DSG 13/30 running backwards.

On my own DSG 13/30, the clutch seems a bit stiff to engage, so I thought it would be nice to try a similar lathe to see what the clutch was like on that. Right, found one in a railway workshop near me , so asked if I could try their one. The machinist got it going for me, and thankfully, the clutch was the same.What did surprise me was the fact that the motor ran backwards, so pulling up the clutch lever made reverse rotation. I glanced at the headstock sight glass, no oil. Run one of these backwards and the oil pump wont work.

This turner said he doesnt use this particular lathe much because "the chuck wobbles". I asked if something was wrong with the spindle or backplate, "no, theres something wrong with the 3 jaw, turn a bar , remove it and when you put it back it never runs true again ". I decided not to comment on that but asked why not use the 4 jaw, " oh, its ok when you do that " Im no expert, but he condemned the machine because of bad practice.in my view.

He wasnt bothered about the oil pump at all

Well at least mine runs the right way. It isn't difficult to tell because some speeds run faster in reverse but if you don't care then this won't matter to you.

Still it's not nice to think of these lovely machines being neglected like this.

Regards.

David.

David, it is a sad way to treat machines . The lathe was given to them evidently and it certainly was well equiped, but was in a filth state. Amongst many other lathes in their posession , resided a rather large Craven wheel turning lathe and possibly a second. Lovely place to wander around