The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

What causes a belt to ride up on the sides of the pulleys? I have enough material to make a new belt and this time will trim the width with a ruler before installing.

Looks like an alignment issue. The mandrel and drive shaft are pushed far to the left. You'll need to adjust the bearings at each end to move it to the right so that the pulley is lined up with the belt pulley.

If the belt material is too thick, it woll also tend to rise up on the pulley rim. but, as mentioned you must make sure the upper and liwer pulleys are aligned. Another thing to check is the idler wheel. sometimes the arm holding the wheel is bent and the wheel does not ride flat on the belt. This can also push the belt over.

Ken Danckaert

I ordered "Columbia" belt material by accident instead of Edison, so it is too wide. I have practised making two belts with it today and am going to do a final trim down the side to try to narrow it.

Triumphs, strangely, do not have an idler pulley, but instead have one of the three motor mounts adjustable.

Machine is underpowered and won't play a cylinder! I am trying to find the cause -- that too-fat belt may be stealing some of the energy, as well as a feed screw that hadn't been oiled in 60 years. Any suggestions where to look?

TinfoilPhono wrote: Sun Oct 27, 2024 2:20 pm Looks like an alignment issue. The mandrel and drive shaft are pushed far to the left. You'll need to adjust the bearings at each end to move it to the right so that the pulley is lined up with the belt pulley.

Yes, this seems to be the adjustment to make.

James.

The mandrel shaft pulley clearly is not in alignment with the lower pulley. The feedscrew is also very dry. Addressing those will likely fix the problems.

Steve

Yes, shifting the mandrel shaft to the right will help some, but also, the top works assembly also appears to be located too far to the left as well. See how close the belt comes to the base of the top works casting. Maybe the lower pulley needs adjustment as well.