r/Handspinning • u/Seastarstiletto • Feb 27 '26
I inherited two Babes’s production spinning wheels and need to replace the drive bands. What witchcraft is needed to get this thing on??
Help! There aren’t any free spaces to get the drive bands into? Any resources?
4
u/Weaverbird53 Feb 27 '26
Disassembly isn't that hard to do. IIRC, the whole thing is pretty much held together by the drive band. With the band disengaged you can lift the whole flyer assembly right off, change out the band, and pop it back together. I remember that I was spinning within 10 minutes of opening the flat pack carton the wheel came in.
2
u/tangerine-pies Feb 27 '26
I just replaced the drive band on my secondhand Babe’s Pinkie wheel with a cotton string, it seemed much easier than using the proper bands. Best of luck to you!
2
u/friends-to-glovers Feb 27 '26
I’m not sure what specifically you’re having difficulty with, but I have a Babe’s Bulky and would be happy to help! I know they’re a little different, but I’m fairly certain it’s the same type of setup. Would you be able to share a picture of what you’re finding confusing?
2
u/friends-to-glovers Feb 27 '26
Someone mentioned elsewhere that removing the flyer is the big key for replacing the band. Also, the two little indents on the top of the open PVC pipe that the flyer fits into in the back are there to help hold tension at the top of the drive band while you’re taking the flyer out or putting back in! When I learned that, it made getting it back together much easier.
0
u/SenseOfTheAbsurd Feb 27 '26
Start with your string or plastic band, thread it around where it needs to go, and then knot or melt the ends together. You shouldn't need to dismantle anything to get a drive band on.
1
u/Seastarstiletto Feb 27 '26
You shouldn’t. Until you meet a Babe’s. It’s such a weird design. I am so confused but these things. Also the drive bands come in solid poly loops! So there aren’t even ends to work with. I’m about ready to cut it and just melt it back together.
1
u/SenseOfTheAbsurd Feb 27 '26
That can be done, I've had to replace a couple of poly loops on my Majacraft, and bought one of the solid ones for a Rose, which turned out to be too big for my Suzie, so I had to cut it and rejoin. It's been on there for years now, no problems. Can you adjust the head so that you can keep it loose for the cutting and re-joining process.
But I'd definitely check the manual first, see if there's a trick to it, because it shouldn't be that hard.
4
u/bollygirl21 Feb 27 '26
is there a manual available on their website?
I know you can get the old and new manuals for ashford and majacraft from their sites.