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The belt on my Performax 22-44 powerfeed broke at the seam, so I ordered a new belt. When I installed the new belt, it insisted on drifting to one side, and the edge hangs over. No matter how I adjust the tension from side to side, it always rides over to the same side. I even exaggerated the slack in one side to get it to run the other way, but it still drifted in the same direction, to the tight side. It should drift away from the tight side. I even took the belt off and installed it backwards to see what that would do. It still drifted to the same side of the table.

Has anyone had this problem??

James Burkett

No problems with my Performax. Sounds like a call to them is in order unless someone here has already dealt with this problem.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I had this problem on the original belt. The manufacturer deduced that the belt was glued up wrong so that the edges are not the same length on opposite sides. They sent a new belt, but I have not gotten around to installing it yet.

I had the same problem; everything was fine until I had to change the feed belt, then it would not track no matter what I did. The cure for me was a set of Performax magnetic ceramic belt guides, that attach on the underneath and seem to apply gentle pressure on the edges on the belt and make it sort of stay put. They don't fray the edges or anything, and it has tracked perfectly ever since. It was a Performax part, I can get you the part number tomorrow if you need it. Good luck.

Steve

I have this problem on my 16-32. It is more of a nuisance issue these days. I ended up removing the ceramic guides, they just made the belt bunch up. In the end, I found it easier to just watch the belt, and slacken the adjusters and slide it over when it gets too close to the edge.

But one possible suggestion, what I have been using it for lately, I have been using lighter passes. In other words, less downforce on the drive belt. I also run each piece through twice, the second pass rotated 180 degrees to take any non-parallel tolerances out of the issue. And so far, that seems to have done more than anything to keep the belt in place, I haven't had to adjust it in a while now.

Worth a try anyway!

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Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

Look at the rubber drive roller. They wear out over time. It should be slightly crowned in the middle for stable tracking or so I was told when Jet replaced my whole drive unit.

Thanks for the replies. I think my problem is a bent shaft on the rubber drive roller. I must have bent it while changing the belt, since the old belt was tracking fine before it broke.

I found 2 places that has the part. The Jet website refers me to Walter-Meier in LaVergne, TN 615-793-8900. Searching Google I found eReplacementparts.com.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
James

James, you may have just mistyped, but it should run towards the -tight- side. Counterintuitive, but that is why flat pulleys (i.e. bandsaw) are crowned in the middle,
Mike

James, make sure the shaft is really bent before you buy a new one. If you do a search on the forum you should find some extensive old discussions on this topic. I think this is a common problem encountered with the Performax. I had the same thing happen with a new belt. I think it has something to do with the belts. I also had to remove the magnetic ceramic belt guides because the belt would drift to one side and the guide on that side would tear up the belt. I haven't solved the problem. Every so often I just have to loosen, move the belt back over and retighten. Jet is aware of the problem. They sent me a free belt when I complained. It does seem to help to make sure you take light passes. But I can literally turn on my machine and without running any wood through, watch as the belt migrates toward one side. Wendy