Member postings for Peter Lamb 4

This advice was really helpful thanks. I recently bought a D bit from a well known supplier but it had a flat end so just rubbed on the work piece. I've ground an angle as described here and it worked well. Before and after photos here. The part is the regulator valve for my Box Hill loco.

Hi Dan - I have a Pallas mill which is 4MT but also has the rectangular recess which matches all the tooling I have with it. Some photos of the mill in my album from a couple of years back. The torque to the tooling is via a combination of the friction of the taper and draw bar and the recess. Certainly when I am doing heavy cuts with the horizontal arbour on my machine the recess is closed up and helping drive the tool. Some of the tooling I inherited with the machine was made recently with the rectangular drive element so I would try and maintain this feature.

Thanks Dave. I think the arbours are clear of the shoulder but will check again - they do need a tap to free up so I think are home on the taper Ok. It has taken a slight beating over the years and I did need to clean up the "nose" of the spindle when I got it as the vertical head drive shaft had come lose on its draw-bar and run round out of the socket - the shaft was worst off but cleaned up ok.

Thank you both for the advice and guidance. I haven't noticed any float on when checking with the stub shaft but will try again. This may well be my Christmas holiday job! I will check temperatures as suggested and can probably borrow an IR unit from work.

I am hoping someone may be able to advise me on how to adjust the main spindle of my mill. It is a Pallas horizontal machine that I think is 1950's or 60's vintage. It has no plate with exact details so I am working off information from the lathes.co.uk web site (the best I have found so far). There are some photos in an album I have created that will give exterior views - attached here. There is some run-out if I put a ~ 6" arbour in the bore which is 4MT. I have put a taper reamer down the bore and cleaned out a small high spot so I think what is left needs taking up on what I assume are taper roller bearings. I would like some advice before taking things apart if someone has done similar. Thank you