Shopsmith Forums

Okay gurus, when I set my first one up, I read the threads here, I think it was Bill Ms, it is okay. What I never understood and I am a smart guy, but do miss somethings, is how when setting the tension you can see you have that 1/16 of an inch off of the shaft on the speed changer? I mean the belt is in your way, looped around it and then the sheaf is there. It always bothered me how to see that. I know I got it right, by gosh and golly, but how do you get that?

You are at the mercy of both the belts and the spacing of the fixed outer sheaves. I do not know about 'seeing' that 1/16", but, with the belt(one only) in one side, position the belt/pulley so there is 0(all the way against the center sheave step)(I am assuming a '0 - 5' SC). Now notice the difference between the outer sheaves and the sliding sheave(each side). Hopefully the side with the belt will be wider. If not your belts are too narrow or the outer sheaves are too far apart.

Now the best setting is when at the extreme speed settings(0,5) the spacing of the side with the belt 'into' the pulley is the average of that measured above.

The motor 'elevation' affects this. The upper pulley is fixed.

I think it is correct when at 0 and 5 the top of the belts are both the same distance from the top of the pulleys and the crank is not stiff at/near those settings.

Yep it is a balancing act.

Thanks JPG, thats what I did the first time a year and a half ago, new gog belts same as this time, now they say Good Year/Continental!!!! Like I said I is smart but not stupid! Just needed some reassurance on my part. Tuff day with mom, demanding but mind is sharp and she gets bored, just cant do it all her self, and my kitchen now. Luv ya, JPG

Ya, JPG, the one I picked up with the SC is a 1-5 and the one I got off of CL to complete me is a 1-5 s all is good on that.