Boxford Cross Slide & Top Slide Disassembley

Hi All,

I've bought a sad old Boxford AUD lathe which I'm in the process of resurrecting. I've got the headstock and gearbox working OK and now I'm working on the carriage. I've struck a couple of problems.

The first is that I can't get the top slide off the cross slide. I've taken the bolts which clamp the rotating mechanism out and can see the ends of the clamping pins at the bottom of the holes but I can't get them out far enough for the cone on the bottom of the top slide to come out of cross slide. I seem to remember Tubal Cain on Youtube had a similar problem with a South Bend but I can't for the life of me find the video.

The second problem is in disassembling the top slide. I've taken the screw and the gib out, but the brass nut stops the top part from sliding off the bottom part and the bottom dovetail is to wide to allow it to come off sideways. It seems to be an impossible puzzle.

Any suggestions to get round these problems?

Regards,

Alan

Hi,

I've managed to sort out the problems.

I got a couple of screwdrivers under the top slide and a bit of gentle levering forced the pins back far enough to free it from the cross slide.

As far as disassembling the top slide itself, I finally figured out that the brass nut was the same diameter along its whole length and that it could be levered out through what I thought was the shaft hole. Once that was done, the top slide came apart without any trouble.

Easy if you know how.

Regards,

Alan

I am only guessing, as I never took mine apart, but from the drawings, the topside leadscrew is held in place by a bearing retainer (item 10)
**LINK**
. Remove the handle off the leadscrew (grub screw and nut on the end - Check LH or RH thread ??). Remove the dial after slackening the 2 grub screws. The bearing retainer must now be taken off and I can only assume it is held on by a couple of socket cap screws. - As I said, I am guessing. With the bearing retainer slack, put the handle back on and wind the lead screw and bearing retainer out. The brass lead screw nut is held in place by a grub screw in the end of the lower half of the topside, slacken and drop the nut down. Now the top slide should come off.


OK, so the top slide is being held on by 2 pins with chamfered ends. These chamfers 'grip' the cone on the cross slide. Once you have removed the grub screws they will slide out as you pull the top slide upwards. Now, your problem is that they are not sliding out. I suggest you slacken the gib screws on the top slide and remove the top half along with its lead screw. Apply some gentle heat and WD40 to the rest of the top slide assembly, wiggle it round and round whilst pulling it upwards and it should come off. There isn't any other way as there is no access from under the saddle / cross slide.
BobH

The top slide spigot getting stuck on the pins in the cross-slide can also happen with Myford Super 7s. If you apply upward pull on the slide whilst rotating it to and fro it usually works eventually. Taking the screws out and squirting penetrating oil down the hole helps.

Yes I see the OP has solved his problem. This is another solution.

Further to Robbo's post about the corresponding arrangement on the Super 7, I think I heard somewhere that it is important not to inadvertently swap the clamp pins ("thrust pads" in Myford speak) side for side as this may lead to it being difficult or impossible to remove the topslide.

I don't know if this applies to the Boxford.

There is a very good book on how to dismantle and recondition the 9" South Bend lathe, which I think is virtually the identical machine to the Boxford? Full of pics and step by step instructions on this sort of thing.

It is here **LINK**

Edited By Hopper on 07/08/2017 11:53:13

Thanks for all the comments. I looked at the "workshop manual" suggested by Hopper. The problem is the Boxford headstock is completely different although it might be worth while getting a copy for the rest of the lathe. I've found Tubal Cains series of videos on disassembling a 9" South Bend lathe on You Tube helpful as well.

I hope ega's comments about swapping the clamp pins don't apply - I didn't note which pin went in which hole when I pulled it apart.

Regards,

Alan

Alan Charleston:

As I said, I don't know the Boxford and would add that I have no wish to alarm you. The two pins on the Myford are handed and it should be possible to determine which goes where by inspection.

Good luck with your project!

There is a good photo blog somewhere on the web about reassembling a Hercus, the aussie South Bend clone. That might be helpful too.

slightly off topic, I want to replace the link belt on my 500 VSL. Anyone know how long it is?

Andries