Arundel J4 drive belt change issues

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valius

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So i got my Arundel J4 junior and loving it. But the drive belt is really old tatty and lost quite few inner strings and needs changing.

To take the belt off, the spindle in the headstock needs to come out but i can't seem to remove it. There is a grub screw on it wich came out but the bit it was holding is just spinning around without moving sideways (i thought it might be on a thread of sorts)
IMG_20250121_143059.jpg


Anyways did anyone managed to change the drive belt on one of the J4 series Arundel? Or maybe anyone has a manual for it lying around? Or any ideas.
 
I seem to remember that there's a grub screw in the pulley block that has to come out. I can't remember what else, even though it was only about a year ago that I replaced the belt on my J4.
 
I seem to remember that there's a grub screw in the pulley block that has to come out. I can't remember what else, even though it was only about a year ago that I replaced the belt on my J4.
Hi John, yeah i did undo those grubs and pulley block is spinning around freely inside headstock.
As i understand that part in picture on the outboard spindle, just after thread, has to come off so i could pull the whole shaft out of Headstock, but its not moving side to side, only spins in one place.
Stuck, because don't want to damage anything
 
Sorry, I really don't remember...
Mine has plain bearings, and I think I just gently knocked out the spindle. I believe some have "proper" bearings.
Jacob might know, he's owned a couple of Arundels. Start a thread on political sharpening...

If you do get it out, I found a lawnmower belt on eBay or maybe Amazon for a few quid. RS components also have them, but postage and packing triple the price.
 
I changed bearings on my J4 Junior but they were plain bronze. But I imagine the sealed bearings fit in much the same way i.e. you remove the spindle by taking off the collar from the out board end, loosening the grub screws on the pulley, tap out the spindle whilst protecting the thread. Then the bearings themselves can be tapped out of the housings.
One little trick I've found elsewhere, which can be confusing, is that there may be two grub screws down the holes. You take one out without realising and wonder why the thing hasn't come loose. There may be two holes and 4 grub screws!
The belt on my J4 Senior needs replacing so I'd also like to know if there is a systematic approach to taking the spindle out, or should I just chance it and tap away?
 
I changed bearings on my J4 Junior but they were plain bronze. But I imagine the sealed bearings fit in much the same way i.e. you remove the spindle by taking off the collar from the out board end, loosening the grub screws on the pulley, tap out the spindle whilst protecting the thread. Then the bearings themselves can be tapped out of the housings.
One little trick I've found elsewhere, which can be confusing, is that there may be two grub screws down the holes. You take one out without realising and wonder why the thing hasn't come loose. There may be two holes and 4 grub screws!
The belt on my J4 Senior needs replacing so I'd also like to know if there is a systematic approach to taking the spindle out, or should I just chance it and tap away?
Thanks Jakob, it only had single grub screws everywhere the collar and the pulley block, everything spins freely.

Tried some gentle taps with mallet with no success...not even a budge, but after trying some bearings pulls, might try hitting it harder, just don't want to damage anything, really like my lathe.

I was just hoping someone dealt with similar situation and managed to remove the collar on spindle. On other lathe i worked on collar had threads on it and just unscrewed. Arundel doesn't seem to have it.
 
Thanks Jakob, it only had single grub screws everywhere the collar and the pulley block, everything spins freely.

Tried some gentle taps with mallet with no success...not even a budge, but after trying some bearings pulls, might try hitting it harder, just don't want to damage anything, really like my lathe.

I was just hoping someone dealt with similar situation and managed to remove the collar on spindle. On other lathe i worked on collar had threads on it and just unscrewed. Arundel doesn't seem to have it.
Sorry. I've got two of them right now, but can't be much help..Do you know if yours has plain bearings? I'm totally guessing here, but do the little oil fillers above the bearings indicate plain bearings?
 
From the marks around the collar, and to a lesser extent the shaft itself, looks like someone in the past has taken mole grips or a stillson to it, so you are not the first to have had an issue with it!
I would be inclined to use a bit of softwood or thick ply over the end of the thread and give it a firm smack with a decent sized hammer. Only a purpose made bearing puller is likely to have small enough jaws to get into the very small gap available.
I would double check for a second grub screw, can you actually see the shaft going past at the bottom of the hole when you turn the collar?
If not then there is something else in there. You might even find there is a brass dowel or similar, intended to save marking the shaft by having the end of the screw bearing directly against it. Common enough practice for some things, no idea whether it would be likely here.
I would want to blow the hole out with an airline to make sure I could see the shaft at the bottom of the hole to be sure.
 
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