Delta DP350 Variable Speed Drill Press Issues...

[MyrtleLake]

I went to use this drill press. Motor, fine. Rotating but not driving anything. The belt seems waaaay loose. Before I start pulling things apart, a few questions:

This uses a Reeves Drive pulley system. My first instinct was that the belt is old and ... stretched out? Is that even possible? Even if so, not this much, I would think. Does that indicate that the expanding/compressing pulleys are to blame? I've read about the pin on these models for the rear upper pulley coming loose. Unfortunately, I did not check that. I can tomorrow. The extension of the motor is as far back as the locating screws allow.

Thoughts? Experiences? This is a consumer grade product. The manual simply lists, "call our help line" for any and all troubleshooting. Haha. It doesn't even identify the size belt that is standard, which I'm not truly confident this one is? Can anyone confirm?

Many thanks!

[Stu]

I have the same DP, I've had a few issues with mine. On yours the motor pulleys appear to be expanded too far. You will have to take it apart to to see what is going on. Could be as simple as the upper pulley binding and not allowing the spring you see at the top to push it down. There is a lot of pressure on the spring, I had to make a lever to push down on it to remove the bolt at the top. These DP's are no longer made and most of the parts are unavailable.

[MyrtleLake]

Thank you! Question: should the motor shaft the pulley halves ride on be greased? I'm certain that has never happened on that machine...

[mikey553]

I have a Reeves drive on my vertical mill. It should be similar to yours, but bigger. Does your speed adjustment work at all? The motor half pulleys should be free to move axially, they are under spring compression. I had to make a fixture to compress the spring on mine so I could take it apart.

[Stu]

Thank you! Question: should the motor shaft the pulley halves ride on be greased? I'm certain that has never happened on that machine...

Yeah they should be lubed, I think you can shoot oil down through the bore.

[MyrtleLake]

As it is, I tried compressing and expanding both the drive and spindle pulley halves. Nothing wanted to move at all.

Forgive my ignorance of Reeves drive principles, but only *one* pulley expands and contracts, yes?

[MyrtleLake]

In addition, the lever for speed change doesn't want to move either.

[mikey553]

On my machine you should only change the speed while motor is running. You really should take the drive apart and go from there.

[MyrtleLake]

Investigating further, both expand or contract.
One by a cam. The other under spring tension. Is that right?

[Doozer]

Forgive my ignorance of Reeves drive principles, but only *one* pulley expands and contracts, yes?

No.

--D

[MyrtleLake]

Haha. Thanks, Doozer.
That is classic "Doozer." Succinct. Responsive. Bluntly factual.

Love it.

[mikey553]

You change the distance between two halves on one pulley and the other pulley with a spring will follow.

[Paul Alciatore]

Yea, that is how they are supposed to work. Cheap man's speed control. Rather ill conceived, if you ask me. And I don't like it.

I would suggest two fixed size pulleys, a three phase motor, and a VFD. And you will have a much better DP.


Not quite as succinct as Doozer, but bluntly factual I think.

You change the distance between two halves on one pulley and the other pulley with a spring will follow.

[RMinMN]

Those type of variable speed systems like the shaft where the driven sheave moves to be well lubricated. The manual on my combine that used that for the main drive called for the driven sheave to be greased every 10 hours of use. It is a bearing and you should know what happens to bearings without lubrication.

[Doozer]

Maybe you need an idler pulley in between.
I think that would fix it.

-D