My Hercus 9 Restoration.

My Hercus 9 Restoration has started, I am hoping any Hercus or Southbend owners will be able to help me.

Finally got a nice cool day for a change, only 41°C.



So I thought I would start cleaning up my Hercus 9 and try and keep the missus happy.

I saw this lathe advertise in Alice Springs in a recycling yard ( Alice is the closest town 500 Km away) in March last year, I only wanted the stand for my Hercus 260, but when I picked it up I found out it was an Hercus ARL.

When I bought her home, I had to dismantle her to get her off the trailer and stacked the parts on an obsolete hospital bed, 6 month later I transferred to a different department at work so bought home my bench that I originally took there because it was too big for my shed.

For some reason the missus is keeps whinging about 2 lathes, a hospital bed and a bench on the back veranda, strange woman.

Inside the cabinet amongst the swarf, rust, cobwebs and dirt., I found these goodies.
As well as the spare parts manual with the inspection certificate inside it.

That hospital bed is a touch of genius Mark

I hope the patient makes a full recovery.

MichaelG.

2 lathes, a hospital bed and a bench on the back veranda, Can't see what the problem is !

I live in Sydney and have been sharing the high temperatures, just not as extreme as yours and have a 9" Southbend (earlier model without gearbox). Good luck with the restoration.

Paul.

Hi Mark

Greetings from Melbourne OZ

A Hercus Model A was the lathe I had on the top of my wish list when I was a young man. I still have the brochure! Never did get one due to lack of funds good luck to you with your find, Hercus machines were very well built in South Australia. you will find a real gem under all that dust.

Regards
John

G'day Mark,

I have a Hercus ARL. Happily, it is in excellent condition. There are some photos in my albums of dismantling the spindle to change the belt, and a T- slotted cross slide I fitted which was machined from a casting bought from the USA. It is a lovely little lathe.

I had to take about 20 of them to the dump, I asked every one I could think of if they wanted one, now takers.

All the electric work perfectly.

I used to live about 45 min from where they were built, though in those days I wasnt interested in wood and metal work.

Would you be able to scan the brochure for me?

I have a copy of the Hercus 260 if any one wants a copy.

That is a very nice lathe, your lucky to get one in that condition.

When I get to my head stock I will have some questions for you.

I like your T slotted cross slide very much.

Mark

Just a suggestion, but you might already know this - if not have a look at Tony Griffith's site - 'www.lathes.co.uk' and his section on the Hercus lathes. Some way down there's a photo of the front of the apron and immediately under it a link to 'article about rebuilding Hercus apron ........' . It details a complete rebuild, including the pitfalls, so well worth a read. It helped me a lot with my Boxford rebuild (another Southbend clone).

Best of luck with it

Hello Mark,

There is a Hercus forum here that might be worth looking at and searching previous posts

http://metalworkforums.com/f189

You might even find some neighbours with similar lathes.

Bill

49 degrees. Now that's toastie hot. It's currently 1 and trying to snow here in Central Scotland. I would like to be warm for a while but that's just too much.

Re apron rebuilding. If the clutch is the same as the Boxford then the screw in the middle of the star wheel is RH thread.

Er, no it isn't - it's a LH thread - unscrew clockwise.

BTW - Some years ago I bought a copy of a very useful fully illustrated manual - 'A Guide to Renovating the South Bend 9" Model A, B & C Plus Model 10K' lathes published by ILION Industrial Services LLC in the USA. It details the overhaul/adjustment of these machines and might help you a lot with the Hercus.

IIRC I ordered it direct from the publisher so a web search should find them.

Quick check shows Amazon list it.

Did you manage to separate the tailstock yet Mark

Thanks for your replies everyone

Great link Robin, very interesting,

I have ordered that Guide to Renovating the South Bend, just got to be patient for our slow mail.

Derek I finally had succuss , the S/Bend tailstock has square recess and the Hercus is dovetailed, I finally got the base off, now just got to get the cap of the end.

The bed is cleaned up, All the Hercus I have seen all have been paint red inside the bed except mine.

Hang on whats this.