making new lathe spindle

Ok, so i worked out how to add a pic, but not how to put text as well!

Anyhow, getting sidetracked, anyone recognise these parts? Certainly not original.

Getting even more sidetracked, i knew about model engineer magazine but (dont tell anyone) i dont have much interest in trains.

I have just clicked the link at the top about model engineer workshop magazine and it looks like the best thing ever!

Subscription only or is it carried in any shops?

Just seeing if this works.

Graeme, it is carried by WH Smith and a lot of other newsagents, My local Martin Mcall has both mags, often hidden in amongst the train buffs and tractor magazines

Graeme

Graeme,

You have probably already seen the page on lathes.co.uk but I've linked it for ease of reference.

The bearing design is very poor [as was obviously discovered early in the life of this model].

If you want to work it rather than restore it ... I would make a solid bush, with a taper bearing, and clamp it solidly in the front "adjustable bearing".

MichaelG.

P.S. Have a look at Neil's Mega Adept thread for inspiration !

I went through the mega adept thread last week, ive browsed the forum quite a bit before i joined.

Ill get the wife to pick me up a copy of the magazine, she goes through town every day.

It is a machine that will be used, but only lightly as i dont often need to turn much. i guess that will change as i get used to having a lathe about though.

Hang on, took a while to click, do you mean convert the front bearing to a taper roller bearing?

Hmmm, i wonder if there is room...

What a great little lathe. I'd put it on the coffee table in the front room and use it as a talking point.

It kicks rump on so many levels. You lucky dog.

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I really don't know if there is room for a full taper roller assembly, but; if not, you could use just the outer race, and then sleeve the existing spindle with a Bronze male taper ...

I think we need some dimensions.

MichaelG.

I don't think I would personally consider a taper-roller bearing conversion with that design of headstock because there is no bracing between the bearing stanchions to take the necessary preload. I'm pretty sure those supports would close up when loaded and pull them out of alignment.

A new oversize spindle should be doable with a little care as should line-boring the headstock bearings with a between-centres boring bar.

Martin.

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For starters:

• Diameter and length of the hole in the casting
• Diameter of the spindle on its bearing surface
• A sketch of the existing plain bearing would be useful for reference. [Can you easily remove it from the casting?]

... It looks quite promising.

MichaelG.

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Martin [and anyone else interested]

How much preload do you really need on the bearing in a small headstock?

I suspect that even with no preload, the result would be better than the original arrangment.

MichaelG.

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Edit: I just found this, which is encouraging.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 23/02/2015 22:23:15

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Ah ... Sorry about that ... it's rather deceptive.

Answers to my first two bullets would still be interesting.

MichaelG.

Edited By Graeme Whitfield on 23/02/2015 22:35:11