General 160

[Bob Howell]

I just got an old beat up General 160 with reeves drive from an estate for a very good price, but I have no experience with it. I got the manual from General but it seems to have little detail about the reeves drive. I have heard in the past they are tricky. Any one have tips for taming/tuning it?

Bob Howell

 

[Hu Lowery]

build a spring compresser!

Well if that thing has been sitting awhile you had 'bout as soon build a spring compressor and take it apart. Sand the moving parts on both shafts with fine grit, clean well, lube with graphite or something rated for use in a dusty environment. Then check for interference with the belt when the RPM adjustment is cranked to full speed.

I started running a lathe with a Reeves drive about six months ago. Haven't gotten many hours in turning but I have gotten pretty good at working on Reeves drives! A Craftsman lathe but good Reeves drive info and pictures at this link.

Hu

http://aroundthewoods.com/index.shtml

 

[Harry Robinette]

Bob
I've been running a G160 for 15 years. spin the spindle and lower the reeves drive,the belt (lower)should come off,then remove the top belt. The sheaves should move freely? if not spray it with something like WD40 then BEFORE you start moving it grease the twin shaft ( the twin shaft is a sleeve that's over the shaft, and the sheaves and this sleeve all move together) there's a grease fitting on the end of the shaft and a hole in the side of the stand. I grease mine about once a month or two depending on the usage it gets. If you need any more info let me know.
Harry
woodspinner@neo.rr.com

 

[Bob Howell]

Thanks

Thanks for the help. I am out of town for a week and will try this when I return.

 

[Bob Howell]

Well if that thing has been sitting awhile you had 'bout as soon build a spring compressor and take it apart. Sand the moving parts on both shafts with fine grit, clean well, lube with graphite or something rated for use in a dusty environment. Then check for interference with the belt when the RPM adjustment is cranked to full speed.

I started running a lathe with a Reeves drive about six months ago. Haven't gotten many hours in turning but I have gotten pretty good at working on Reeves drives! A Craftsman lathe but good Reeves drive info and pictures at this link.

Hu

http://aroundthewoods.com/index.shtml

So I looked at the link and have a rough idea what a spring compressor is. Is gunk the source of vibration at high speed and can it be fixed?

Any one done this to a general 160?

 

[Hu Lowery]

I don't know the source of the vibration

So I looked at the link and have a rough idea what a spring compressor is. Is gunk the source of vibration at high speed and can it be fixed?

Any one done this to a general 160?

I can't judge the source of vibration from a distance. Gunk or rust on the pulleys could be the source, very possible the cords in the belt have taken a set like old nylon belted tires that used to bump for awhile every morning and just needs a little run time. The sheaves sticking a little bit from rust or gunk build-up on the shafts and not getting a firm grip on the belt are a common cause of vibration and reduced speed.

It does sound like the General has a far better set up than the Craftsman and once sorted should run fine if you just run it for a few minutes running the speed up and down once every week or so if you aren't using it.

It isn't really that big of a deal to work on the Reeves drive once you have a spring compresser. The first time might be a half day piddling and taking your time. New ground for you and everything needing a lot of cleaning and rust removal if it was like mine makes the first time into it time consuming. If you have to go into it again it is a less than two hour project assuming the drive is fairly easy to access. Mine hasn't been used for months and is sitting open air under a cheap tarp on my open back porch. The Reeves drive is moving but seems like it isn't gripping the belt firmly. I'll run it on a light job and if it doesn't work right I'll take it down and go through it.

Having the grease fitting on the General Reeves drive and running it regularly will probably make all the difference in the world between it and my Craftsman lathe. Once sorted the first time, I suspect you will have far fewer issues with the General. My lathe is very well known as a lemon. I'm looking to replace it but due to a bad back am only interested in a short bed or sliding head lathe. Those are scarce on the used market in my price range.

Hu