ML7 Top slide T-nuts and screws

G'day all

I need to re-attach the topslide on my ML7 and the workshop gremlins have hidden the securing t-nuts and bolts. Searched on Myford UK and RDG etc. but no results. The part No.s are A1845 and A7742. Could any members suggest a possible source, please?

rgds

Bill

Hi [Bill Edit: not Jack - sorry!),

I'd suggest turning your own T-nuts and just buying some short 1/4" BSF hex-head bolts and washers. Myford sell nice blackened ones or just fit some BZP M6 ones. Turn a top-hat shape, thread and then file two opposite flats on the "brim" to enable them to fit into the T-slots - the originals look the same.

My ML7 came with T-bolts and nuts which are another option but I replaced them - I found that the threads stripped too easily where chips became embedded in the exposed T-bolt threads.

HTH

Jon

Edited By Jon Gibbs on 12/03/2018 11:35:42

Edited By Jon Gibbs on 12/03/2018 11:38:03

Thank you for the fast reply, Jon.

You're right , of course. Mainly laziness on my part, plus reluctance to make a short one-off more time consuming if I could just 'buy-and-fit'.

rgds

Bill

Have you rung Myfords to ask. They don't put everything on the website.

regards Martin

PS Or you could use the infallable way of finding the old set which is.

1. Make a new set.

2. Go to store them in a safe place.

3. Discover the old set in the safe place.

Edited By Martin Kyte on 12/03/2018 11:53:27

Bill

I've had a rootle through my small collection of Myford bits, and found one complete T-bolt and nut of this type. Message me your address in the flatlands and I'll send it. At least you'll have something to copy. Or you could hang it up in your workshop and see if it attracts the missing ones out of hiding !

You might try Mike Thomas at lathespares.co.uk in case he has an odd one, but none advertised.

Myford do list the nuts as part C15 on the ML7R list but they are M6, my originals are 1/4BSF. The bolts are 13/16" long and hardened on my lathe. It is handy that they are BSF so I resist the temptation to borrow the spanner from the lathe for other jobs, whit. BSF are sizes I rarely use these days.

Mike

If you do crack on and make some the lost ones will turn up a few minutes later.

Edited By Mike Poole on 12/03/2018 12:28:41

Martin and Mike - you have both, obviously, 'been there, done that and have the tee shirts'!! Unfortunately, given the rubbish heap which characterises my 'workshop', the re-appearance delay will probably outlast me!!

Robbo, your offer is gratefully accepted but with the proviso that I can reimburse your postage costs. I'll PM the address and many thanks in advance.

rgds

Bill

Robbo - as the matelots would put it, "Belay my last pipe"!! Please ignore my PM and my previous acceptance of your kind offer. I have used Mike's info and ordered a set of 7R nuts from Myfords - M6 or 1/4 BSF ... close enough for non-government work!! Thanks again to all.

rgds

Bill

Bill

OK, stood down!

..... not to mention the tee-bolts!

I know that I really should not say this but I read:-

"I need to re-attach the topslide on my ML7"

& then I read:-

"I'd suggest turning your own T-nuts "

& then I thought :-

"There's a hole in my bucket dear Liza"

Well I've really got nothing better to do this morning !!!!!!

Sorry

Make your own but not from F/C steel.

BDMS will do and 304SS is even better for the deed. You won't strip bolt thread to easy.

I have original set from Beeston and they work well with topslide but another original set also from Beeston used with swiveling vertical slide was a miserable failure. Replacement also was a failure. I have found that these were made of F/C steel, rather bad idea for a part which is sometimes tightened with more heft.

I have centered tees carefully in 4 jaw, drilled out offending bolts, made similar bolts from M8 high grade stainless screw and brazed these together. Product seems to be undestructible. For topslide you will obviously use 1/4BSF or M6, not M8 like I did for vertical one.

Martin

Sorry' but I really do not understand how the Op can make his own if his lathe is in bits

Hence, my "Hole in bucket jibe" !!

Am I missing something ????

Yes. One can use a lathe without a top slide. After all, one likely needs to remove said part, if using a milling attachment. Think laterally, outside the box - or something equivalent.

I suspect that he has toolpost fitted directly to crosslide to improve rigidity. This prevents him from cutting tapers, so he wants to fit top slide back.

As long as he has vertical slide (and many ML7 owners do), he is in position to make said t-nuts without any aid from top slide.

Martin