How to wire a 3 phase reversing switch for Colchester Bantam mk1

I have a Colchester bantam mk 1 (800). I had it for several years but not been able to get it to run after dropping it on its face on my lawn whilst installing it! I saw it running in the seller's garage.

However, with the help of a family electrician we found out that when it fell on its face the casing for the emergency stop button had been knocked in by about 3mm, which was enough of have activated the stop button inside the case - hence I could never get it to run.

Now it's running, the actual engagement of forward and reverse by a lever with a red knob on the R/H side of the lathe is a bit stiff and tricky to operate so it seems a neater solution to do away with the lever and mechanical ball joints which then act on the back of the reversing switch inside the front cover, by mounting a 3 position forward/off/reverse switch on the outside of the front cover (effectively the other side of the existing switch) wired from the existing switch. Whilst there are many different types of 3 way switch on the market , they seem to come in 2 pole, 3 pole or 4 pole versions and I'm not sure which I should use or how to wire them. (The lathe is powered by a single to three phase converter.)

Any suggestions/recommendations on selection of switch and wiring, gratefully received.

Richard, on my Bantam the operating lever you refer to acts as Start/Stop, direction of rotation depends on if the lever is moved up or down.

Emgee

Hi Emgee,

Yes, you're right but I wasn't clear in the wording of my question. When I referred to "selection of switch" I did not mean how to select the forward/reverse on the existing switch but I meant selection of the type of electrical rotary 3 position switch which I could use to replace the existing mechanism, which is really stiff and awkward to move between the 3 positions. Sorry for the confusion.

I would have thought it would be well worth trying to resolve the problem with the original switch, when working properly this is a very desirable way to control the lathe. Did it sustain some damage when the lathe toppled over?

Mike

Richard, as a Bantam user for 30 years or so, I would concur with Mike Poole. Try and sort out the red lever, if the lathe fell on its face the chances are you bent something. The lever on mine is quite slick in operation. When you get used to it, the red reversing lever is in exactly the right place for handy operation when tapping something, and you need to reverse swiftly. I would not want to reach up or over the lathe to reverse it in a hurry when tapping for example.

Chris Gunn