Tensioner Pulley Redesigned for the Vevor MX400 Mini Lathe - Closing the book on this subject

[@paulcotesr5623]

look like fun time tomany bearing bad idea use that spacer /i think id and od should be sung tight and let the bearing do the work dont let the id slip and od slip .

[@WILFRED1184]

Hey Deez. The spacer between the bearings should have an ID that is a close fit to the shaft to help align it but not too close as to cause problems down the road. And the OD should be as close to the same size as the inner race of the bearings. That spacer you used is way too close to the size of the bore in the pulley. If it manages to make contact with the pulley there is a chance of binding and seizing while the lathe is running. Most spacers just look like a piece of tubing for this very reason. Also the idea of just stacking bearings while in theory is good in reality is a bad idea. If you do this it will introduce more friction and heat. With the pulley being aluminum it will draw the heat out of the bearings and transfer it to the belts and degrade them prematurely. Everything else looks good and Dave did an amazing job with the pulley. I would just turn the OD of the spacer down to give clearance between it and the pulley. Hope this makes sense.

[@Rustinox]

It all makes perfect sense and I totally agree.

[@deezworkshop]

All of it makes sense. I am going to check the condition of everything after a small turning operation. I’ll adjust as needed. So far it’s stable and rigid. Much better and getting close to a solid setup.

[@berniejanssen2863]

There's nothing wrong using needle bears if used correctly and of good quality. Needle bearings have been used in rear wheel drive vehicles for years in the universal joints.

[@deezworkshop]

I am sure they could be used successfully. We however didn’t do it right. I sure my belt tension wasn’t right resulting in the failure.

[@berniejanssen2863]

@deezworkshop the bearing should not spin on the shaft. The inner race should be stationary to the shaft. And the outer race should have some resistance in the fit.