[Stonehenge]

Earlier this year we were forced to use the water attachment for our Partner K950, and the saw hasn't been the same since.

We went through two belts while working on the project where we had to use water, and since then, running dry there is a ton of slippage. The clutch seems to be fine, and both pulleys seem to spin freely, but when running the saw, you can hear the RPM's jump to top speed as soon as you hit the throttle, and maybe 10 seconds later the blade matches that speed. Try to cut something and you get the scent of burning belt.

I've adjusted the tension on the belt as much as I can, with no change in performance.

I took the saw apart today, cleaned everything, tried to use some brake cleaner on the pulleys, but both still have a high sheen to them.

Anyone have a good trick to use to clean these things so they have some grab to them?

[Bill Schwab]

Take some 36 grit andpaper and scuff them up. then install a new belt and set the tension. Also, you don't need a ton of water to dampen the dust. So, turn the ball valve on the water nozzle down as far as you can get it without making dust.

[agla]

There is a product that is used to get rid of the sqeak in car doors. It is like a crayon and is called Door-Ease. A mechanic recommended it to me many years ago when I had a squeekty belt on a truck. You simply rub it along the sides of the belt that contact the pulley. It helps it get a grip. You don't need much.

It is an unconventional use for that product, but it works very well.

[diginahole]

I've been having similar problems with my Partner lately. I'm betting that I'm due for some clutch work though. Them centrifugal clutches can be finicky. New springs in the wacker solved the problems I was having there. Mind you, it was the opposite problem that you are having with the saw. On the tamper the springs became tired and would engage the clutch before the engine could build enough power to get the exciter going. If you think the clutch is OK then try some belt dressing, 'round here it comes in an aerosol can. It has helped me many times on noisy slipping fan belts on the trucks. My guess says there is a bigger problem though. I have found that I need to tighten replacement belts on the Partner tighter than the spot indicated on the saw. Have you tried that?

[Stonehenge]

Yeah, I had that nut cranked way past the hash marks, but it didn't do any good. I had tried belt dressing and a few other chemicals, but the glazing seemed to stay. I tried Bill's suggestion this morning and it almost got us back to 100% (Thanks Bill!). I may try the stuff Agla mentions to see if that'll help, too.