South Bend Model C lathe

Quick response please.... i have come across what looks like a well looked after South Bend Model C lathe. Its local to me in Canada and the seller will even bring it over in his van.

Comes with table, 3-jaw/4-jaw, cutting tools, dogs with plate, change gears (imperial only) and a few other bits and pieces.

Only issues i think are that the cross slide has some play in it, doesnt affect cutting but you can feel the play so need to be aware of it....or i guess i can change the threaded bar and associated nut driving the cross slide. Also, the 3-jaw doesnt center brilliantly so its better to use the 4-jaw...or better, but a new 3-jaw.

$500 CAD....i think that sounds like a great deal...but want to check?

Will any 3-jaw fit or would i have to get a new south bend one?

Tool post holders - its just a T-nut style fit so i assume i could get a fast release 4-way version?

any advice?

Thanks

Matt

Hi Matt,

The 9" Southbend is a great lathe and $500 is good value. I paid $650 Australian for mine. It was sold here as a Southbend and also manufactured in Australia as a Hercus. There are lots of spare parts and accessories available on the internet. The play in the cross slide between the threaded spindle and the nut is not a problem. Most lathes have some backlash here but it does not affect the accuracy of the work because the load applied to the spindle is only on one side of the thread. (the normal practice is to back-off the cross slide and then advance it to the cutting position, eliminating any backlash errors).

If the 3 Jaw does not centre accurately, check if the jaws have been assembled in the correct positions. Each slot should be marked with a corresponding number of the jaw. If in the correct position and still off centre, the jaws can be ground to improve accuracy. Replacement chucks are available but you will have to find one with the same mounting thread, alternatively you can buy or make a threaded backplate and mount the chuck to the backplate. (I think that the Southbend uses the same spindle thread as a Myford). Different tool posts can be fitted to the T-slot on the cross slide. My lathe only has a single T-slot on the cross slide but an optional cross slide with multiple slots was originally available. My lathe only has imperial gears but can cut metric threads with the aid of a 127 tooth gear.

Paul.

Sounds like a good deal to me. Any three jaw chuck that old is going to be worn but new ones are not too expensive. Play in the cross slide leadscrew may be adjustable? If not, play there is not critical. My old banger has at lease .015" backlash wear on the cross slide leadscrew and will still turn accurately to less than a thou.

I'd buy that lathe at that price in a heartbeat.

The way to check lead screw play is to compare it with an entire turn of it. Even a new lathe will have some. Say it's 1/2 a turn play this more or less means 1/2 the thread pitch is worn away mostly in the nut. Would 1/2 a turn be a problem - not really just not nice. Past that I would feel that it's time to replace the nut.

I would be more concerned about play that can't be taken out of the headstock bearings. Some of them are a plain steel spindle running directly in cast iron and have pinch bolts - tightened too much the castings crack. If they have been well maintained = oil they can last a long time.

My Boxford is more or less a copy of a Southbend but uses taper roller headstock. One good thing is how long the saddle is. That goes a long way towards minimising bed wear but again regular oiling helps.

John

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Matt,

If it looks well looked after as you say then don't hesitate - I'd be bidding for it!

You can fit any three jaw chuck with a suitable backplate (from memory spindle nose thread is 1 1/2" x 8 tpi), ditto toolpost, and wear in the cross slide feed screw can be rectified or lived with.

I wouldn't be without my Boxford, which is a clone of the Southbend.

Final thought - I bought a useful book some time back, and it might help you too:

'A Guide to Renovating the South Bend Lathe 9" Model A,B,C Plus Model 10K' by ILION Industrial Services, LLC. My copy was printed in the UK by Amazon.co.uk Ltd. I bought it a couple of years ago so a web search should find it. It details/illustrates all the info you'd need to rebuild the machine - very useful book.

Edited By Robin King on 27/08/2015 10:28:49

Nice

Once you've got it safely delivered give him a big hug

Great Thanks all....think I might go for it!

Regards

Matt

There is a yahoo Southbend and also a Boxford group. All very helpful and can be a good source for parts that need replacing. The Boxford one is quieter than it used to be but plenty chime in when some one asks a question. There is also plenty of info in the files section of the Boxford one. Southbend is likely to be the same.

I sort of get tempted to change at time and then think of previous experiences trying to sort them out and one trip into a new chinese lathe. Ok can be done but will it be a good lathe with things as they should be. No in many cases without going larger so pointless really. Mind you I like tinkering and would like another small lathe to go with it. Not much luck finding a particular model so far though.

John

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Are there a set of gears for screw cutting included in the sale? Its still a good price even if they are missing. Spindle nose is 1 and 1/8 diameter 8 TPI and check if it is 55 degrees or 60 (Not Myford thread). I had a UK Southbend and swapped out for the Boxford and used all the same attachments. Great lathes. Try to see if the gear on the headstock spindle still has some life left in it because it is integral to the spindle and can't be removed.

BobH

my model c is 1 and 1/2" x 8 tpi the myfords are 1 and 1/8" x12 tpi.

just finished wiring up inverter for mine as came without motor and got given nearly new 1hp dual voltage 3 phase motor.

Excellent Southbend forum on the Practical Machinist site. Everything you ever wanted to know about a 9" SB will be on there.

What you really want is a SB9 A model, well worth the wait. Dave