Other views of a good belt alignment. Besides that, there has to be no "bounce" in that center pulley when when the motor is turned on and the clutch engages, as it is running. Again, the belt can't rub against the underside of the top body carriage flange, even if slightly, or it will wear out prematurely.



 

robmck wrote:

As this thread has been moving along, I happened to be working on my 5LE, which I just got running pretty well. I ended up using the -400 belts that Pete graciously sent me.

I also had a problem that my center pulley was not true, which made a lot of noise, no matter which belt combination I put on it. Pete gave me a good tip of lubing the pulley with Teflon grease. I also added some to the pivot arm rails and guides. That lube job alone deadened most of the noise. I was really surprised by the impact. There's still a little bit of that vibration, but it now blends in with the hum of the motor...

Thanks again to Pete for all the help!

Great tips.
Thanks!

Thanks, Pete as well.

What teflon grease, brand, type, did you use on the center pulley pivots and slides.

thanks 
jimmy
 

Pete E. wrote:

Kalani,

Not sure what Rob used...but my wife and I use this stuff on our vintage sewing machines (and our 1990's Italian road bicycles) so put it to use on typewriters.  Tri-flow product.

https://www.triflowlubricants.com/product/tri-flow-synthetic-grease/

Thanks, Pete.
I ordered it on Amazon. Here. . 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C15MUU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Maybe I can get it into a syringe long needle applicator so just a little here and there.
Can't remember the old tv commercial. . ."lil dab'll do ya". . .maybe hair oil?

thanks again,
k

I just use a tooth-pick or a sewing needle to dab it on.

You can also get the Tri-flow teflon-based lubricating oil in a pencil/needle applicator, if you wish.

https://www.triflowlubricants.com/product/tri-flow-pin-point-lubricator/

Or I just re-fill my eBay "oilers" with Tri-flow oil.
.

 

If you're looking for the original spec v-belt for Smith-Corona 5 & 6 series machines, the 3M315 Gates Polyflex is a correctly sized replacement.  A bit expensive compared to rubber o-rings, but if you want the quietest possible running machine...

Here's one of many sources:

https://www.bdiexpress.com/us/en/Mechanical-Power-Transmission/Belt-Drives/Drive-Belts-V-Belts/3M315/p/1105312