Mark VII a start and a long ways to go..

[Mike]

Thank you Mike, I was hoping it would be something easier.

[JPG]

With no load it should start at max speed. Not recommended to do so often.

[Mike]

I think I might have the wrong belt.... 29.5, that's the way I read the posts but will review

[lahola1]

I cant find my notes but I'm almost positive my MKVII has a 29.5" belt.
still the same belt that came with it when I bought it in 2017. Haven't had it apart in a few years.
BTW. your MKVII looks great.

[miken]

I believe the concensus is 29.5". I have two original belts and both measure out closer to 30". Perhaps they are stretched?
Mike -
BTW, the width of the belt appears to play a significant role in the final spindle speed. I went down this rabbit hole unsuccessfully once before.

[Mike]

Thanks for the comments.
Not sure, I used this one from the end of the dissertation on Mark Vii belts and it seems much heavier and I have to open up the the Control Sheave all the way to put it on and can't close it down as it gets stuck between both halves.... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOVLUOQ/re ... ZBb92VHR0J
The original, I still have, was much less robust and I'm thinking maybe a 30.5 might do better. one step forward and a couple back.:-)

[jsburger]

Robustness does not have anything to do with the proper belt length and width. The length affects tension and the width affects the speeds obtained with a Reeves drive.

[JPG]

Thanks for the comments.
Not sure, I used this one from the end of the dissertation on Mark Vii belts and it seems much heavier and I have to open up the the Control Sheave all the way to put it on and can't close it down as it gets stuck between both halves.... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOVLUOQ/re ... ZBb92VHR0J
The original, I still have, was much less robust and I'm thinking maybe a 30.5 might do better. one step forward and a couple back.:-)

Yes you should have to open up the motor pulley fully to get the belt on with the control sheave set to high. That allows one to push the belt into the sheaves and slip it on fully. Then the belt should ride close to the outer periphery of the motor pulley.

From your link I am not sure what that belt measurements are.

4L295 should be a 1/2 x 29.5 inch belt.

P.S. ideally(original design) the belt should be about 9/16" wide.

[lahola1]

If I was going to get a new belt I would try a metric one. 13MM = .512". I believe the old SS belts were slightly wider than 1/2" (.500") I believe that slightly wider belt is important to get the slow speed as close to 700RPM as possible.

[Mike]

Thanks for the comments.
Not sure, I used this one from the end of the dissertation on Mark Vii belts and it seems much heavier and I have to open up the the Control Sheave all the way to put it on and can't close it down as it gets stuck between both halves.... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOVLUOQ/re ... ZBb92VHR0J
The original, I still have, was much less robust and I'm thinking maybe a 30.5 might do better. one step forward and a couple back.:-)

Yes you should have to open up the motor pulley fully to get the belt on with the control sheave set to high. That allows one to push the belt into the sheaves and slip it on fully. Then the belt should ride close to the outer periphery of the motor pulley.

From your link I am not sure what that belt measurements are.

4L295 should be a 1/2 x 29.5 inch belt.

P.S. ideally(original design) the belt should be about 9/16" wide.

I think I have it ass backwards- I opened up the control sheave by putting it on high, put belt on it while wide open, and then worked the belt around the motor pulley. I need to do some rethinking.