexible and don't have this tendency. The cost is pretty well the same.

I have used it with this belt, mount, arbour, motor and pulley size for over ten years before making the new frame, and it has never slipped.

[DavePEI]

And no, it's seized, so it doesn't work any more, but, I am so sorely tempted to try and free it up and see if I can get it working again, for fun mostly not for practical use... 

Probably be worth a try. Put some oil on the bearings, and a pair of vice grips on the shaft. Rotate the shaft back and forth, and it will likely break free. Then connect it to the power, and keep oiling the bearings for a while - over oil them, and after ten or fifteen minutes it should be ready to go unless it has another problem we don't know about...

[twocvbloke]

It's already able to turn, but with a lot of resistance, so it's seized, just not locked up...

As for other problems, who knows, could be burnt out for all I know, the copper windings in it do look a bit darkened, but that could just be from being out in a damp shed for probably over 20 years...

[DavePEI]

It's already able to turn, but with a lot of resistance, so it's seized, just not locked up...

As for other problems, who knows, could be burnt out for all I know, the copper windings in it do look a bit darkened, but that could just be from being out in a damp shed for probably over 20 years...

Ok, so oil the bearings and turn it by hand until it frees up all the way.... You will know if the windings are ok once you have it freed up all the way - either it will run, or it won't.

[twocvbloke]

Just have to find the wires for it, cos whoever wired it up hid them away quite well...

[DavePEI]

I have ordered 4 - 1 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch feet for it - better size than the hockey pucks I was thinking about using. I have drilled four holes through the mounting plate to accept the 1/4 inch bolts that hold them on.