Hi I'm new to the forum (my first post)and relatively new to model engineering. I have recently bought an old Perfecto lathe at an extremely good price as it turns out. However I can not figure out how the motor unit and belt fits on. I'm pretty sure I'm missing a belt.

I think it is very similar to a Myford 7 lathe, but I'm sure I will be corrected if this is not true.

Does anyone have a similar lathe and could possibly post a photo of the motor/belt set up, I shall attempt to post some photos of it.

I have looked for photos on line buy none show the bit I'm interested in.

Thank you

Neil F

NeilF, I'm sure that your lathe will require a jack shaft , and two belts, one from motor to shaft, the other from the shaft to the lathe. Some one else will know the ratios required for the pullies. Ian S C

I have a shaft that attaches to the lathe and motor that has a 90 degree bend in and a set of larger pullies, I'm thinking this is the jack shaft?

I have looked at the photos on Lathes.co.uk but none of them show the lathe from behind or the way it all fits together.

Thanks for advice.

Hi TheFatbloke

Perfecto 3.5" Lathe ( See Post below).

Perfecto 3.5" lathe

Regards, Bear..

Edited By JasonB on 17/09/2013 15:29:59

Can you manage some photos of what you have? "motor that has a 90 degree bend " sounds like a geared motor that would not be quite right for a lathe.

Sorry that is my poor grammar. The shaft has 90 degree bend not the motor.

Some photos, anyone know what the thing that looks like a hammer is?

The hole at the end of the motor bracket

Lines up with the hole in the lathe bed

And the bent lay shaft acts as the pivot pin

So it should look like this

Taa! Daaa!

What a neat explanation! (Nice wee lathe too).

But what on earth is the bit that looks like a hammer?

Neil

Thanks Jason, so all I'm really missing is a belt.

Got the lathe for £60, the deal was I get it back into use. The old chap that owned it is very ill and didn't want it going for scrap and I promised not to sell it straight on for profit. It is such a lovely old piece on quality engineering the was no way I was going to get rid of it in a hurry.

I have stripped, cleaned and lubricated everything so ready to run once I get a belt and put a new switch and flex on it.

The motor is so quiet and smooth I thought I hadn't switched it on

Hi NeilF,

I attach a photo of my Perfecto lathe showing the motorization. The motor, pulleys and belts are held in a cradle made from aluminium angle. It came like this when I purchased it in the early 1980’s. I also have the leaflets etc. that came with it. There is also a useful chart of the gear ratios to the leadscrew. I can copy and send any of them if you wish. I learnt a lot about lathe work with mine and made some nice model steam engines. I hope that this is helpful.

Ray

Thanks Ray that is useful, Ihave ordered a new belt. I would be very grateful for copies of the leaflets and charts. I will message you my email and home address so you can choose your prefered method, email would be good for me.

I have also realised what the hammer thing is, a die holder as it has 3 grub screws in the correct position to hold them. I guess this is held by the tool holder.

hi guys ,

I've just bought this lathe too , I was hope if Ray wouldn't mind sending me a copy of the screw cutting charts & leaflets as well please

& does anyone know the size/dimensions of the main shaft ?
& when using the back gears, do you loosen the grub screws in the pulley & the bill gear ?

As any fella still got a copy of screw cutting chart and info on lathe a long shot I know but any help would be grateful

Don't worry too much about the specific manual etc for the lathe itself. It is virtually identical in operation to every other small hobby lathe produced from 1900 to 1980 like Drummond B up to Myford ML4 so many of the books and websites covering other makes will be useful reading.

For screwcutting first check which changewheels you have and that the leadscrew pitch is 8tpi (99% probability). You will find they probably are mostly factors of 5 so can use Drummond and Myford tables but if you search the forum for screwcutting threads they will provide some links to programs that calculate how to manage with the gears you have rather than a tables. These are very handy.

Edited By phil1962 on 01/03/2017 13:39:29