Hello from Cambridgeshire

Hi,
I've just joined the forum having just picked up my first lathe. It's a vintage Myford ML4. At let that' what it was advertised as on ebay, I've not checked the dimensions yet. It's got tumble reverse so a later model. The motor and countershaft are a bit rough so I'll probably fit a modern 3 phase inverter motor (actually a servo motor and drive as I happen to have them).
I'm an engineer by profession but electronics / aviation. First used a lathe, a Super Seven 40 years ago, ha some training at college too. At my Last employer I had access to a small, well equipped prototype machine shop but current employer won't even let me use a pillar drill for work jobs because I'm a "designer". Hobbies include electronics and instrumentation an the little Myford will do 90% of what I need. Looking forwarn to getting it sorted and running. Obvious faults from a quick inspection are the smallest step on the grooved headstock pulley is split and the spindle bearings have been greased. I'll check the play before deciding to pull the spindle or not.

Robert.

Hello Robert,

Welcome to the Forum, I'm sure you will get a lot of satisfactory use out of the lathe.

I inherited my late father's ML4, having first done supervised turning on it as a 7-8 year old. Without telling you how to suck eggs, do remove the grease from the bearings and clean away all residual traces, it only attracts swarf and worse to itself which will ultimately make an abrasive paste.

Oil is the lubricant and I used SAE 30 engine oil for years on this and again on the two ML7s that have followed it. I'm only too happy to fill you in on things you might need to ask

Regards

Brian

Welcome to the Forum Robert,

I hope you enjoy fixing up and using the lathe.

Neil

Welome Robert, my first lathe was an ML4 and got me started model engineering. They are an excellent lathe.

Please keep us informed about progress.

Brian (another one!)

Hi,

Thanks for all the good wishes. I've had a closer look and some measurements and it's not an ML4. The bed ways are only 18.5" long. It has tumble reverse, 7" cross slide and a swing away change wheel cover (slotted style) so I think it's a late ML2 or an ML1 with upgrades. Now he bad bits. The fibre V drive pulley (3 section) is breaking up and warped and there is half a turn backlash in the cross-slide screw. The spindle looks like it's the later type with the 11/8 12TPI thread. This is nice because it opens up modifying the register for ML7 chucks etc. The size is based on the faceplate that came with the lathe as the chuck won't come off with gentle force so I need to make a spindle lock. I know enough not to use the back gears. Not sure what to do about the pulley, I need to investigate further. The cross slide backlash is in the screw / endplate. This should be just ann adjustment and maybe a thrust washer, but the handle, nut and indictor disk have beed soft soldered together so again investigation needed.
Anyway this is bit far from hello so when I hve done more I'll post to a more appropiate forum.

Robert.

Welcome!

You have years of enjoyment stretching ahead of you. If you have a problem, this is one place to get help and advice.

Which part of Cambridgeshire are you in?

There are M E clubs in Cambridge, St Neots and Peterborough. If you join, again, you should be able to tap intp other's experience, and make some new friends.

If you want details of Peterborough meetings (next is 3rd September) PM me, or look at their website.

Howard

Hi Robert, welcome to the forum from another professional electronics guy, although I don't do much electronics at home now. Like Howard said, it's useful to know roughly where you are; I'm in a village between Cambridge and St. Neots.

Hmmm, not allowed to use a pillar drill at work? Sounds like you need a new employer!

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I'm in a Village west of Cambridge on the A14 with a big Tesco so pretty close to you. I was at the St Neots radio rally on Monday. I'll have to look up the ME club there.
Getting a bit old to look for a new employer.

Robert.

The Elfs get in everywhere!

Been told off for not using a pedestrian crossing to cross an empty works road; and later for walking down an empty yard, wearing Safety Glasses, Hi Vis vest and Safety Boots, Cos' I was not on a foot path!

Should have said that both my hearing aids and eyes still work, and had carried out a Risk Assessment before walking!

As dear old Rudi Michetslager says, "Common Sense ain't that common, anymore"

Howard

Yep, we are pretty close, I'm on the edge of Bourn airfield. If you'd like to meet up and chat then PM me to make arrangements.

When Howard mentioned a ME club in St. Neots I was a bit puzzled. I did a search and the best I came up with was a model railway club, didn't get the impression it dealt with live steam though?

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

The club in St. Neots is known as the Riverside Railway, from what club members have told me about it, it is more of a community miniature railway and not a model engineering club as we know it.

I find these conversations intriguing as very few people mention the Cambridge Model Engineers we have been at our present site fore about 60 years ( are we black listed!!).

Please visit us, this year we holding the southern fed rally on Saturday the 8th September.

Paul

If you feel like wandering farther afield, come and visit Peterborough S M E. We meet 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month in Eye Community Hall, just off the A47, east of Peterborough.

Presently, we are still looking to find a replacement site, so no track, sadly!

Have just been told that we have been invited to The Festival of Model Railways, at the Excel Centre in the East of England Showground, 8th / 9th December., so am likely to find myself chivvying members for exhibits!

Howard

If you feel like wandering farther afield, come and visit Peterborough S M E. We meet 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month in Eye Community Hall, just off the A47, east of Peterborough.

Presently, we are still looking to find a replacement site, so no track, sadly!

Have just been told that we have been invited to The Festival of Model Railways, at the Excel Centre in the East of England Showground, 8th / 9th December., so am likely to find myself chivvying members for exhibits!

Howard