IMS drill press - Adjusting belt tension/changing speed

[Putnamm]

I inherited an IMS benchtop drill press from a neighbor. It's in working order. I've used it to drill a good many holes so far. But it is set on the lowest speed, and I want to increase the speed. I have experience with drill presses, so I understand how it's supposed to work--slack the belt usually by moving the pulley/motor housing, then replacing the belt on the proper pulley level(s) to achieve the desired speed.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to loosen the motor sufficiently to slack the belt and allow me to reposition the belt on the pulley to change speed. I've loosened the set screw on the rod that connects to the motor and has a spring on it, which presumably would allow me to move the motor inward--creating the slack I need. But the motor appears to already be sitting as close to the inside of the drill press as it can go. The spring appears fully compressed, and when I loosen the set screw it does not expand. All of this means I have no travel in the motor that will allow me to create the slack I need.

Any suggestions?

-Mark P.

 

[toolchaser]

Looks like you need the next length longer belt, Tractor Supply has them, just take the old one with you

 

[Bretny]

I would just roll the belt to the next smaller section of pully then roll it to the bigger one. If that works no need for a longer belt.

 

[454ragtop]

I would just roll the belt to the next smaller section of pully then roll it to the bigger one. If that works no need for a longer belt.

To expand on this, with the belt in the lowest sheave on the pulleys, start at the spindle end and lift the belt towards the next highest sheave with one hand while turning the pulleys with the other. The belt will jump into that sheave on the spindle end, then repeat the process at the motor end. No need to loosen or adjust the motor or belt tension.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

First Rope, that's the Taiwanese brand of belt that it came with, has no idea about standard belt sizes, so the belt numbers are basically meaningless. Once you roll the belt off with a screwdriver, a no-no BTW, take it with you when get a longer belt. Yours is likely a fractional 3L series.

 

[2oolhound]

I'm with the first 3 posters. I never slack any adjustments on mine, I just lift the edge of the belt against the pulley while rotating the pulleys by hand (with power off) and the belt jumps to the next level. My belts look slightly slack when in place but they don't slip. If your belt is super tight already you may need a longer belt. Cut it off and get a longer one. Don't use a screw driver to jump belts to the next size pulley because that's how you chip the pulleys.

On second thought I have the intermediate pulley so have 2 belts with the 3 pullet system and this could be why I don't need to slack the motor to swap configurations.

 

[matt_i]

Why run faster? Unless you have tiny drills the edge tools will last longer going slow. Which is important when you are buying them and have to maintain their edge.