Speed control on Lathe but could be used for any belt driven app.
Hello zetuskid, funny this is my first post too. I had the exact same problem with my 46-111 D/R. My first modification was to putting in jack shaft which is an extra shaft with bearings on each end and cone pulleys on both ends in addition to the cone on motor and lathe shaft itself. Can go very slow, to very very fast with just the changing of belt position. After a few years, I got tired of that and because I had worked in a factory Maintainence for 26 years before retiring, I had accumulated lots of "stuff" most of it not worth much. I finally got tired of changing belt position and wound up with a 2hp DC motor with speed control to go from just barely turning to go fast enough to have something explode if so desired. My next modification will be putting spacers under the headstock and tailstock to change from 11 inch swing to 17 inch with 3 inch spacers keyed both sides. I would rather have put a 3 phase motor with VFD on but used what I had at no cost. I have 3 other 46-111s I will be getting set up to be able to do some teaching/instruction with friends. Presently I go hang out with some blacksmith friends every Thursday night learning blacksmith stuff so I can give back with lathe work on different nights.