Hello John,

If I remember correctly, serial numbers for ML4 lathes were stamped onto the lathe bed at the tailstock end onto the unmachined face of one of the shears. It also appeared on the lathe mandrel gear and the two numbers should of course match. I still have a handbook I will scan for you if you can't get a copy from elsewhere.

I can't help with your pulley change, but I don't think for one moment you need to make or alter the mandrel, it is much easier to make the pulleys to suit. You will of course need access to a lathe to do the work,so you may well need help there. I endorse Michael's comment above on Poly Vee drive, a much better system altogether.

Regards

Brian Wood

Edited By Brian Wood on 26/11/2013 09:06:26

Michael Gilligan

I found only one very short thread which didn't cover the points which came to mind when I saw your suggestion.

I have no experience of Poly-V apart from those under the bonnet and in the washing machine but did wonder how they stand up to operating in an oily environment. Also, I understand that they should be run considerably tighter than conventional vee belts thus increasing the pull on the spindle.

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… Then it would be worth you reading some of the documentation

MichaelG.

Michael Gilligan

Many thanks indeed. I will certainly look at your results.

For my benefit, what search string did you use? I did take your advice and search from the home page although it is hard to see why this should make any difference.

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ega,

I think there must be more than one way of searching from the homepage

Edit: and indeed there is !!

The one that works is the Google Search box, that's just to right of centre and in amongst the "what's in issue x" boxes

David Clark kindly provided this search facility, because the forum one produces such poor results.

… It just provides a quick link to Google's.

The results I showed are from searching for Poly Vee … you may get more if you try just poly.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/11/2013 13:35:12

Bogstandard2

Thanks for your description of your belting system. I had not heard of the Redthane brand although I am familiar with the concept; on looking further I saw a reference to "Greenthane" also.

On the subject of shifting vee belts from sheave to sheave, this can be done with a suitable lever at the expense of belt life but the practice is frowned on and I don't think it would be possible in motion. Someone mentioned the use of link belting on the Super Seven, a method which I adopted some time ago. At the outset, I was disappointed to find that the bulkier section compared with standard vee belting prevented shifting between the large countershaft pulley sheave and its smaller neighbour and it was some time before I realized that this could be achieved by rotating the pulley backwards!

John,

I admit to being totally bewildered by your dismissal of PolyVee …

To my mind this would be the ideal drive system for an updated ML4.

That said; it's your lathe, so I shall not interfere any further.

I wish you well, whichever route you choose.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/11/2013 08:38:23

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John,

Please forgive me labouring the point [especially as I said I would not] … but; for my own peace of mind, I need to check that we are talking about the same thing:

What I was suggesting was that you modify your existing [Cast Iron ?] flat-belt pulleys, by machining the appropriate grooves to accept this type of belt. The J-section belt should be quite adequate for the purpose; and four-rib would probably suffice.

MichaelG.