Member postings for Richard Hughes 3

Thanks for your replies and the interesting discussion. I got the drill as part of the deal when I bought a very old Barnes No.5 lathe and I thought it would be interesting to get it working. I also have a fairly modern drill press but I like old machinery too and I enjoy turning what may appear to be junk into something useful.

The bolt in the base has a spring washer and it does seem plausible that it was the pivot for something which is now missing.

Well, I got it to work. I made the new flat belts as short as I dared and mounted the motor on a hinged platform so that the v-belt can be tensioned and swapped between pulleys. For the flat belts the required length is indeed the same over all three speeds and it is possible to get enough slack to change speed by loosening the central shaft using the lever. It is possible to obtain the following speeds: 146, 211, 292, 422, 583 & 843 rpm. Not exactly in line with modern notions of HSE but it runs with an impressive whirring and clanking sound.

I have a Myford Super 7, a little Hector and an ancient Barnes No.5 (sadly minus the treadle drive and now powered by electric motor).

Thanks for your replies.

Neil, None of the pulleys can move sideways.

Brian, The stalk that holds the top pulleys is part of the casting so cannot move. The only adjustment I have found is the lever that can be operated to slacken the mounting of the central pulley shaft and allow it to be moved up or down, tending to tighten one belt and loosen the other. When this lever is in the "loose" position the pulley shaft droops slightly, slackening the lower belt, which could be useful for changing speeds. The bottom shaft is fixed: it cannot be moved up or down and does not have an eccentric mounting.

Bill, There is a square headed bolt in the base of the upper section. I have tried loosening it but could not move the upper section or rotate it. I suppose it could be rusted in place.

This drill has a brass plate marked: " C.H. Joyce, Engineers Tools, London S.E." - I think that may be the name of the distributor rather than the manufacturer. I plan to buy new belts for it and get it working, driven by an electric motor, I am puzzled by the belt tensioning arrangement. It looks like if the top belt is tightened the bottom belt will go slack. Please can anyone give an explanation?