loose drill press pulley

[Electric Comet]

the drive pulley just refuses to stay tight

took it all apart and oiled it and cleaned it and still loosens after only a couple of on off cycles

the key seems fine and pulley and motor shaft look okay

probably go with some blue loctite but not sure if that will be enough

red would work but if the red does not do it then removal requires high heat which i do not want to do

might use another set screw behind the existing one also

disappointed that the set screw is so small as it makes it hard to tighten it much at all

not sure what grizzly was thinking there

[stvlcnc43]

Surely, if the red does NOT work, you wont need any heat to remove it? It's only when it DOES work that you need heat to remove it.

[whit3rd]

Have you tried running a drill or reamer into the pulley bore? This has happened to me, when the (cast light metal) pulley had a conical hole.

[Dr. Deb]

You have a key on the shaft and pulley, do you also have a set screw? If not, why not put on in that hits the key? That way you will not damage the spindle and will keep the pulley in place.

[Electric Comet]

will look at that

in the pulley bore i did see the signs of a less than perfect cast impression

[Electric Comet]

if i apply red and it cures but the pulley still comes loose then i have to remove the red using heat

you presume that the set screw is the only problem but it might be some other issue

like in other post about conical pulley bore

[Jack]

I had the same problem 40 years ago with a pulley on my table saw. Replaced the key, replaced the set screw, no help. Loctite on the set screw fixed it permanently, I think it was blue.

Also had the same problem with a pulley bolted (no set screw) on my Grizzly planer, loctite blue on the bolt also fixed that problem.

[Leon]

Also check for a second set screw, I have run into that on opposite sides of the pulley. If one is loose neither stays tight.

AND if there is debris in the key way slot it is hard to keep the screw tight.

[Electric Comet]

did they have blue 40 years ago have not used loctite in so long i thought there was only red but maybe it was not even loctite and was nail polish that i used

i found some blue and it is holding so far and no longer is the drill press making so much noise

nice and quiet

[clare]

and if there are two set screws in the same hole, tightening the outer one - no matter how tight you make it - doesn't accomplish much!!!!

[Jack]

They had various colors indicating strength. I don't recall ever using red, the high strength stuff. I used the blue, medium strength and after 40 years, it is still holding perfectly. I've heard the red stuff can be problematic removing, but I never used it, and 40 years is permanent enough for me..

I bought the saw used 40 years ago, and the pulley was on backwards, making it impossible to set the blade to 90 degrees. The pulley would come loose every few uses, so obviously the previous owner was having trouble keeping it on. I fussed for several months, finally resorting to loctite after replacing the key and the set screw didn't work. Hasn't come off since.

I thought my planer was coming apart when the pulley came loose. Was quite happy to see the bolt holding on the pulley laying at the bottom of the cover. I though the factory failed to tighten it, but it came loose again in a month or so. Loctite blue has kept in on for several years now, so all is well.

[Leon]

I recall using red 35 or so years ago.

BUT there are two different Reds. Red High Strength/Permanent high temp

272, Red High Strength/Permanent 262,

Blue, Green, and Purple.

[Electric Comet]

red comes off but you have to get it up to 450f to 500f

another idea i had was to take a piece of nylon or plastic and thread that in behind the set screw

but the blue is holding so far so i stay with that

this drill press was a rescue and needed tlc

[bnwelch]

I have used wraps of teflon plumbers tape to try to reduce the loosening of problematic machine screws/bolts...seems to work...

[Leon]

There is actually a LocTite tape. It is often seen on the threaded portion of new automotive pressure switches/sensors.

[Jack]

IE, problematic.

Lots of ideas and loctite is there to replace most of them. It's an easy fix and it works, that I know. I'd be surprised if your pulley ever comes loose. Should be no need for the red stuff in this situation.

[Leon]

I would not use the red unless you can get to the screw/bolt and nut. In this case you probably can not. Or main bearing bolts in an engine block. ;!)

[Electric Comet]

yes very

that was established already in my post

but not when you have no loctite

i avoid going out to buy stuff as much as i can