Lapidaryforum.net
Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys => Fixing, Modifying and Refurbishing your Lapidary Equipment => Topic started by: kent on December 15, 2018, 10:43:56 AM
-
This week has been the maintenance week for my saws. Cleaned out the old sludge/oil in my Lortone and while wiping up the drips underneath I noticed the motor was at an angle. This created an out of balance condition between the motor pulley and the pulley for the saw blades shaft. The design allows for a hinge at the outboard end and a centrally welded adjusting bolt for the motors mounting plate. With only one bolt (and centrally located) the thin gauge mounting plate flexes upwards at the loaded pulley end. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
I ended up adding a bolt through the saw box at the inboard side of the motor. I hesitated as I didn't want the hole for a possible leak but seemed like the easiest fix. I used an over sized fender washer inside bedded in oil resistance gasket sealant and allowed enough length of bolt for adjust or different length belt. Both pulleys are now coplaner (their outer surfaces are parallel when a straight edge is touching both. I know when I bought this saw a few years ago it had been in storage for 12 years or more un-used so perhaps this design has been changed ? Worth a look if you have one.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Cheers,
Kent
-
Nicely done. This system has been used successfully for many decades but apparently Lortone decided on inadequate thickness. I would probably have replaced the mounting plate with heavier material, but I don't like drilling holes in tanks. Your system is simpler, always a good choice.
-
I was concerned about the flakey housing HP put around the worm gear and expected it to hold 80 weight oil with two dubious bolts, but low and behold with black silicone the housing has held the oil with no leaks. Thus I intrude on your post to recommend the black silicone material for any tank assaults that may be necessary or suffered. But its true, sailboat folks definitely prefer the minimal number of punctures in the hull.