Replies

1. 
   BG | Dec 08, 2002 01:35pm | #1

   J,

   I don't know about the soft start aspect, but everyone has been raving about the link-belt solution.  My portable planer is not a candidate as the belt is quite short and a somewhat uniquely designed.  My old bench top Direct drive TS started that way..damn pain... 

1. 
   user-274461 | Dec 08, 2002 04:45pm | #3

   Thanks for the tip.  Do you think a link belt can handle a 3 HP motor?  The planer is currently set up with a 3 belt system.  "RSL" above seems to think that the link belt won't help much on a mechanically tensioned system like my planer.  Do you have any experience with this?  Thanks again for your help.

   JRowe

1. 
   BG | Dec 08, 2002 05:04pm | #4

   J,

   No, I don't have any experience with the Link-belt on a 3 horse, 3 belt, under tension.  RSL is correct, most of the discussion is coming from Contractor type saws..gravity weighted.

   Is this start thing something new?  How old are the belts?  Does it happen only when the machine is cold..so to speak?  I have a small planer with a single belt which delta just tuned.  The lack of proper tensioning was causing the belt to move rubbing against the plastic hosing..and before breaking...causing the hosing to melt.   The technician said not too tight, not to loose was important....it got my attention... 

1. 
   user-274461 | Dec 08, 2002 10:01pm | #7

   BG,

   This is a new machine and I have not used it enough yet to say that it is mostly when the belts are cold.  I think I will try the cogged or the link belt as you and RSL have suggested.  Thanks again for your help.

1. 
   BG | Dec 08, 2002 11:15pm | #8

   J,

   Warrenty?...bring the problem to them first. There may be a larger problem there...I don't know, but it'll only cost you a dime to find out.. good luck

2. 
   rslatm | Dec 08, 2002 05:27pm | #5

   A three horse power motor is no problem for a link belt. The link belt was originally designed to make belt changing easier on heavy equipment like rock crushers and those are more than 3 hp. If the belts are original equipment just putting better quality new belts can make a world of difference. The cog belts are nice because they conform to smaller pulleys better and are relatively cheap. Of course Fenner is going to say the link belt is better than sliced bread.

   http://www.fennerindustrial.com/products/powertwist_ind.html#f

   I've tried them and thought they were great in certain applications but in others I didn't notice any better performance. Was not scientific testing by any means but just see so many people jumping on the link belt bandwagon.

   Rick

   Edited 12/8/2002 9:28:15 AM ET by rsl

1. 
   user-274461 | Dec 08, 2002 09:59pm | #6

   RSL,

   You may have hit the nail on the head with the "small pulley" reference.  The pulleys are very small on this machine and the belt is not cogged and relatively stiff.  It makes sense that the pulley may not be able to efficiently grab the small pulley during startup.  I will probably try the cogged belt first and if that does not work, I will go with the link belt.  Your help is greatly appreciated.  

2. 
   rslatm | Dec 08, 2002 03:04pm | #2

   Soft start could be added by using an inverter but you would have to switch the motor to a three phase one which is not really cost effective. Perhaps a new belt would be the answer. I would try an x type cog belt. If there is slippage then it must not be tight enough so the belt may have stretched. I think the Fenner link belt gets over rated. It has no memory so it excels in applications where the motor is hung by gravity and it's the memory factor which causes bounce and slippage. On a motor that is in a mechanically tensioned state this is not an issue.

   Rick