Eagle 3 Surface Grinder - Moving Query

Hi all,

I have hopefully sealed the deal on a Mk3 Eagle Surface Grinder, pending inspection of the machine. Not having seen one of these in the flesh could someone tell what they weigh? Would it be feasible to strip the machine down and transport it in a normal hatch back car, or will I need to hire a van and a engine hoist or similar?

Many thanks!

Mark

Bit of both really, lift the table off and perhaps split column from base, and it will then go in a Transit or similar size van, don’t know if under new site rules if I am allowed to mention that site with all the machine tool info on but if you know the one I mean they will give an approx weight. My machine is not a mark 3 but I know for a fact it won’t go in the back of a hatchback.

You can split the head-column-base then 2 strong men can load it into a car but I think a hatchback might need 2 trips. I'm fairly strong and the bare column/base casting is about all I could manage.

As for inspection - a couple of things to watch out for is the z-axis ways tend to get neglected for lube. The cast iron picks up on the opposing way and you can get a gouge in the middle of the way. There's no lubrication points that I could find and I had to add some. The y-axis (up and down) screw wears heavily in one spot. The spindle bearings are rare as a dodo that's been crapped on by a rocking horse, so take a part along and grind it. If you get a fish-scale finish your bearings are probably shot. Dress the wheel and grind again. If no improvement then figure on new bearings. You can probably hear them clattering if they are worn.

Edited By Pete Rimmer on 11/09/2020 17:58:05

Thanks very much for the information and advice, it's much appreciated!

Hi Mark,

Unfortunately it seemed as though you were offered it after I had spoken with him, for it, much earlier and already agreed about collection and payment. Sorry about that but you were second in the queue of two, or maybe three.

Vinay proved to be a fair sort of guy, but knew nowt much about the machine.

It was tucked away in a corner and very inaccessible, but after about 3/4 of an hour I was able to set about dismantling it sufficiently to pack most bits on a pallet and the base and column separate.

Started out at 06:05h and arrived back home at a couple minutes after 15:00h - although I dropped off a loom, for a friend of my wife, in Bristol.

Chuck was stuck on (with paint, I think), table was slid off in two minutes, they didn’t believe the head and column separated until I unbolted them. Knee with cross slIde and bed slide were lifted off with a hoist and placed on the pallet. Whole lot loaded by fork truck in a ford 230L.

I now intend unloading the bed, chuck, head and column at home on my own and a friend will unload the base and pallet with a teleporter later this evening. He will drop the base off at home when he is passing and I will fully dismantle the knee, etc and bring it home in my hatchback. The base may even come home in my car - we will see.

It looks in fair - perhaps even good - condition for the price. I really wanted a Superior or an EXE but I am sure this will do as an introduction to surface grinding.

Let's have some photos of it then!

Remember, the table is lubricated with 10 weight oil, not regular way oil.

It’s been brush painted all over (including the table and the mag chuck), with a whitewash brush by the looks of it, but looks in fair order, as far as I can see. Certainly not in as poor condition as yours was.🙂 It is now in pieces, of course.

Edited By not done it yet on 15/09/2020 20:09:16

Looks fair enough on the surface. The spindle nut sets the bearing pre-load on these so don't ever run it without the nut done up.

Looking forward to seeing how it comes out.

I thought I was quick enough off the blocks on that one, as I replied 6 minutes after Vinay posted the ad! I'm glad the grinder has gone to a good home though and well done on the move it sounded a bit of a mission. Please keep us posted on its cleanup and use etc. Cheers for now, Mark.

Mark,

You have a PM.

Hello All .

I am new on here , but I am a machine tool enthusiast having been involved all my working life - starting with my apprenticeship with the famous machine tool company James Archdale Ltd in Worcester ( they were originally in Birmingham ) They were famous for their milling machines and radial drills. More recently I was a sales engineer with another famous company Dean, Smith & Grace - well known for their super quality lathes.

I have a small workshop at home and have just purchased a very nice Dronsfield / Eagle surface grinder , which I had to dismantle into 5 major parts to move it - Table , Knee assembly , Column , Wheel Head , and Base unit with motor . None of this was very heavy apart from the Base unit and I had the use of a workshop engine crane to load it into my A4 Audi estate . The complete machine plus some other tools was quite a load in the Audi , but I had no problems on the way home and got it unloaded single handed only using my crane to handle the Base unit .

Now I have to re-assemble it in the workshop . I don`t see any problems, but I do have to change the motor and switchgear to single phase as at present it is 3 phase .

This machine is very nice and clean and doesn`t look it has had a hard life previously, and It came with a nice Eclipse mag. chuck and small DRO on the vertical axis .

I am looking forward to using it and it will be a great addition to my workshop capabilities.

I also had from the same private workshop a very nice Elliott 10 M Shaper and a 6`` Qualters & Smith Power Hacksaw - both I had to partly dismantle and transport in the A4 Audi estate . Now the Q & S was heavy at well over 300 kilos, but the poor old Audi managed without any mishaps .

MARK RIGG

BRIDGNORTH

Hello again .

I am just about to start re-assembling my Dronsfield Surface Grinder . I have made a base for attaching the castors so I can move / reposition .

Looking at the spindle bearing assembly , I see my machine is fitted with screw- down grease cups for lubricating the spindle bearings - surely the spindle should be OIL lubricated ?

Can anyone comment on this ?

I have just got my Adcock and Shipley milling machine up and running and I found that all the slides , etc had been lubricated with grease when oil should have been the lubricant . I had to wash out all the components and blowout the oilways to remove the grease before reassembly .

I will be interested in what any other users think . Pity no User Manual seems to have been produced for this machine .

MARK RIGG

BRIDGNORTH

Hello Mark

surely the spindle should be OIL lubricated ?

Clearly not. The recommended lubricant is on the serial number plate on mine - Spheerol AP (I think).

These are taper roller bearings, not plain bearings. A cheaper option, I believe, on a basic level machine. I would expect oil to be satisfactory - as long as you keep replenishing it. I think Pete Rimmer fitted oilers to his.

I greased mine until grease oozed out, then added some oil to clear the bearings of excess grease. Running cool now, so no bother.

It’s the slideways which are more challenging....

Did you change your motor?

Hello . I am progressing with the cleaning and re assembly of my Eagle grinder . Previous posts mentioned lubrication of the cross and table slides .

Looking at these slideways , it does seem to me that the original manufacturer didn`t make much effort to ensure proper lubrication of these slideways - long oil grooves machined in the table slides on the cross slide casting but no actual means of getting oil to the grooves . Likewise the ways between the cross slide casting and the knee bracket are without oilways or any means of positive oiling . I am now in the process of drilling and taping for additional oil nipples and machining oil grooves where possible between various existing bolt holes and way covers .

I would also like to fit a simple piped oil supply to the cross - feed screw and the pair of bevels actuating the rise and fall screw. It would appear neither of these items can be oiled once the machine is assembled and the slideway covers in place.

I would be interested to hear if any other users had done anything similar.

MARK

BRIDGNORTH

Edited By MARK RIGG on 24/03/2021 01:12:19

Edited By MARK RIGG on 24/03/2021 01:13:59