The Martin is exclusively Scotch Tension. When Drive Band is installed,
view the Flyer from the side to ensure the alignment is correct. If
necessary, you can slide the motor’s position forward or back.
The tension belt is located on the magnets in the Martin’s Lid. (It’s
a short piece of Kevlar with a spring and an adjustable cinch plate.)
Install your flyer, bobbin, motor drive belt, and tension belt. Place
the tension belt so that the spring is on the LEFT side when spinning
singles (clockwise, Z), but swap the tension belt with the spring on the
RIGHT side for plying (counterclockwise, S). This way, the spring can
actually do its job on the “taut” side of the tension belt. The goal is to
have the Right Tension Dial adjusted into the middle of its adjustment
range, with no slack in the tension belt and very little expansion of the
spring. This is a good starting point and ensures there is a usable range
on the dial so takeup can be increased or decreased.
After unpacking, a small adjustment may be required. Martin tension
uses a spring, and you can look at it to see how much tension is being
applied. The usable range goes from spring collapsed to fully extended
at almost double its length.
Scotch Tension Basics
16
