Myford Super 7 serial not visible

Good day!

I'm considering an old Mk1 Super 7 that is on sale and I wanted to have a better idea about the age of it before I commit. It has the old oil - pre wick on the headstock, so I know it's pre '59 but when I went to have a look at it, I couldn't see a serial on the bed anywhere. I looked in the two locations that I've seen suggested on various posts, but there's nothing on the front left bed nor in the back near the headstock ( although the location description is vage on the latter, no sign of it anywhere on the rear)

Perhaps someone here could either suggest another place to look or another way to narrow down the production year. I'd rather not pick up one that is pre '58 and is no longer supported with spares.

Thanks!

Hakon

On a lathe of that age the number will be at the tailstock end of the bed on the back of the rear shear, ie the narrow flat vertical that has been machined. It will be SK followed by a number, probably 4 digits. It is not deeply marked so you need to look closely!

The front left location (near the rack) is on later lathes.

+1 on that. My 1957 ML7 has the number in the place Robbo describes above at the tailstock end of the bed.

Edited By Hopper on 24/08/2018 02:25:54

Thanks for the replies. Just to be clear, as my lathe terminology is not fully developed, is the vertical shear this part?
**LINK** It is the only milled surface on the rear bed.

There are a few things I would also appreciate help with that I haven't found online.

There is backlash of about .80-.85 when I turn the lead screw handle. Is that a problem or an easy fix?
Also, I can't find a general instruction for basic operation so I'm not sure if all the features work. For instance, there is a back gear handle and a tumbler reverse lever. I only tried putting the back gear handle up and it resulted in the belt slipping without anything turning. Not sure if I need to be setting a combination of handles for it to work or if there is something wrong with it.

It has a gearbox, just FIY. I'm going to have another look at it, but would appreciate some pointers as to what to look out for when inspecting it.

Thanks again, regards,

Hakon

Yes, it is the vertical surface of the bed way that the carriage runs on. Number is at the right hand end, so over behind the tailstock.

Before you engage the back gear, you need to disengage the driving dog that locks the large "bull" gear on to the spindle next to the pulleys on the main spindle. It has a small allen-head screw there, holding a small sliding block with one or two gear teeth machined into the end of it. You loosen the screw and slide the block outwards then retighten the screw. Check that now the chuck and spindle can spin without the pulley turning. Then engage the back gear by moving the lever. Then start the motor. When inspecting the lathe, check there are no teeth missing off the gears next to the pulley.

Backlash on the leadscrew is nothing to worry about. Probably just needs the half nuts adjusting so they engage a little tighter. There is a small screw on teh bottom half nut that does this. At worst case, you can buy and fit two new halfnuts. An easy job.

Tumbler reverse lever only changes direction of the leadscrew, for left hand threads. Don't change it while the lathe is running!

Main thing to look out for is wear on the bed ways, usually a few inches in from the headstock end. It can be roughly measured with a good straight edge or steel ruler and feeler gauges.

Edited By Hopper on 24/08/2018 14:00:59

Thanks Hopper. Good points. It's been in storage, no rust on ways, only a little on the handles, but everything is solid except the lead screw backlash. No teeth missing. I'll check the bed ways.

Thanks!

Hakon

Some of the leadscrew backlash can and almost certainly will be due to the bearing at the right hand end of the bed. This is easily dealt with.

Edited By KWIL on 24/08/2018 16:02:32

Well, I took another look and the serial was SK8780 so it is late '58, early '59 model with the updated clutch.

I made an offer which was accepted so I am now the proud owner of a very vintage and seemingly well cared for Super 7. The previous owner is an electrician who used it for his work and is now in his nineties. He brought the lathe over from England on the steamship that I supposedly took my first steps on. So I'm its second owner in its 70 year "life". Looking forward to setting it up properly.

I have been sorting out the parts that came with it and would like some help identifying some of the accessories and I took a picture of all of them laid out. New thread for that?

Regards

Hi Hakon, welcome to the (unofficial) Vintage Myford Owner's Club. I've got the very self same model, albeit slightly older and with the original style clutch. Good to see you have rescued it and given it a good home.

If it's not too much trouble, I for one would love to see piccy's of what you've got. Can I suggest you include in said pic's one of the left hand end of the bed, to include the RIGHT hand end of the gearbox. There are two (Myford) versions of this gearbox - plus some others retrofitted by others - and the advice you need to set up the gearbox correctly depends on which gearbox you've got, particularly if you have to work it out without the user manual. It's not even obvious that there are two versions!

If uploading pictures is something you have yet to fathom out, let us know, it's far from intuitive but somewhere is the users guide to how to do it which could save you some headaches!

Hello Simon and thanks for the welcome.

Yes, I will upload pictures but assumed it would be easy as there is an image icon here that I planned to use Will let you know if I run into trouble with that. I will have to snap a picture form the angle you described when I get home later.
I'm quite stoked that included with the lathe are original Myford cutting tools in mirrored pairs. It might not be a rarity, but they look as if they are the ones he purchased when I picked up the lathe when new.

I'll start a new thread with pictures and hopefully get some information about some of the accessories.

I'm going to pick up new belts after work, and I'm going for traditional V-belts and not the out of place modern looking link belts even though they may be a little better


 

Edited By Hakon Halldorsson on 27/08/2018 17:13:10

Edited By Hakon Halldorsson on 27/08/2018 17:15:16

Hakon -

Unfortunately adding pictures to a psot isn't just a matter of pressing the little camera icon and then browsing your pictures files, you have to upload them into an album on this forum first. I think there is a reference article on how to do this but I can't find it, but this thread gives details.

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=103028&p=2

**LINK** should (if I've got it right) take you directly there.

Good luck, if you need help just say so.

HTH Simon

Hi, here is the **LINK** about adding pictures.

Regards Nick.

Ok thanks, I tried (and failed) to link directly to a google photos image, but I came across a site that may make that possible. Here's a test for that, the side view of the gear box:

So, did it work like this?

I have an identical S7 manufactured in 1958, SK8233, one of teh first with the new clutch. Currently in pieces having had the bed ground as a 60th birthday. Just trying to get the carriage machined to convert to a wide bed as per George Thomas.

Your paint is in much better condition, mine is cracked and peeling from the climate.

Enjoy it, but look for wear in the bed and teh carriage.

Peter