Kerry 1124 lathe - some healing required

John Ward will make any one off parts for lathes of this size if you get stuck.

The top slide damage is a common occurrence, especially with no overhang toolposts such as a Lantern type.

It does not affect the performane of the lathe in any way - i would just dress it out & smooth it up with a file.

On the Kerry, that damage does make a difference. It is a wedge type gib strip held endways by the mangled screw you can see in the photo and another at t'uther end. Someone has then drilled in a roll pin to hold it as a repair, but the gib strip cannot now be adjusted.

Three ways out as I see it:

• Get the base casting built up with weld and machine back to original. Could be tricky to machine the weld back and blend well enough for a machine slide.
• Shorten the base and re- drill for the gib strip screw. Will leave you with a little less support, but probably fine.
• Make a pattern up and get a new base cast. You might be very lucky and find a foundry that would work from the knackered base if you build it up with isopon or similar, but they are a rare thing these days.

The upper top slide casting is easy, you can hack that out of continuous cast bar - don't ask me how I know that.

I checked in my instruction book for metric screwcutting charts, but it refers to a different style of box. I think you will have to try it out and count input turns Vs. leadscrew turns and then work it out from scratch. You could try asking Tony Griffiths - you never know your luck.

As to cross slide screw - bite the bullet and put a digi readout on that and the long axis.

By the way, you got an absolute bargain when you bought the lathe.

Martin

I would repair that gib adjuster by counter-boring the adjuster hole deeper and making a new adjuster screw, trim the end of the gib to suit.

Agree with Pete about boring the adjuster hole a touch deeper to give a clean seat for the screw. However I'd clean up the end of the gib and carefully weld an extension on to take the adjuster screw engagement slot.

Done right by welding both sides with suitably low currents and a bit of peening whilst it cools to counteract the bending stresses the extension ends up essentially straight. Dont try to straighten it if it is a bit wonky. Excellent chance of distorting the gib.

Just carefully file the extension until the shape is close enough that it fits in without binding. The area covered by the extension contributes vey little to overall stiifness so a thou or three clearance just there matters little.

I'd probably attack the main casting with the welder too and work it back to the right shape. But I have form for doing such. Realistically a bit of metal loaded filler to hide the distress is a more sane way of dealing with things.

Clive

Hi all

Just to close the loop on this one. Over the holiday, I finished the repair to my top slide. I took Martin Johnson's advice (option 2); basically removing 1/4" from the end of the slide, and re-boring / tapping the holes for the gib adjustment screw.

There was a slight interlude involving a broken screw.............. and a broken screw extractor....which required a visit to a local spark-erosion specialist. (It's very handy to live near Coventry, where such services are readily available).

Just today, I made a replacement screw. It has a 1/2" diameter head and a 3/16 BSF, threaded section, 1" long. I thought I might struggle to turn the thin section, but I followed some advice on Joe Pieczynski's YouTube channel, which worked like a dream. All in all, I'm happy with the result.

Next job, make a new dial that reads 0 to 2.5mm to replace the one graduated 0- 2.0mm.

Thanks once again for the advice and support.

Edited By Andrew Cox 3 on 03/01/2020 12:11:23

Edited By Andrew Cox 3 on 03/01/2020 12:11:49

Edited By Andrew Cox 3 on 03/01/2020 12:12:21

Glad you managed to repair your top slide. I also have a 1124 and for those with Kerry lathes there is some info on them including manuals at

https://groups.io/g/Kerrylathes

Most of the info was transferred from Yahoogroups before it changed its service last December.

Deleted double post!

Edited By Andrew Firman on 04/01/2020 23:09:22

Hi Andrew, thanks for the link. My membership application is pending.......

Hi Andrew (Cox), Hopefully you are now a member with posting rights......