Lathe setup NOT for the faint of heart

[ri702bill 8,327]

I wanted to add a bronze sleeve bushing to the forward section of the lower steering shaft on the 502. The idea was to undercut the forward 3/8" to accept a 5/8 ID x 3/4 OD bushing and tap the end for a 5/16-18.retaining bolt. The hole in the frame was in great shape - the end of the steering shaft was not. I did not want to remove the fan gear as it was rust welded quite well and solid in place. I tried to run the shaft at the lowest lathe speed, but the off centeredness set up a bad vibration.

@peter lena may have seen something like this where you add a part to balance off the shaft 180 degrees from the offending part. I saw this done at work 8 or 10 years ago when a line shaft support bearing failed on a cam driven machine and the idea was the same - to sleeve it. The cams were external profile cams, not "Box" cams that capture the roller on upper and lower. The Machine Shop foreman added clamps to "Balance" the off center load. I happened to be in the shop when they started the lathe - he told me "You MAY not want to stand there." It was uneventful as was mine. Still not something taught in Shop 101 or 102...

[Pullstart 62,905]

So clever!

[oliver2-44 9,759]

Very creative. 

Over the years I've been fortunate to see machinist do a lot of creative things repairing and refurbishing the Hydro turbine generator parts I worked with. 

 

[ri702bill 8,327]

9 hours ago, Pullstart said:

So clever!

And it did have a touch of the "Kevin Factor" where you say to yourself "Ah, what could go wrong"....

Bill

[pacer 3,173]

14 hours ago, ri702bill said:

off centeredness

 

Totally aside from your ....'cleverishness' at solving your problem I love that description!!

 

Bout once a week I give thanks for my magnificent and beautiful South Bend 13/36, and my Bridgeport 'clone' mill......

[ri702bill 8,327]

1 minute ago, pacer said:

Bout once a week I give thanks for my magnificent and beautiful South Bend 13/36, and my Bridgeport 'clone' mill......

The 13/36 is a powerful machine, as long as it cuts true and is used, not used up...

Clone milling machines are fine if you can find parts for them.

Bill 

[pacer 3,173]

@ri702bill

 

My South Bend, along with being made in Taiwan came from hurricane Katrina, had stayed completely submerged in that toxic sludge for some 2-3 weeks. I took a BIG gamble and gave $500 for it. Oddly enough we - my machinist buddy and I - only had to cut/remake 3 gears in the head stock and with a LOT of clean up, it turned out to be a good lathe. Very slight pitting on the ways that were cked carefully and found to be OK. Amazingly, was even able to use the original motor - after clean up!

 

The Mill is from ENCO and according to my Bridgeport expert buddy it is almost a direct copy of the Bridgys.....