Helpful hint. There is TWO set screws on the pulley in the same whole. First one must come all the way out and then loosen the second one. Took me forever to figure out why my pulley wouldn’t move. Also when putting the spindle back in, I used my faceplate that came with the lathe to protect the treads.
Product improvements? There are two set screws in the top pulley, and a groove in the shaft to help with alignment. After I had removed the shaft I thought, "you should have marked the shaft to make re-aligning easier..." Nice to have a video guide, Zach. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up on the stacked set screws in the pulley wheel. The new belt is a big improvement on the comet ii dr. The digital readout wheel and sensor must also be loosened when changing the belt. The digital readout is a nice improvement.
So glad i found this. I have an old lathe with a warped belt (my first lathe & rebuild), I was about to buy a belt when I looked at it and had no idea how to get the new one on. Thanks!
Some great tips there, and the one on not hitting the spindle with a hammer. We replaced the bearings on a old lathe we have, not the new one, a older one that was in a flood. Motor runs just needed some cleaning and a few parts..have a great weekend...
Thanks Robert! Yeah, the nice thing about lathes is there's really not much to them, a few bearings, spindle and a motor. I bet that old one is running like a champ!
Awesome video at the perfect time, stupid spindle lock 🤣. As a footnote, I saved $5 by skipping amazon and going on eBay to find it was the same belt from the same seller.
Hi Zac, if you're going to hammer the spindle back in, try threading the faceplate on to hammer it back in. Any time I have to cut or hammer a bolt I always thread a nut on first.
I don't think I'd do that myself Jim, I think adding extra weight could end up bending the spindle if you hit it wrong. A block of wood and a hammer works fine.
Thanks Zac. Just got my Comet II out of the box and set up. Still getting used to it. Hope I don't have to replace the belt for a while. I'd like to begin drilling pen blanks on it. Any suggestions as to a keyless drill chuck for the tailstock?
Aren’t there link belts that you can just slip on and then connect? That way you just cut the old one and remove. No disassembly required. Not an expert but I remember seeing something about. I think if there is any increase cost, it would be definitely worth it. (Power Twist?)
Thanks for the instruction. Yup turned it on it with the spindle locked. Burned a groove in the belt and now there is a vibration at all speeds... Problem is no matter how hard I hit the spindle it will not move. Snap ring removed, tension off the belt and pulley out of the way. Any suggestions.
Hmm, that's no fun!! The only thing I can think of is trying to hit the joints with a little penetrating oil to see if it will help pop it loose. If you can't get it, I'd recommend contacting Nova support. They may have some more ideas on how to pop it loose
Thanks Dwight! Hope that it will help some folks out. I know I was a bit perplexed the first time I had to do it, hopefully seeing the process will make it simple and easy for anyone who needs to replace a belt on their Comet =D
That would have been nice to know no wonder I had a hard time moving the gears back in place. I hope I didn't screw something up. I gave it a test run seems OK. Jim's wood shop.
It should last quite a while if you keep it clean and don't turn the motor on with the lock engaged. Sometimes if the belt slips or you get debris in the ribs of the belt it can wear it down after a while and cause vibrations
Regarding the slipping sheave (correct term for a "pulley" 😃) if there isn't a flat on the shaft I would suggest that a file be used to create a flat which will reduce the possibility of slippage which can ruin the shaft.
I never knew they were called sheaves! Thanks for letting me know. The spindle does have a notch in it for the set screw, but it's not a flat, more of a trench type thing
Zac-As a subscriber to your channel I have noticed that you use the Nova Comet II 46300. Would you recommend this lathe? I’d love to hear your thinking on lathe choice. Thanks.
Hey Michael, yeah I think it's a pretty decent lathe for the price. It's handled everything I've thrown at it so far. I'd say lathe selection depends on what type of projects you plan to turn though. For smaller work like pens, small bowls and boxes, the Comet works pretty good. If you know that you'll want to turn larger pieces though, I'd probably recommend jumping into a full size lathe off the bat. I'm looking to add a full size lathe once I can save up for it so I'll be able to do a wider variety of projects. With all the different choices out there, it's not easy choosing a lathe. If possible, I always recommend getting some time working on a couple different lathes if possible before you pull the trigger. If you have a Rockler, Woodcraft, or other woodworking/woodturning store near you, they should have some lathes that you can try out. Or if you have a turning club near you, I'd highly recommend getting in contact with them. Many clubs have lathes that you could try out, and often times members will let you come over and get some time on their lathe. The other good thing about clubs is you might find a great deal on a used lathe, which is a great way to go!
It wasn't horribly damaged, but it was enough to cause problems when putting my chuck on. I didn't have time to mess with finding a machine shop, and my Dad didn't have the necessary equipment to fix it. Replacements are only $15 and Nova actually just covered it under warranty even though I insisted it was my fault LOL So, it was just a matter of pressing new bearings on and installing it
Thanks for checking it out, hope it helps out =D I think the belt had accumulated some junk in the grooves that I couldn't get out and caused a vibration
Hi man.i just got this.can you tell if this is normal? When i remove the belt and spin the hand wheel it wont even make a complete turn ?seems like it should turn more free.if you watch the index numbers while spinning it mine comes up short of a full turn..
So if it didn't spin alot and only like once then mine is prob. Normal. Sound about right ? Im nervous because my tailstock was bad and they are sending me on for 3 weeks now.cant even use it yet.
I just got back in town today and checked mine, it spins freely with the belt disengaged from the pulley. I think you should probably contact Nova about it
Thanks bro.i called them today.because it had a tailstock issue where the spindle just spinned and didnt move out or in ontop if this they are sending a new one.did you ever get your replacement ?
So you kinda tried to kinda replace your belt and ultimate had to kinda replace your entire spindle because you kinda hit the end of a threaded part with a friggin metal hammer. Do you kinda realize that this means literally ANY PERSON ON EARTH is more qualified to shoot this video than you kinda are? The fact that you would do such a thing makes me doubt every other thing you said. I'm now thinking that it ISN'T a good idea to make sure the spindle is kinda straight before pushing it back in. I think snap ring pliers probably kinda AREN'T the right tool to remove and install snap rings. And I now think it's probably kinda a good idea to stuff as many wood chips as possible into the belt compartment. I'll kinda post a video on how that goes. Sorry - I couldn't kinda help myself....................kinda.
Helpful hint. There is TWO set screws on the pulley in the same whole. First one must come all the way out and then loosen the second one. Took me forever to figure out why my pulley wouldn’t move. Also when putting the spindle back in, I used my faceplate that came with the lathe to protect the treads.
I shedded my belt tonight and found your video. Thank you and thanks for the pointers, too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I wasn't replacing a belt, but you explanation of the hex screw in the belt wheel helped me out a lot.
Thanks for the info, Zac!! I just shredded my belt today. I will get the new one next week. Then back in action!!
Product improvements? There are two set screws in the top pulley, and a groove in the shaft to help with alignment. After I had removed the shaft I thought, "you should have marked the shaft to make re-aligning easier..." Nice to have a video guide, Zach. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up on the stacked set screws in the pulley wheel. The new belt is a big improvement on the comet ii dr. The digital readout wheel and sensor must also be loosened when changing the belt. The digital readout is a nice improvement.
So glad i found this. I have an old lathe with a warped belt (my first lathe & rebuild), I was about to buy a belt when I looked at it and had no idea how to get the new one on. Thanks!
Gled it helped out Shawn!
Some great tips there, and the one on not hitting the spindle with a hammer. We replaced the bearings on a old lathe we have, not the new one, a older one that was in a flood. Motor runs just needed some cleaning and a few parts..have a great weekend...
Thanks Robert! Yeah, the nice thing about lathes is there's really not much to them, a few bearings, spindle and a motor. I bet that old one is running like a champ!
I wish it was that easy! I am having trouble getting spindle out. Tapping is now working, and yes I took the Clip off the shaft.
Awesome video at the perfect time, stupid spindle lock 🤣. As a footnote, I saved $5 by skipping amazon and going on eBay to find it was the same belt from the same seller.
The pully on mine had 2 set screws. Don't know if you mentioned that or not. Otherwise this video was extremely helpful. Thanks
I just remembered that I need to pick up an extra belt. 👍 Good stuff! Thank you Zac!
Glad I could jog your memory =D
Hi Zac I have a bar that is MT2 on both sides and would use that in the tailstock to press the spindle back into place rather than hammering it back.
That might work too. Tapping it back in works fine though as long as you don't smack the spindle directly with a mallet like I did this last time LOL
Thanks so much! I followed the same steps and it worked on my Delta midi lathe as well.
Hi Zac, if you're going to hammer the spindle back in, try threading the faceplate on to hammer it back in. Any time I have to cut or hammer a bolt I always thread a nut on first.
I don't think I'd do that myself Jim, I think adding extra weight could end up bending the spindle if you hit it wrong. A block of wood and a hammer works fine.
Excellent tip on removing the hand wheel. Thanks!
Great video. Unfortunately, the outer bearing moved and i cant access the groove for the clip after reinstalling
It worked perfectly. No issues. Thanks.
Thanks Zac. Just got my Comet II out of the box and set up. Still getting used to it. Hope I don't have to replace the belt for a while. I'd like to begin drilling pen blanks on it. Any suggestions as to a keyless drill chuck for the tailstock?
Thanks for the Video. Sorry you damaged your spindle, but take heart in how many you saved!
Hi Zac, is there a video to replace the spindle?
Aren’t there link belts that you can just slip on and then connect? That way you just cut the old one and remove. No disassembly required. Not an expert but I remember seeing something about. I think if there is any increase cost, it would be definitely worth it. (Power Twist?)
Thanks. I have to replace my spindle, so this is super helpful.
My nova comet II seemed to slow down on the top speed, would this be indicative of a worn belt? Or other issues I should look at? Like greasing areas?
Thanks for the instruction. Yup turned it on it with the spindle locked. Burned a groove in the belt and now there is a vibration at all speeds... Problem is no matter how hard I hit the spindle it will not move. Snap ring removed, tension off the belt and pulley out of the way. Any suggestions.
Hmm, that's no fun!! The only thing I can think of is trying to hit the joints with a little penetrating oil to see if it will help pop it loose. If you can't get it, I'd recommend contacting Nova support. They may have some more ideas on how to pop it loose
Where can I purchase the spindle for the Nova Comet II?
Great tips video, Zac! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Thanks Dwight! Hope that it will help some folks out. I know I was a bit perplexed the first time I had to do it, hopefully seeing the process will make it simple and easy for anyone who needs to replace a belt on their Comet =D
Thanks for the very informative video. Always prefer to learn from someone elses mistakes than taking the time to make them all myself 😜
That would have been nice to know no wonder I had a hard time moving the gears back in place. I hope I didn't screw something up. I gave it a test run seems OK. Jim's wood shop.
I have the same lathe. How long did the belt last and how did you know it went bad?
It should last quite a while if you keep it clean and don't turn the motor on with the lock engaged. Sometimes if the belt slips or you get debris in the ribs of the belt it can wear it down after a while and cause vibrations
Great explanation, thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for the video, it was a great help. Went real smooth.
Awesome! Glad it helped out =D
Regarding the slipping sheave (correct term for a "pulley" 😃) if there isn't a flat on the shaft I would suggest that a file be used to create a flat which will reduce the possibility of slippage which can ruin the shaft.
I never knew they were called sheaves! Thanks for letting me know. The spindle does have a notch in it for the set screw, but it's not a flat, more of a trench type thing
Bonanza is the fastest way to get one, Amazon does have them with free shipping but it takes longer for some reason, both come from west coast belts
Zac-As a subscriber to your channel I have noticed that you use the Nova Comet II 46300. Would you recommend this lathe? I’d love to hear your thinking on lathe choice. Thanks.
Hey Michael, yeah I think it's a pretty decent lathe for the price. It's handled everything I've thrown at it so far. I'd say lathe selection depends on what type of projects you plan to turn though. For smaller work like pens, small bowls and boxes, the Comet works pretty good. If you know that you'll want to turn larger pieces though, I'd probably recommend jumping into a full size lathe off the bat. I'm looking to add a full size lathe once I can save up for it so I'll be able to do a wider variety of projects.
With all the different choices out there, it's not easy choosing a lathe. If possible, I always recommend getting some time working on a couple different lathes if possible before you pull the trigger. If you have a Rockler, Woodcraft, or other woodworking/woodturning store near you, they should have some lathes that you can try out. Or if you have a turning club near you, I'd highly recommend getting in contact with them. Many clubs have lathes that you could try out, and often times members will let you come over and get some time on their lathe. The other good thing about clubs is you might find a great deal on a used lathe, which is a great way to go!
How much did you mess up the threads?
I would think any machine shop should be able to redress them. Do you have a machine shop nearby. ;-)
It wasn't horribly damaged, but it was enough to cause problems when putting my chuck on. I didn't have time to mess with finding a machine shop, and my Dad didn't have the necessary equipment to fix it. Replacements are only $15 and Nova actually just covered it under warranty even though I insisted it was my fault LOL So, it was just a matter of pressing new bearings on and installing it
Mechanics old Indian trick. Any time you are going hammer on a threaded part put a nut on the threads to protect them. Hind sight is always 20/20.
learn something new every day =D
Good to know Zac, what happened to your original belt?
Thanks for checking it out, hope it helps out =D I think the belt had accumulated some junk in the grooves that I couldn't get out and caused a vibration
Hi man.i just got this.can you tell if this is normal? When i remove the belt and spin the hand wheel it wont even make a complete turn ?seems like it should turn more free.if you watch the index numbers while spinning it mine comes up short of a full turn..
Hmm, I'm not sure. I think mine will make a complete turn if the belt was removed. Does it make any weird sounds when you spin it?
No weird noise that i can hear.my first lathe so when spinning no weird noise but when i am tooling the wood i donno if its normal sounds.lol
So if it didn't spin alot and only like once then mine is prob. Normal. Sound about right ? Im nervous because my tailstock was bad and they are sending me on for 3 weeks now.cant even use it yet.
I just got back in town today and checked mine, it spins freely with the belt disengaged from the pulley. I think you should probably contact Nova about it
Thanks bro.i called them today.because it had a tailstock issue where the spindle just spinned and didnt move out or in ontop if this they are sending a new one.did you ever get your replacement ?
Great info! Thanks for sharing Zac.
Glad to share, hope it helps out =D
Great video
I so could have used this video last week
Shoot!! I've been trying get this one done for a while now. Sorry it was just a bit too late :(
Don't have that lathe but................................ as always.................... interesting. JimE
LOL Well, I appreciate you checking it out Jim! If you ever pick up a Comet or know someone with one, now you have belt replacements on them down =D
So you kinda tried to kinda replace your belt and ultimate had to kinda replace your entire spindle because you kinda hit the end of a threaded part with a friggin metal hammer. Do you kinda realize that this means literally ANY PERSON ON EARTH is more qualified to shoot this video than you kinda are? The fact that you would do such a thing makes me doubt every other thing you said. I'm now thinking that it ISN'T a good idea to make sure the spindle is kinda straight before pushing it back in. I think snap ring pliers probably kinda AREN'T the right tool to remove and install snap rings. And I now think it's probably kinda a good idea to stuff as many wood chips as possible into the belt compartment. I'll kinda post a video on how that goes.
Sorry - I couldn't kinda help myself....................kinda.