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I have a HF 10" drill press that has more vibration than I'd like. With belts off, the motor runs smoothly. There are 3 pulley assemblies. The center assembly pivots, but also is loose enough to have some side-to-side flop...like the assembly flops not parallel with the other 2 assemblies. Could the vibration be coming from that or is that flop in the design? I'll try to post pics.
![[Image: c1d4ebd3-700b-4529-9611-36ff45582c73-ori...fit=bounds]](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/h151/derekarita1/0/c1d4ebd3-700b-4529-9611-36ff45582c73-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
![[Image: 2de9131d-6e06-4041-83c2-7ba01cefa9e6-ori...fit=bounds]](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/h151/derekarita1/0/2de9131d-6e06-4041-83c2-7ba01cefa9e6-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
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You've added link belts. Did it run the same (vibrate) with the original belts?
Steve
Mo.
I miss the days of using my dinghy with a girlfriend too. Zack Butler-4/18/24
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WaterlooMark 02/9/2020
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As a test, you might try reassembling your link belts into one long belt that bypasses the center pulley and see if the vibration goes away.
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Are you sure you're tightening the belts enough when you change pulleys? Once tightened, there shouldn't be any "slop" in the center pulley.
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(11-12-2019, 01:20 PM)Ohio Mike Wrote: As a test, you might try reassembling your link belts into one long belt that bypasses the center pulley and see if the vibration goes away.
That's a super way to isolate the pulleys!
g
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If the pulleys aren't running true, you'll never get it to run smooth.
Runout to the shaft, V grooves that aren't true.
The center pulley would have a spring loader for a smoother run.
Light weight machines are more subject to even slight vibrations.
My vote is for poor shaft to pulley fitting and poorly machined and light weight pulleys.
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Ya...Looking at the pulleys spinning, I can see some wobble in the front spindle pulley...that can't be good. Can I actually eliminate that center pulley?
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Yes. That would eliminate some of your speeds though. May have to turn one of the other pulleys upside down I think? Hafta mull that one over here.....
Steve
Mo.
I miss the days of using my dinghy with a girlfriend too. Zack Butler-4/18/24
The Revos apparently are designed to clamp railroad ties and pull together horrifically prepared joints
WaterlooMark 02/9/2020
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The spindle pulley is usually a type of (metric?) morse taper fit. You could always try and pull it loose and turn it a little at a time, and if you're lucky, find a sweet spot without a wobble.
You can do without the center pulley but changing speeds would require a different sized belt each time.
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I have a benchtop radial arm drill press. It's always had a vibration, link belt didn't help. Replaced the cone pulley on the motor with a decent quality single pulley and vibration went away. At least I know where the problem lies, not sure how to balance the motor cone pulley. Considering a VFD and 3 phase motor for lower speeds, don't know if the drill press is worth it.
