ML7 Hand Crank / Wheel?

All, I’m currently coming towards the end of my ML7 fettling. I was going to get the Hemmingway kit for the hand crank. There have been many times when building the 10V when I’ve thought one would be very handy for turning the chuck backwards and forwards while tapping threads or using the tailstock die holder.

I have this old steering wheel, which I thought might be as good or better for doing this. It would be a simple ask to mount it to a spindle with an expanding cone at the end for locking.

If I needed to crank the spindle perhaps for rewinding the leadscrew while engaged with the chuck, I could easily 3D print a removable handle adapter for one of the small outer holes in the spokes:





Maybe I’ve not thought this through for long enough, but on the face of it, it would be more comfortable to use than a crank, and safer if I ever forgot to remove it.

Any comments?

Who cares if it's safe or not? It looks brilliant. Got me thinking along the same lines , ships wheel for my Admiralty Drummond.

I'd just check you can get your arm around the rim when the crank knob is at the back of the machine while you are holding the tailstock die holder in the other.

Never pass it's MOT theres no horn.

Sorry that is no good at all. Post to me instantly. For my wall. Niiiice.

Steve.

I’m assuming I wouldn’t need a crank for simple manual threading with a tap or die - Id just be holding the forward most part of the rim and moving it up and down while gradually inching it around as the thread progresses?

Id have thought if there’s enough leverage for my Dad to park a 1962 MGB, an M5 die wouldn’t be an issue...

You would want to be cranking it backwards while pulling the tailstock holder away from the work to back the tool off once thread is cut.

Though inching the work round won't get those projects finished any time soon

I’ve got another for the wall, only temporary though:

Hmmm. What I’ve been doing is turning clockwise for half a turn or so, anti-clockwise a bit, then another half turn and back a bit, until it’s threaded. Then just turn the chuck anti-clockwise and the die or tap unscrews itself. Basically how I was taught for hand tapping in a vice or whatever - I think to break the swarf. I’ve just always done it like that, and automatically did it in the lathe too. In other words I’m never continuously turning the part/chuck/handle.

It’s just a bit uncomfortable physically turning the chuck by hand like this.

When I had an ML7 I left the guard off the belt from motor to layshaft and used the big pulley to turn the spindle by hand

I’d rather keep the minimal safety features intact! Especially since when working in the garage, I’ve occasionally turned around to find one of the small-ish kids watching from close quarters before now.

When I need to to use a bigger tap on my WM250 a 17mm open spanner on one of the chuck jaws works well...

They must be worth good money these days. My 2 MGB's had them & my Etype too. Love them. I am not Jealous HONEST.

Steve.

Steve.

Thanks Nicholas - I keep a large adjustable spanner handy too.

For the work I’m doing it’s small stuff - I’ve only got dies up to about M10, but can’t remember using anything like that big so far.

Safer than just a handle if you forget it is there and start the lathe (How would I know? )

Does remind me of the one that my brother gave me for 109E Anglia!

Howard

That's pretty normal for me; I think of M5 as small.

My that’s a fair old thing to get your hand caught in if the lathe is turned on. Why not have a single handled version that can idle so accidents can’t happen.

I’d have thought the last thing I’d be doing if I switched it on accidentally would be to stick my arm into the spokes!

I hope I’d simply switch it off again with no harm done.

I made a similar thing using an old washing machine tub pulley ! I did put a handle on it to aid quickly unscrewing a tap.

More pictures in my album.

You may think it’s the last thing you would do but just look at you tube videos and see how many people have got bits of fingers missing and just recently someone on here mentioned some one injuring themselves. So please don’t be that person who would never make that mistake.