Hello

Hi everyone. I have just got myself a myford ml7.

I think I have a problem. When running an ungeared speed the spindle stops but the pulleys keep going.

If I understand you correctly, the lathe runs OK in back gear, i.e. the lowest speeds, but there's no drive to the spindle in a high speed setup.

I've just found a copy of the manual, there should  be an Allen bolt or similar to key the two headstock gears together. It's described in the manual as "a sliding key, locked in position by means of a cap head screw."

The bullwheel is the largest gear in the headstock. It needs engaging for direct drive. I don't have an ML7  but I just thought I'd reply so you weren't feeling left out.

Welcome to a friendly and helpful corner of the internet.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 02/09/2019 23:07:29

Edited By peak4 on 02/09/2019 23:22:03

AS Bill says, there is a little sliding catch on the bull wheel which is held in place with an allan screw. To engage it, you need to loosen the allan screw, slide the catch inwards to engage with the gear teeth on the smaller wheel, then tighten the screw again. You need an Allan key with a very short leg for this, eg cut away most of the smaller leg of the Allan key so it will reach in Ok

John

Exactly what these two gentlemen say - the head of the allen key is located on one of the two ribs cast into the face of the bull-wheel on the side closest to the chuck - it should be clearly visible.

When running in back-gear it's important to ensure that you lubricate the pulley bearing - there should be an oil-nipple on the "chuck-side"t face of the pulley for this purpose. This bearing doesn't get any lubrication from any other part of the system.

William,

Get yourself a Myford manual for your machine. It will tell you all that you need to know to get started with the lathe.

Eric

Hi William,

Welcome to the forum.

As has been mentioned on most back-geared lathes you have to unlock geared drive and lock ungeared drive (and vice versa).

Obviously running with both drives locked is not recommended...

Neil

Hi William, Welcome.

You will find a lot of good advice on here, covering many subjects.

As a doom sayer, trying to run with Backgear engaged and the pulley locked, is going to do some damage to something. Either the Mandrel will be scored, if the Backgear wins the contest, or the gears are likely to loose a tooth or two. Whichever; BAD news.

For the same reason, do not engage Backgear to lock the spindle when removing a chuck. A friend used to do this on his ML4. I had to make him more than one replacement gears, until he learned not to do it!

Howard