Myford MG9 grinder

Are you intending to re-align/re-scrape the ways after the painting?

Yes for sure. It has some wear but not too much and the long ways are worn the same all over so the geometry should be preserved. I do have to find a long enough dovetail straight edge to borrow though. Also I am going to have to figure out how to support the table for scraping. The profile is too long and thin to stop it from bending under it's own weight. Perhaps I will lay it on top of a large surface plate and let it over-hang 6" either side, or I might just send it for grinding, not sure yet.

A nice machine Peter, I hope the refurbishment goes well.

What projects have you got for it?

H

Thank you, I'm sure it will.

I have several immediate jobs for it. I have to make some hardened arbors for my gear hobbing machine. Hobbing demands that you hold the part and the hob very accurately.

Pete.

Here's a better picture of the wheelhead weight on my MG12:

The MG9 seems to have a coolant tank at the back, looking at the newly refurbished casting. Does it have a separate coolant tank and pump as seen on tbe right in the above picture. On the MG12 the tank at the back of the machine is divided into 2 compartments, and is basically a settling tank. The two bent plugs top right are for draining the settling tank.

Andrew

Thanks for the photo Andrew it helps me a lot. The MG9 has a single small sump and it was bothering me that it had such a small capacity and scant room for a pump. Mine also has an outlet in the rear wall mid-height which stuck out about 3" with an elbow on it. Then I saw this flyer which seems to show a separate coolant tank on the floor behind the machine.

I guess the outlet is a gravity drain to the separate suds tank.

It is very frustrating not being able to find literature for the MG9 grinder, but I'm slowly coming to an understanding.

So, I saw this photo from the web which is a good rear shot of another machine.

Clearly there is no counter-weight on the MG9. The four holes appear to be motor mount holes which means that the original 3 phase motor must have been inside the base casting. Mine has a large frame single phase motor fitted to a shelf in the cabinet. I believe that the two holes cut in the top of the cabinet are not original (and the access panel in the rear on mine is certainly not), and were put in to facilitate the fitting of the single phase motor (the capacitor pokes up through the larger square hole, the belt passes through the smaller).

It''s very neatly done, and a very good quality motor, just not original fitment. I am undecided as to which way I will go with this. I could fit a 3-phase motor back in the original position and use a VFD, or I could persevere with the single-phase one.

Another question I can't answer is whether the original drive used a single vee pulley or a two-step pulley. My spindle has a 2-step pulley fitted, the motor a single-step pulley.

The three holes in the end of my slide also appear very faintly in the pic above. They seem to have been filled and painted over. I can only assume they were retaining a way cover of some sort.

Hi Pete,

I have also just purchased one of these grinders - sadly not in such good condition as yours. I look forward to any pictures that you post of your progress while I'm trying to figure out what is going on with my machine.

Did you have any joy sourcing a manual yet? They seem to be very scarce.

Steven

Hi Steve,

Well done on finding a grinder. I hope we can compare notes because the manual seems to be unobtanium.

So far my progress is that I have the cabinet and main casting all painted then I decided to assemble the machine and see how well it operates before going any further. So it's all together with the wheelhead and workhead still in the light grey paint and I've done some grinding with it which has produced very nice results. I was most worried about the wheelhead bearings which turned out to be in great condition going by how smoothly and quielty it runs.

All of the ways need scraping but not really desperately so I'll be doing those when I strip it for painting again. I just need to get hold of a 32" dovetail straight edge. I also have to think carefully about how I'm going to support the table for scraping since it will certainly bend under it's own weight.

Can I ask does your machine have the original motor and does it mount on the four bolts on the rear of the casting? Also does yours have any sort of cover on the tail end of the wheelhead? Also what arrangement do you have for the coolant pump? I'd sure like to see some pics if you can post them.

Pete.

Hi Pete,

This is where I am with my Grinder so far, I have separated the grinder from the base for transporting it. I believe that my motors are all original, but haven't seen them run yet. They are all 3 phase motors. I will try get some decent pictures for you as I work through it. Right now there is more dust and dirt than anything else.

Steve.

Pete, I have not forgotten you. I said I would ask a mate if he had a manual but with covid and me having a stroke just have not got to see him yet. I am recovering well and will ask as soon as I can. Chris.

Thanks Chris, I appreciate that.

Steven, do you have the broken bits for that handwheel?