To "dress" your belt.....or not

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:08 pm

A few weeks ago I noticed I was getting an abnormal amount of belt slippage on my 510. So, I checked the tension on the poly-v belt...it needed a bit of adjustment, so I did so. To get the suggested 1/8" deflection, I had to rotate the eccentric collar to it's max.

I placed an order with ShopSmith for both the motor v-belt and the poly-v. The belts were not in stock at the time. I sent an email to Customer Service saying I wasn't 'down' and I mentioned that I would try a little belt dressing. Here's the response from Customer Service:
[INDENT]We do not suggest belt dressing on either of the 2 belts.[/INDENT]

I've done some searching on the forum, and it appears that a number of you fine folks use, or have used, a little belt dressing. Mr. Mayo says that he normally uses dressing on both new and old belts.

I can understand not pouring belt dressing on the same way as I do on my old 1960s Farmall tractor. You would not want a bunch of the stuff sprayed around the headstock to trap sawdust, but IMHO, a little belt dressing every now and then should help keep the belts from drying out and prevent some of the 'set' after being idle for a period of time.

Opinions folks?
Thanks for your time

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:28 pm

bffulgham wrote:A few weeks ago I noticed I was getting an abnormal amount of belt slippage on my 510. So, I checked the tension on the poly-v belt...it needed a bit of adjustment, so I did so. To get the suggested 1/8" deflection, I had to rotate the eccentric collar to it's max.

I placed an order with ShopSmith for both the motor v-belt and the poly-v. The belts were not in stock at the time. I sent an email to Customer Service saying I wasn't 'down' and I mentioned that I would try a little belt dressing. Here's the response from Customer Service:
[INDENT]We do not suggest belt dressing on either of the 2 belts.[/INDENT]

I've done some searching on the forum, and it appears that a number of you fine folks use, or have used, a little belt dressing. Mr. Mayo says that he normally uses dressing on both new and old belts.

I can understand not pouring belt dressing on the same way as I do on my old 1960s Farmall tractor. You would not want a bunch of the stuff sprayed around the headstock to trap sawdust, but IMHO, a little belt dressing every now and then should help keep the belts from drying out and prevent some of the 'set' after being idle for a period of time.

Opinions folks?
Thanks for your time

When I receive a new shipment of belts, I turn them inside out and spray a little belt conditioner on the belt contact part. I find this helps prevent new and used belts from taking a "set". I store all my new and used belts inside out. I have quieted many squeeking, grumbling & strange noises from inside the headstock by rotating the quill or motor by hand and lightly spraying the contact area of the belt(s) for a full rotation of the belt(s). I also find the belt conditioner helps prevent the belt(s) from sticking to the pulleys or sheaves when the headstock is not operated or stored for long periods of time. I have not seen any accumulation of sawdust or crud on any of the belts where I used the belt conditioner.

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:38 am

Can't say I've found belt dressings to do me much of any good with v-belts.

Terrible news with serpentine type belts.

Quite good with old flat leather belts, as long as the dressing was a resin stick.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:04 am

This is a recommendation without supporting logic.

If Shopsmith has a reason for why they do not recommend the use of belt dressing, I might be more inclined to listen.

This is akin to the recommendation for always turning the speed down before removing power.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 3:03 pm

dusty wrote:This is a recommendation without supporting logic.

If Shopsmith has a reason for why they do not recommend the use of belt dressing, I might be more inclined to listen.

This is akin to the recommendation for always turning the speed down before removing power.

Belt reply probably decades removed from the original reason(Gilmer?);)

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 3:06 pm

[quote="JPG40504"]Belt reply probably decades removed from the original reason(Gilmer?)]What?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:46 pm

You mentioned the 'turn speed down' instruction as a ghost from past times.(smaller motor etc.)

I alluded to the possibility that the 'we do not recommend belt dressing' instruction was a holdover from the Gilmer belt days.

Both would be less relevant with newer models.

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:01 am

Took a look at the Maintenance and Troubleshooting PDF file from SS this morning....Here's a snip from the document:
[INDENT]Checking Belt Tension
NOTE
If the poly V-belt seems tight but it still slips,
DO NOT increase the belt tension-this will just
stretch the belt out of shape. Instead, apply a
little "belt dressing" to the inside of the belt to
increase its traction.[/INDENT]

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:40 pm

bffulgham wrote:Took a look at the Maintenance and Troubleshooting PDF file from SS this morning....Here's a snip from the document:[INDENT]Checking Belt Tension
NOTE
If the poly V-belt seems tight but it still slips,
DO NOT increase the belt tension-this will just
stretch the belt out of shape. Instead, apply a
little "belt dressing" to the inside of the belt to
increase its traction.[/INDENT]

Curious about the vintage.

My 7/85 version says the same thing!

Hmmmmmm! Maybe CS needs to read some manuals???

jpalmer59 · Post by **jpalmer59** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:22 am

I think the no dressing advice is for the V not the polly V belt. The V belt has to slip on the sheaves as you adjust speed. Dressing helps belts to not slip so you would not want dressing on the V Belt.