Eliminating backlash

I have just acquired a Myford ML7 Trileva and am very much a lathe novice.

It has what I believe is called backlash when turning the cross slide handle, ie there is some slack when turning the handle clockwise and then turning it anti clockwise.

Can someone please tell me how I go about removing the backlash please?

Thanks

Graham

First, check the fixing screws for the cross slide nut are tight, then turn the handle back, to the point where the slide starts to move, then forward to the point where it starts to move again and note the readings on the dials, to see how much backlash you have. All lathe feed screws have some backlash, if there was none they would not work! You operate the lathe by moving the tool up to the work, just touching it onto the work, then zeroing the dial on the handwheel and working forward only from that point, thus eliminating the backlash. Backlash is not neccasarily wear, it is common to all threads, if you have too much of it, you can replace the thread and the nut. How much is there?

Phil

If you look underneath the slide, you should see a nut on the feedscrew behind the bracket. Turn the feedscrew handle slowly and the locking screw will be seen. Slacken this off and wind the nut back towards the rear of the bracket to take up some of the slack/backlash, then tighten locking screw. Job done!

John.

Check there is no lost motion where the feedscrew attaches to the front bracket, to eliminate this you will need three hands, one to hold the feedscrew from turning and two to lock the ball handle and micrometer dial together to set the minimum running clearence for the screw bracket end float, this should be possible to get close to zero float and still turn smoothly. Any backlash should now only be what is in the screw nut fit and this will never be zero. As you usually only put cut on in one direction the backlash is not a problem, if you do back away from the job make sure you go back far enough so that the screw is driving the crosslide again when you approach your setting.

Mike

Edited By Michael Poole on 07/03/2015 15:35:34