Allan Speers
06-22-2015, 11:18 PM
I need both new belts and a new motor pulley for my PM 100 planer. (I bought it with the wrong sized pulley)
The stock setup is a 2AK41 pulley with two 4L belts. After much reading, I think that VX belts are the way to go, esp because of the very small diameter motor pulley, and a Goodyear BANDED VX belt sounds even better, as that eliminates any matching issues.
OK, but how does one determine the correct replacement setup?
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First - VX belts come in 3/8" and 5/8" diameter (measured across the top / widest part.) Am I correct in assuming that to replace a 1/2 diameter 4L belt, one would choose the 5/8" diameter?
- but if I get a banded belt, would the two "V" sections still align in my pulley? If not, should I get a different pulley? (I need to buy a pulley anyway, though this would mean also replacing the arbor pulley.) - Or am I stuck using two matched regular VX belts?
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Second - How does changing from 4L to VX affect the effective pulley ratio / spindle speed?
For instance, My PM100 uses a 2AK41 pulley, which has an O.D. of 3.95", but the 4L belts only see an effective diameter ( known as "pitch" yes? ) of 3.7"
I think (not sure) that "A" belts, which of course can be used on such a pulley, effectively see the full 3.95". This is correct, yes? OK, but what about a 5/8" (or 3/8") VX belt? Once again, do I need a different pulley (s) to maintain the correct spindle speed?
The stock setup is a 2AK41 pulley with two 4L belts. After much reading, I think that VX belts are the way to go, esp because of the very small diameter motor pulley, and a Goodyear BANDED VX belt sounds even better, as that eliminates any matching issues.
OK, but how does one determine the correct replacement setup?
------------------------------------------------
First - VX belts come in 3/8" and 5/8" diameter (measured across the top / widest part.) Am I correct in assuming that to replace a 1/2 diameter 4L belt, one would choose the 5/8" diameter?
- but if I get a banded belt, would the two "V" sections still align in my pulley? If not, should I get a different pulley? (I need to buy a pulley anyway, though this would mean also replacing the arbor pulley.) - Or am I stuck using two matched regular VX belts?
------------
Second - How does changing from 4L to VX affect the effective pulley ratio / spindle speed?
For instance, My PM100 uses a 2AK41 pulley, which has an O.D. of 3.95", but the 4L belts only see an effective diameter ( known as "pitch" yes? ) of 3.7"
I think (not sure) that "A" belts, which of course can be used on such a pulley, effectively see the full 3.95". This is correct, yes? OK, but what about a 5/8" (or 3/8") VX belt? Once again, do I need a different pulley (s) to maintain the correct spindle speed?