13-03-2014, 11:48 AM
Hi,
Thanks for asking Big Al.
The lead-screw appears in good condition without lumps missing or other kinds of damage etc; however I've not tried to measure wear knowing given its age there is bound to be wear usually in the area where the half nuts engage whilst the carriage is near the chuck end of the bed? I could roughly measure by using a single small ball bearing one that enters the thread but doesn't bottom out firstly taking a micrometer measurement with the ball located in the unworn tail-stock end of the lead-screw then take another measurement where I would expect to find wear; this would give a good indication of wear?
Yes much progress on the belts which I was going to add so here are the details. Benson Beltings Limited (Cleckheaton) are excellent to deal with and although their belt prices might appear quite expensive I think given the expected belt life the belts would prove good value? I received a free belt sample as shown in the pictures and this sample is a laminated belt being soft leather inner but with a tremendously strong impregnated fabric outer this fabric being man made. The prices quoted are for endless belts (already joined). 2235mm x 28mm £36.80 each and 1505mm x 28mm £30.75 each plus the usual government VAT rip off and carriage. I can buy the shorter motor to counter-shaft belt and install this but I need to be able to join the counter-shaft to mandrel belt in the lathe and because these belts are laminated and surprisingly very thin I need to inquire further as to how I can achieve this in my home workshop? As I say not cheap for two belts but what can you buy these days for this amount of money and once the belts are installed should give quiet trouble free running service for a long long time; I'm sure one major benefit apart from strength will be that once installed these belts will never stretch or stretch very little indeed? Once I get nearer to needing the belts I'll update the information; I might end up changing the motor mounting and also the motor so I'm not ordering any belting until I'm positive I know the exact belt lengths I need?
Yes and yes I'm now going the full distance with this restoration and intend to strip the lot; I'm expecting fun and games with the carriage because although the lead-screw drives perfectly the other long slotted drive shaft is turning a control to the front of the apron it isn't engaging anything else; the top slide at some point has been severely run into the chuck becoming damaged which at the top slide is more cosmetic but I wonder if something has been broken in the drive gears hidden from view; the power cross slide is inoperative at the moment so whilst I'm going to so much trouble I might as well try to put this problem right and also perhaps find out what makes this lathe tick? It's obviously a screw cutting lathe but so far I haven't seen any indexing for engaging the half nuts which is unusual? Now a lot of the big items are sorted I think I'll have a look at the carriage assembly next and have a go at restoring this into full working order?
I've been around lathes for the last 50 years but never actually rebuilt a lathe so in this respect this particular restoration is new to me but the work involved is mechanical engineering so I'm in no way a raw novice. I'm just pleased the heavy work is now behind me before my elbows fully pack in with all the work thus far carried out. I can never determine where the line is between pleasure and punishment during my restorations which I admit tend to ramble on and definitely get out of hand taking my life over for many weeks on end? Still I'm never bored.
Kind regards, Col.
Thanks for asking Big Al.
The lead-screw appears in good condition without lumps missing or other kinds of damage etc; however I've not tried to measure wear knowing given its age there is bound to be wear usually in the area where the half nuts engage whilst the carriage is near the chuck end of the bed? I could roughly measure by using a single small ball bearing one that enters the thread but doesn't bottom out firstly taking a micrometer measurement with the ball located in the unworn tail-stock end of the lead-screw then take another measurement where I would expect to find wear; this would give a good indication of wear?
Yes much progress on the belts which I was going to add so here are the details. Benson Beltings Limited (Cleckheaton) are excellent to deal with and although their belt prices might appear quite expensive I think given the expected belt life the belts would prove good value? I received a free belt sample as shown in the pictures and this sample is a laminated belt being soft leather inner but with a tremendously strong impregnated fabric outer this fabric being man made. The prices quoted are for endless belts (already joined). 2235mm x 28mm £36.80 each and 1505mm x 28mm £30.75 each plus the usual government VAT rip off and carriage. I can buy the shorter motor to counter-shaft belt and install this but I need to be able to join the counter-shaft to mandrel belt in the lathe and because these belts are laminated and surprisingly very thin I need to inquire further as to how I can achieve this in my home workshop? As I say not cheap for two belts but what can you buy these days for this amount of money and once the belts are installed should give quiet trouble free running service for a long long time; I'm sure one major benefit apart from strength will be that once installed these belts will never stretch or stretch very little indeed? Once I get nearer to needing the belts I'll update the information; I might end up changing the motor mounting and also the motor so I'm not ordering any belting until I'm positive I know the exact belt lengths I need?
Yes and yes I'm now going the full distance with this restoration and intend to strip the lot; I'm expecting fun and games with the carriage because although the lead-screw drives perfectly the other long slotted drive shaft is turning a control to the front of the apron it isn't engaging anything else; the top slide at some point has been severely run into the chuck becoming damaged which at the top slide is more cosmetic but I wonder if something has been broken in the drive gears hidden from view; the power cross slide is inoperative at the moment so whilst I'm going to so much trouble I might as well try to put this problem right and also perhaps find out what makes this lathe tick? It's obviously a screw cutting lathe but so far I haven't seen any indexing for engaging the half nuts which is unusual? Now a lot of the big items are sorted I think I'll have a look at the carriage assembly next and have a go at restoring this into full working order?
I've been around lathes for the last 50 years but never actually rebuilt a lathe so in this respect this particular restoration is new to me but the work involved is mechanical engineering so I'm in no way a raw novice. I'm just pleased the heavy work is now behind me before my elbows fully pack in with all the work thus far carried out. I can never determine where the line is between pleasure and punishment during my restorations which I admit tend to ramble on and definitely get out of hand taking my life over for many weeks on end? Still I'm never bored.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
