zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 18:21:56 GMT -5
:help: I hope you guys can help. I am VERY new at this and not particularly mechanically inclined (uh-oh).
I have a used Lortone 12 inch slab saw that has been working really well up until today. The saw blade stopped turning in the middle of a cut. Turned saw off, removed the rock - did a visual check of everything. Put in a different rock. Turn saw on. Blade took a while to "wind up". Thought that was weird - so waited until blade advanced to the rock. Blade stopped turning as soon as it touched the rock. I looked at the belt - seemed to be moving. Any guesses?? My best guess is either oil on the belt or a new (No- please no) bearing.
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 18:23:26 GMT -5
And I almost forgot - thank you for reading my question!
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 5, 2012 18:50:36 GMT -5
How tight is your belt ? If you press down on the center of the belt, it should deflect about 1/2" to 5/8". If it's too loose, it will slip on the pulleys. To tight and it may wear your motor or arbor bearings. With the motor turned off, get down close to the motor and smell it. If it smells like something burnt, you may have fried a motor.
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 19:05:51 GMT -5
Thank you for your reply! Okay - no weird odor. I have to take the guard off to check the belt. Hope like heck I didn't fry the motor.
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 19:17:06 GMT -5
Okay - checked the tension. If I pinch the belt it will deflect about 1/2 inch on the top and the bottom. I cannot see where to tighten it up. I checked the Lortone Operation and parts pdf - looks like I am missing the adjustment bolt. No way to adjust tension - this could be the issue!
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 5, 2012 19:49:59 GMT -5
If the top and bottom both move that far, your belt is probably slipping. See if you can find a bolt to fix the tension with. Also, while you have the guard off, remove the belt and turn the arbor by hand and try moving it in and out and side to side. If it doesn't make weird noises and there's no play in the arbor, you should be ok.
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 19:58:29 GMT -5
The arbor turns freely by hand, no noises. No movement at all side to side. Now, just need a couple of bolts, and some sort of cushion so the bolts don't scar the saw housing. I really wonder how the heck this saw ran so well for so long with no bolts - no adjustment. New belt?? Thank you so much for your help.
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darstcreek77
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2011
Posts: 673
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Post by darstcreek77 on Feb 5, 2012 20:01:13 GMT -5
If you are useing an extension cord make sure its a 12 gauge wire not a thin one , if you use a too small a wire the volts drop and the amps go up (bad ) can and will burn your motor ,
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 20:09:10 GMT -5
Nope - no extension cord here!!
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 5, 2012 20:15:47 GMT -5
Try running it with the guard off and watch the belt and pulleys. When the motor "stops" observe whether motor is turning or not. If it turns see if motor pulley turns or is slipping (loose set screw). If pulley turns but not belt belt is loose, could be stretched. There should be some adjustment on the motor mount also to slide motor.
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 5, 2012 20:31:45 GMT -5
Hmm. Seems that the pulley AND the belt both turn. Where the heck is the set screw??
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Post by roy on Feb 5, 2012 23:02:49 GMT -5
it's probley the pulley onthe shaft to the blade loreton didnt use a keyway and key the set screw in the pulley wears the shaft and starts tuning under pressier
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 5, 2012 23:32:13 GMT -5
I have had both a slipping belt and a slipping pulley on my LS12.
I use an adjustable belt, so I can take a link out if it is too loose (like after I changed the pulley sizes). I also spray a little belt conditioner on it to prevent slipping.
When the pulley gets loose on the arbor, there is a bit of a knocking noise. Just use an allen wrench to tighten the set screw.
Sometimes, when my oil is really dirty, the blade gets enough drag that it makes the belt slip a bit. I clean the oil and spray a little belt conditioner and it runs well again.
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 5, 2012 23:32:53 GMT -5
Here's a pulley with the set screw. You will need the right size allen wrench to tighten it. If the shaft has a flat spot on it line the screw up with the flat spot before tightening. It would also be good to make sure the bolt that holds the blade on is tight. Lee
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 6, 2012 17:59:19 GMT -5
WOW! Excellent! Thank you so much - I had no idea where the set screw was. yep - the oil is dirty. Got lots of things to try now - you guys R O C K!!
I wonder if there is a way to sink a keyway into the arbor shaft so this doesn't happen again.
Gosh - thank you guys so much - again! I have learned a ton with the answers to this post. :-)
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 6, 2012 18:49:12 GMT -5
To put a keyway in your shaft and pulley, the arbor would have to be disassembled and taken to a machine shop. They would mill a keyslot in the arbor shaft, and use a broach to put a matching slot in the pulley. On my 16" Covington it has the keyway and set screw. If the set screw loosens, the pulley slides right off the arbor. Take your pulley off and check for damage on the arbor shaft. If there is little or no damage, remove the set screw and clean the screw and pulley real good. Go to an auto parts store and buy a tube of non hardening Lock Tite. When you reassemble the pulley on your arbor, put a drop of Lock Tite on the set screw threads and tighten the screw down real good. Be sure to use the non hardening Lock Tite. There's a hardening type that can be a real bear to get to release if you have to take the pulley off for some reason. Be sure to line your motor and arbor pulleys up with a straight edge placed across them before tightening the set screws. Don
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 6, 2012 18:50:26 GMT -5
A machinist could cut a key way but you would have to remove the shaft for that. You can remove the pulley and using a file just file a flat spot where the set screw tightens down. That usually works pretty well. Check the set screw occasionally or use some non-hardening Lock Tite on the threads.
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zephyr
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by zephyr on Feb 8, 2012 12:17:24 GMT -5
Thank you all. I have had to work a bunch of overtime - so couldn't do much with the saw until today. Just took a good long look at it - and there is a flat spot on both the motor shaft and the pulley shaft. BOTH set screws had migrated away from the flat spot. I will head to the auto parts store today to get some Lock Tite and a set of Allen Wrenches. Seems like this might be the issue. Thank you SO MUCH!
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 8, 2012 13:18:58 GMT -5
Another happy customer of the RTH, Q&A sessions. Just be sure to clean the threads in the set screw holes real good, and get the non hardening Lock Tite.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 8, 2012 14:18:18 GMT -5
I was thinking I once had to cut a key way on the roof late at night. I had to use a drill and a file. I drilled a line of holes the width of the key way then using the drill side and file I finished the slot. If your pulley doesn't have a key way you don't need the key way anyway. It occurred to me after I said the shaft would have to be removed that it could be done. Not much fun though.
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