Power up and down

[summerjob]

You've been a big help kelLOGg. Thanks again.  On the gear motor it says no key or flat.  What did you do to fasten the sprocket to the gear motor.  On the gear motor there is a shaft sticking out both sides.  Do you think a sprocket could be mounted on one side and a crank handle on the other side.  If that could be done, I would not have to reroute my chain at all.  I could just add the gear motor to where the current crank is located.

[kelLOGg]

Summerjob,

Luckily the shaft is machineable steel. I drilled a hole in the sprocket hub and mounted the sprocket on the shaft. (I had to put a sleeve over the shaft to make a snug fit on the sprocket). Using the just-drilled hole as a guide to assure the holes would line up, I drilled thru the shaft and pressed a roll pin thru the hole. (It takes careful mounting in a drill press to keep the assembly steady). Don't use a set screw as it won't hold.

Putting the crank wheel directly on the gearmotor shaft is probably not the best idea because the crank wheel is probably not balanced and when driven bachward due to the descending saw head (by gravity) vibrations will be absorbed directly by the gear motor. This may be a fine point but it's my best guess. Also, remember if driving and driven sprockets are different diameters the torque will change. Keep us posted of your results.

[summerjob]

It will be a little while until I actually get around to hooking this up, but I did order the gear motor.  I am hoping I can just pull the crank rod out of the current sprocket and attach the gear motor with minor machine work.  Then I am hoping to just add the crank handle to the shaft sticking out of the gear motor.  The crank will only be used to lower the head.  If the crank can't be fitted this was I guess I will have to find another location for the gear motor or crank. Can even pull crank off the raise head possibly.  Anyone see any major problems with this idea.