I constantly hear complaints about Reeves Drive speed control mechanisms and really can't understand it. Yes, they do get mangled and need to have parts replaced, but that's almost always operator error. I've had three lathes with Reeves and not one has ever failed; never jammed up, never slipped, never broke. Right now, I have a Jet 14-42 with thousands of hours on it and it's solid as a rock. I mean, this design certainly is better than the old four-stage pulley system, and the price tag is significantly less than an electornic speed control.
I'm curious to hear the experiences of other woodturners. Problems? Complaints? Endorsements?
(For those who aren't familiar, the continuiously variable transmission, aka Reeves Drive, is a speed control with two-part pulleys that change size under pressure. When one is forced to a higher or lower diameter, the second spring-loaded pulley adjusts accordingly. The key to using them is to never, ever change speeds unless the lathe is turned on. Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ExzaUq5GI )