Churchill Cub Lathe

I have recently bought a Churchill Cub lathe of about 1950ish vintage unfortunately I cannot find out how to get the chuck off, it does not appear to have any locking devise, please help me.

The chuck is screwed on. The thread is a 1 1/4" X 7tpi whitworth. it has a 1 1/4" register. Put a chuck key in the chuck , when it is horizontal, hit it hard downwards with something heavy (but not metal), it helps if the speed is set to its low range.

Frank

I would not advise hitting the chuck key.Use an an adjustable spanner on one of the jaws instead or preferably, if possible, grip a long bar across the jaws and use it to get real leverage. Colin

Dont even think about hitting the chuck key. ouch.

Find or make up a block of wood and use it against the jaws with the backgear engaged.

Move the backgear backwards manually and the chuck will undo itself, you may need a lever, like the bit of metal sticking up out of my lathe, you will need to adapt things to your own lathe layout.

Once you have the right setup a stuck jaw will never be anything more than an inconvenience.

Do it at right angles, like in the picture, so there are no weird stresses on the jaw, and vertically down into the lathe bed.

easy peasy lemon squeezy

Edited By Ady1 on 07/03/2012 23:54:01

Heating the chuck kan perhaps help, it does wonders often on stuck threads!

Hi Kenneth,

Be careful, don't go trying to unscrew the chuck just yet.. Can you ascertain the exact age and model of your machine? If a Mark 3 it will have a camlock to attach the chuck and not a screw thread - I'm not sure about the earlier models Mk1 and 2. The Mark 3 was made from the late 1940s up until the 1960s, so if yours is a 1950 model it will possibly have the Churchill camlock system fitted. Tony at Lthes.co.uk has copies of the handbook and parts diagram for the mark 3 Cub and there are pictures of all models on his site.

Edited By Terryd on 09/03/2012 08:36:34

Thanks to all who have given advice, It des not have a cam lock so I asume it is screw fitting .I will give it a go over the next few days and does anyone have a 4 jaw chuck and face plate for sale,?.

Hi Kenneth,

Post us a picture. I'd like to see it for one and I'm sure others would.

Regards

Terry