Boxford ?

Could anyone please tell me what model lathe I have just bought, the only number I can find is HEH5656-1-4 and I have looked on the net and my number is nowhere to be found?

Also the lathe wont traverse automatically both in cross slide and in thread mode I have tried ever thing with the levers but I can only use it by hand traverse left to right the clutch wheel only moves slightly to right and left, Before I strip the apron down I just wondered if I was doing it wrong as I am a complete novice. Thank You for any help.

That's a Model A, looks nice. There should be a serial number on the right hand end of the bed where the tailstock is sitting in the photo. Have a look at lathes.co.uk for Boxford information, there is also a Boxford group on Facebook with lots of scanned documents and knowledge.

William.

Hi, John.

Many years since I used one, however, engage the middle 'three position' lever in either of the outer positions? Then carefull tighten the star-shaped knob to engage the friction clutch. You should then get movement.

You can only operate one axis at a time.

Bill

hi it’s an AUD , motor in the base. i have one very similar.

join the boxford lathe group on groups.io. you wi;; find the “know your lathe” manual can be downloaded.

It is an AUD. Tat is an Under Drive model A.
Forget facebook unless you have already had the lobotomy . After reading all of the relevant pages on Lathes.co.uk join the Groups.io Boxford group.

Also use the search function on this site's main page to search for the hundreds of threads on the Boxford, Southbend, and Hercus.

First the leadscrew must be turning which you will check while turning the chuck by hand. Then the chromed lever in the middle of the saddle must be in the middle position. Then the black handle on the right will be able to engage the half nuts (up) to enable threading - check still only under hand power. Then release that lever (down). There is an interlock between it and the chromed lever. The clutch does not affect this.

Move the chrome lever up to select feed. You may need to jiggle it a bit to release the interlock. Now turning the chuck will cause the clutch star wheel to rotate.
The clutch works by turning clockwise to pull a rod towards you that engages the friction clutch. Test still under hand power. There is a bit of slack to take up but eventually the big handwheel will rotate. To release the clutch rotate anticlockwise maybe a couple of turns but you also often need to push it in if it is sticky. The clutch is NOT meant to be done up rock solid so when under power holding the big handwheel should cause it to slip. Also you do NOT run the saddle up to the stop under power or it will move the stop. Use the handwheel to slow it down just before contact and gently control the last mm.

Don't forget the apron needs oil which has probably leaked out. If you do strip the apron there are two traps. The clutch central screw is a reverse thread. The grubscrew on the right side of the apron that should release the black lever has a second grubscrew deep down the hole.

Read all the Boxford threads on the forum. Th above advice and more has been repeated many times.

The Boxford handbook "Know Your Lathe" will tell you how to use it. A rather poor copy is here

Thank you for your very prompt replys I have tried all what you have all said and have watched all the videos and joined all the forums includind the boxford one, the half lever to the right have tried up for the threads and down. also moved the lever on top of the lathe but nothing works so I think there is some thing wrong Thanks again for all your replys.

Check the gear train The lever on the left must be in the up or down position.

Read this

The lever on top of the lathe is for the backgear.
maybe we need to start from teh very beginning. ave you plugged it in?
if it didn't come with a standard 3 pin British mains plug do you know if it a 3-phase or single phase motor. If you cannot confidently answer this question you need to find someone who can. It is too dangerous for someone with so little understanding of things electrical and mechanical to mess with it.

If the electrics are ok and the chuck goes round under power you can go on to the next step, but do the tests without power, just rotate the chuck by hand to avoid breaking things.

Does the leadscrew go round when you rotate the chuck? That's the long rod that goes all the way along the front. If not as Vngvar says have you tried the lever to the very left of the lathe. You need to move the machine so you can open the left cover and see what is going on under it.

Left cover;

Move the white knobbed lever up or down, this is forward or reverse for the leadscrew. Looks like it is in neutral.

looks to me to be an ex schools lathe. At the left hand end of the lathe is a cover which has been locked shut to keep kids fingers out of the way. Remove the small bracket held by an Allen screw and open the cover. I think that you will find that the gear drive has been disconnected.

Most covers/doors on the lathe have microswitches on them. When opened, the power to the lathe will be cut off and you will need to shut the door and re-start the lathe. (May also shut off when you select / change the top lever which engages back gear for slow revs) Ps back gear may be blocked off with an Allen screw - typical schools modification!

You have one of the best small lathes - lucky lad to have picked it up.

It's a single phase as you can see by the double socket I fitted to the wall and I am only a novice where the Boxford is concerned, Enginerr and electrical wise well let's say I am OK, I have made some bushes and used the Boxford milling attachment that came with it already. Thanks for your input anyway.Today I am going to pull the lathe out and open the door on the left as I thik like you all say it's in there, I managed to slide the lathe in alone but I think my son will help pull it out as I'm 87. Thanks again for ALL your very kind replys

I am afraid that you may have to re-arrange things a bit. The left hand door swings wide open, and you will need to open it on occasion to change the odd gear or two to swap between metric and imperial screw cutting.

Your wooden bench is somewhat in the way !

Bob

Whoopee all done and dusted, managed to pull lathe out alone, opened the door and it was obvious what was wrong. working perfect now Thanks everone. You are right Bob.