Whats my knob for? (Boley Beginner!)

Hi Friends.>>

Just got a very basic and old Boley Lathe, to say i am a beginner is understatement of the year! I have had to teach myself how to read a vernier, micrometer, depth gauges etc. This is because i wanted to rebuild an XK Jaguar engine. –that project is now finished and i’d love to make some bits.

The problem i have is i can’t work out how to remove the face plate the chuck attaches to so i can fit my new 4 jaw chuck. Friends have said a sharp tug can sometimes just loosen them, that’s not happening, no matter how hard i yank it. I also don’t know which way the thread is, so I don’t want to tighten it up!

If i can work out how to link the pictures ill add them below. >>

1) what are the knobs for? >>

2) why is there another cog in an oil bath that does nothing, spins freely (not connected)????>>

3) /\ does that cog move up to lock the spindal? >>

> >

Confused.com ????

Cheers guys. >>

Si>>

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Hope the images appear.

Edited By JasonB on 13/10/2013 16:13:24 Does not seem to like Dropbox so have added links

Edited By JasonB on 13/10/2013 16:16:18

Check out stuck chuck threads. The gear is part of the back gear arrangement. Do not use it to lock the spindle under any circumstances.

There is a clue to the knobs on a similar lathe **LINK** seventh picture.
Be aware that on most small lathes engaging back gear requires 2 actions. One is to throw a lever and then you have to find a second lever or pull out a pin from one of the gears. Some more photos might help if you can't work it out.

Edited By Bazyle on 13/10/2013 18:40:00

Thanks guys, In some ways that's infuriating, as i have spent hours looking at Lathes.co.uk, but i think "cant see the wood for the trees" covers that!

I was about to ask what an earth a back gear is for, but then I googled it (basically going slow!)
( **LINK** 

Heppel, cheers, I was absolutely just about to try to use it to lock things up. I will re-read the stuck chucks thing, BTW is the backplate a normal thread (as i can easily take the chuck off, it the base that's stuck)? So I want to go anti-clock, this seems logical, as the lathe spins anti clock (towards the user), so when it spins it wont undo it? (or did i just confuse myself?)

Bazyle, thanks, you are clearly right, my lathe looks like a mixture between a 4C and a 4R, So the knobs engage the back gear. (I also looked my stand up)... This means i am no nearer to locking the spindle. But at least you showed me something else i did know!

I am assuming if the front and rear oil seals basically just leak the oil through, that you live with it, I assume the seals are very much not available anymore?

(Thanks admin, for approving my post and fixing my links to the pictures.)

Yes, the thread will undo anticlockwise. I imagine you are going to make a bar to screw into the holes in the plate to provide a lever. Without the mass of the chuck in place you may be able to mask the centre and heat the plate with a paint stripper gun to expand it a bit.

You know what, I am not sure what I was planning to do. Yes, I guess that is the answer. Cheers i do have a heat gun.

Based on the things we have said, i assume there is no knob to lock the spindle? Or does every lathe have one and i just need to work out what it is? The guys at work are saying maybe there is a hole somewhere to stick a bar through and lock it that way. I'll do some more digging tonight.

Maybe not every, but most lathes have something to lock the spindle. If you could do a good picture of the left side of the headstock, then maybe someone could help you. The left side is the traditional place to search what you seem to miss.

Greetings,

Hansrudolf

I will try to get out there tonight. cheers.

I've never seen a lathe with a spindle lock. Not on any of the Chinese imports, boxford, myford, drummond that I have used. Perhaps Colchesters do. A lot of lathes lock up when one of the back gear levers is engaged which is used when the operator is not the owner who will have to pay for the possible damage to the gears. On industrial lathes with steel gears this is less likely but most hobby lathes use cast iron gears that are fragile.

Since you have flat belts the normal way would be to hold them firmly together increasing the tension and grip on the pulley. Then with your third hand tap the bar you have attached to the plate with a hammer. The idea being the shock load of the hammer blow is more effectrive than just pulling hard.

The locked chuck and stuck morse taper in a milling head are common modellers problems.

Bazyle,

Next time you see a Myford Super 7 look on the left hand side of the head stock and you WILL see a spindle lock, a pin engages in the main pulley. Very useful when you are tightening a collet chuck

Next time? I don't have access to that sort of quality!

I'll go home tonight and waggle knobs and see what happens. Regardless i like the bar and shocking it loose idea.

Thank you for the correction Kwil.

By the way Gent as your model is not covered on Lathes.co.uk you might offer them a few photos sometime.

Yay! It came off! *small victory dance*

After drilling two holes in an old spanner and bolting it on a sharp blow with a hammer made it come off. I was surprised at how big the thread was! very coarse and deep.

I can confirm there is no spindle lock on this lathe (that i can find).
As pointed out above the lever below the chuck raises and lowers the back gear, the one at the left back and left far side near the chuck lock the spindle body to the bead. The other small knob locks the backgear in and out of place. -there are no more.

Bazyle, i very much doubt i have a different model, i suspect its got bits missing and changed. There is a plate on it saying it was reconditioned (from the look of the phone number a few years ago). If i thought they would be interested i would send some, but i seriously don't think they will!

I now need to drill some fresh holes in to the base plate (hope it all sits true and square), fit the chuck and find my next project! The captive bar was deeply cool, but didn't impress the guys at work...

We have all made the class giggle at one time or another. Ask away.