Member postings for Sam Spoons

I will take pics when I dismantle. It's a job for later though as I'll need to sort the electrics first when my new switch arrives.

I suspect some teeth gnashing has happened in the past, not so much the teeth as the dogs/pins in the bull gear as they are slightly bent (which is what I meant by worn).

Edited By Sam Spoons on 08/04/2020 12:50:09

Might be a good first project

The sliding wheel does slide but, obviously, if the pegs are not lined pit can't go all the way, then when you do line them up it doesn't seem to engage fully until you push it across by hand (well screwdriver actually). Once engaged it seems to work well enough though the pegs are quite worn and probably would not cope with much load. Replacing them is a job for the future though.

And thanks Speedy, yes I had found that one.

Update, the back gear engagement is fine, I was having a numpty moment

Still trying to sort the bull gear/spindle dog clutch engagement?

Has anybody got a link to .pdf/ebook manuals or parts lists for my CSB? I can only find mkII and *UD versions.

TIA

Edited By Sam Spoons on 07/04/2020 19:23:45

Thanks for the replies.

#oldiron, that switch looks perfect*, I have a cheap one missing the emergency stop button on the way but will repurpose that for another machine. I know the motor is underpowered (my lathe is a CSB model, apparently the original motor would have been 1/3HP and that was considered somewhat feeble) but it was what I could scrounge at the time. It is a Brooke Motors "Merlin mk III" so pretty old.

Next question, how do I adjust the back gear engagement? And, while the bull wheel does engage the dogs, there is still a gap between the bull wheel and the spindle side of the dog clutch, I assume that can also be adjusted?

TIA

* And #old mart who linked to the same switch.

Edited By Sam Spoons on 06/04/2020 13:42:04

Not at the moment, just for fun really. I'll see if I can dig soon live stuff out.

Do you play?

Thanks Bazyle, I've started a thread in the Beginners Questions forum about fixing up my lathe as it seems the best place for it.

My Boxford is an ex school model I was given about 20 years ago. I got it running, just, back then but then a move of workshop space left it in a corner gathering dust until last week.

Condition is not great but I don't intend a restoration just to get it working and make it safe.

So a couple of questions :-

1. How to change speeds, I guess I just move the belt by hand as there is no mechanism but any trick to it?

2. It has no spindle lock so how do I remove the chuck (I have read that using the back gears to lock the spindle is not a great idea)?

FWIW it all seems to work, all gears available, lead screw works, and it's remarkably quiet. The motor is a salvaged ¼ HP single phase ex-washing machine unit with rudimentary wiring, that will be the first bit to be tidied up. I know it's underpowered but I will change it later when I know everything works properly. The motor pulleys are oversize I think as spindle speeds are +25% which is not ideal. I'm electrically competent but can anybody suggest the simplest cheapest way to wire it up (tested it with a plug in RCCD to switch on and off)?

Edited By Sam Spoons on 04/04/2020 13:41:42

Just to add, I'm in South Manchester, very close to Abbotsfield Park.

Thanks guys.

Thanks for the advice David. Will heed.

Chris, I plan to use the lathe for odd jobs, first one will be to repair a brass double bass tuning machine with a snapped shaft, just a matter of drilling and inserting a pin down the middle. I'm not likely to become a serious model maker as my other hobbies* take up more than enough of my time.

Brian, thanks for the link, I was aware of the website and it is a very useful resource.

Getting the Boxford working is almost an end in itself. It won't be a 'restoration', I don't have the skills or the time/motivation but simply a 'fixing up' so I can have a functioning lathe at the end of the process.

* Musician/guitar player, recording/retired live sound guy and sailing dinghies.

Can anybody recommend an ebook to help me re-learn good workshop practice. I an bringing a very tired 1961 Boxford CSB 4 1.2" lathe* back from the dead (on a shoestring) and will have lots of questions I'm sure.

One question, (and this one might seem silly) what is the correct way to move the v belt between pulleys? The tension lever works fine but it's nearly 50 years since I did any 'proper' engineering in a workshop so how to do it safely?

* Recovered from a shed behind a school, the Head of CDT was a mate and gave it to me after a random conversation 20 years ago. Finally getting some time to do something with it in this enforced isolation,

Hi I've just started to get an old Boxford into working order so have joined the forum as I'll need advice and help. My last serious engineering was nearly 50 years ago at school and college so I'm very rusty but am reasonably aware of the safety issues (though if you want to remind me I won't take offence).