Member postings for Andrew Dockery

Thanks for the replies. I have mig welded a lot of car bodies and always thought the weld would be to hard and damage the file. I will give it a go.

Hello all, I am hoping you clever engineers can help me with the right method and tooling for repairing the drive for my lawnmower blade. The bolt holding it together came loose allowing the two parts to logger and wear. The drive shaft has two flats machined on it and the driven part is a rectangle to match, see photos.

I will attempt to weld replacement metal on to both parts, my question concerns how to machine the parts and in what order with which grade of tooling. I have not got a surface grinder so I am thinking mill the flats on the shaft first but I do not know if my carbide cutters will tackle the weld material or not. As for trying to make a nice accurate rectangle in the driven part I can only think of using a die grinder very carefully with a small cutter.

I look forward to your suggestions, thanks Andy.

Thanks for the advice. Nick I have taken the top off, drained the oil so I could see what I was doing and turned the lathe by hand but could not establish what was stopping the gear engaging. I do not have enough knowledge about the way the lathe should come apart, i.e. what is an interference fit and would need a puller and what is maybe just a tight fit and needs persuading off. I am afraid I may damage something through my ignorance.

Hello, this is my first post. I have a Colchester Student, (serial number not to hand). The main bearings are now rumbling, it will not engage top speed correctly and oil leaks from the thread cutting gearbox. I would very much like to do the repair work myself but do not have the confidence to tackle it on my own. I was wondering if there is anyone in the Ipswich area of Suffolk who is knowledgeable enough who would be willing to mentor me to enable me to repair and learn at the same time. Thanks Andy.