| ==================== Friction Brake Problems ==================== >> My Harrisville loom has a friction brake which isn't working. I have a doubleweave blanket half-done on the loom, and the brake won't hold when I beat. So I'm stuck in the middle of this project and can't figure out what to do; if anybody has some suggestions that would be great. I've tried changing the spring, but it hasn't seemed to help any. Thanks for any help - this is really frustrating! Codey << -------------- I believe I had the same problem with a Leclerc loom (it was a tapestry loom and required massive tension, which never held). The solution is simple. Take a small piece of sandpaper, fold it so you have sandpaper on both sides, and stick it under one loop of the brake that goes around the beam. Just that little bit of sandpaper will prevent the brake from slipping. Claudia Chase -------------- Thank you Claudia, I tried the sandpaper and am weaving happily again with enough tension on the loom. Thank you so much! Codey -------------- I was having similar problems with the brake on my LeClerc Colonial. Diane Mortensen gave the invaluable advice to replace the flat metal *ribbon* with steel cable. This was the perfect fix. If the flat metal has any tiny bends anywhere it doesn't release or hold properly. By changing to the flexible wire cable the brake releases evenly and holds snugly. On one beam I used a length of left over cable that had a plastic coating and it worked just as well as the uncoated length I used on the second beam. This was easy to change over on my own and when the brake was released I had perfect control over the amount released unlike before when I often had to get up from the bench and wind the excess amount of warp released back onto the back beam. Darlene Mulholland -------------- Continued slippage, following the replacement of and correct assembly of the Flat Brake Circle and Spring, would indicate the Drum may have been worn smooth from heavy use or years of service. In order for the Brake to work effectively the Flat Brake Circle must have gripping points when engaged with the Drum. To correct this the Brake Circle is removed and the face of the Drum is scored (rouphed up) useing a coarse File. Score the Drum all the way around and reassemble the system. Essentially, when placeing a piece of Sand Paper between the Brake Circle and Drum the same result is realized but the effectiveness is usually short lived(Sand Paper wears out quickly and needs to be secured to stay positioned). Thomas Beaudet |
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| (...this is really frustrating!) |
| (In order for the Brake to work effectively the Flat Brake Circle must have gripping points...) |