Adjustable motor mount ideas for lathe?

Would be simpler to get a stepped pulley for the motor and just hinge it so it doesn’t need to slide as well.

It would be simpler but these are flat pulleys and I don’t think the shaft is long enough. It might work if I let the pulleys overhand the end an inch or so, not sure if that would be a problem. Or make one long flat pulley and hope the belt will track properly although that doesn’t seem likely.

-- |Statistics show that 100% of people bitten by a snake were close to it.|

I don’t know if this will help but my 45+ year old table saw has the motor mounted on a flat plate with a hole on one end for a rod that allows the motor moved parallel to the shaft about 2” and serves as the pivot for the tensioning of the motor by it’s weight.

To extrapolate this to your application, as the lateral movement is considerably greater, I would use a longer rod and capture both ends of the rod. Adding two collars to the shaft would allow lateral positioning and locking.

Just a thought as I don’t have a lathe and I am only trying to visualize your situation.

-- "I never met a board I didn't like!"

oldnovice, that was basically my idea although I’m not sure I have the tools to make it work. I might be able to jury rig it with U bolts attached to the motor mount and peen the rod ends. A spring or pneumatic door opener could provide resistance to reduce motor bounce.

My other idea was allowing the motor mount to glide on rollers across a rail, something like a barn door.

-- |Statistics show that 100% of people bitten by a snake were close to it.|

Updating this to say I double checked the measurements, the step pulley on the lathe is 3.25” across. The motor shaft is only 1.5” long so I don’t think a 3 step pulley will work, I’ll have to slide the motor.

-- |Statistics show that 100% of people bitten by a snake were close to it.|

How about some Tslot extruded pieces instead of full blown fabrication. There is plenty of that available on eBay.

Use a piece of extrution as the rail for a sliding bearings and putting a rod through the center of the extrusion. The extrusion can be bolted to almost any hard/plywood for mounting. This reduces the actual fabrication to cutting the extrusion and rod the length and making the wooden pieces for the mount.

-- "I never met a board I didn't like!"

I have a 1/4 HP motor wired for 3 speed operation. Previously I couldn’t remove it from the fan housing but I’m going to try cutting it apart today. If I can get it out, that will solve my problems. If not, I came up with another plan for the 1/3 HP motor using trunnion cradles and a steel bar.

-- |Statistics show that 100% of people bitten by a snake were close to it.|

Another idea, I’m just full of them, since the shaft on the motor is not long enough for the 3 step pulley, put the 3 step pulley on its own shaft driven by the motor and 1:1 drive pulley/belt.

Just got to keep you thinking so you don’t hurt yourself … just kidding!

-- "I never met a board I didn't like!"

Actually that’s a great idea. If the 1/4 HP motor doesn’t work out for any reason I’ll think on it.

-- |Statistics show that 100% of people bitten by a snake were close to it.|