Went to look at the LeBlond (PICS)

J

jkilroy

Diamond

Joined

Jul 23, 2004

Location

Vicksburg, MS

• Jun 22, 2005

• #1

Made the drive this morning to see the locally available LeBlond 16x54. The serial number is ND7913. Here is a link to the previous discussion concerning this machine.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=012532

Now here are some of the pics that I took.

http://www.maxscient.com/images/kilroy/DCP_2720.JPG
http://www.maxscient.com/images/kilroy/DCP_2721.JPG
http://www.maxscient.com/images/kilroy/DCP_2722.JPG
http://www.maxscient.com/images/kilroy/DCP_2723.JPG
http://www.maxscient.com/images/kilroy/DCP_2724.JPG

About all I can say that is not good about the machine is that the bed is worn. One of the guys in the shop was straight with me, if you are going to take a foot long cut there will be some taper, he didn't give a number other than "a few thou". He said otherwise the machine was smooth and operated well. The chuck is a Buck adjust-through and appears to be in great shape, probably worth a third of the reserve alone.
There is a taper attachment, which appears to be in great shape. The steady is pretty beat up, maybe beyond use.

The reserve is set at $1250.

Look for another thread on my visit to the shop, very interesting in itself.

 

L

L Webb

Titanium

Joined

Jul 28, 2001

Location

Fullerton, CA USA

• Jun 22, 2005

• #2

So when they say in the ebay ad that the ways are in good shape, they are full of crap. Interesting.

That is a big plus to be able to personally inspect the machine before bidding.

Les

 

G

GregSY

Diamond

Joined

Jan 1, 2005

Location

Houston

• Jun 22, 2005

• #3

It always bugs me when I see a chuck sitting on the ways...

 

precisionworks

Diamond

Joined

Apr 20, 2005

Location

Benton, IL USA

• Jun 22, 2005

• #4

Nice micrometer carriage stop too.

At least the reserve is within reason. Are you make room for it???

Barry Milton

 

C

carla

Stainless

Joined

Mar 12, 2002

Location

W. Coast, USA

• Jun 22, 2005

• #5

Kilroy....a reference I have here gives 1939-1940 for that serial number.

I suppose its just 'human nature' or some such thing, but its disappointing that the seller would have claimed the ways to be good in the ebay listing, when they aren't.....good show that you went and checked out the machine, tho, rather than bidding on it and taking that chance....so....'well done, Kilroy'.... : )

cheers

Carla

 

J

JimK

Diamond

Joined

Apr 25, 2003

Location

Berkeley Springs, WV, USA

• Jun 22, 2005

• #6

Nice lathe, the ways look a bit worn but I have seen much worse on LeBlonds.

The spindle is most likely an L1 not an L3 and I would be surprised at a taper larger than a no. 4 on any 16 inch lathe of that age.

LeBlond always has an excellent gear plant. Pop the top, you'll like what you see.

If the lathe is cutting a serious taper, it could just be out of level. The tailstock is gonna be "down" a bit also, that is what happens as a lathe gets used.

Don't worry about the slow top speed, 500 to 700 RPM is plenty fast for a 16 inch lathe.

When you get cleaning the machine up, look at the bevel gears that drive from the feed shaft to the apron gears. They are the weak spot of the LeBlond feed works.

Thy hang out in the open, so grease them up when you go to assembly.

Otherwise, it'll B'arite

 

Ox

Diamond

Joined

Aug 27, 2002

Location

Northwest Ohio

• Jun 22, 2005

• #7

Good grief fellers!

Someone tells you that the ways are in "good" shape on a 60 yr old machine and you think that means "like new"?

Condition:

Like New
Excellent
V Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Salvage Title

Are the rest of you working on a diff scale than I am?

If that is a '39-40 - then I have to ask if through-hole size and spindle speeds are/were options on this machine as they differ from mine. Or is maybe mine older than I think? (Looks exactly the same.)

I did note the micrometer stop. That is nice!


Think Snow Eh!
Ox

 

J

jkilroy

Diamond

Joined

Jul 23, 2004

Location

Vicksburg, MS

• Jun 23, 2005

• #8

Ox, I agree on the scale, Good is average in my book. The bad news is I would not give it a "good" rating on the ways. Fair would be more like it. The pictures don't show the extent of the wear, the flash evens everything out. There is a bid on it now, and 7 or so days left so I am going to think about it and let it ride for a bit.

 

R

Ralph_P

Stainless

Joined

Jan 14, 2003

Location

E. TN USA

• Jun 23, 2005

• #9

If you move the chuck a couple inches closer to the spindle it might reduce the amount of taper.

 

Ox

Diamond

Joined

Aug 27, 2002

Location

Northwest Ohio

• Jun 23, 2005

• #10

Think aboot it - and let it ride for a bit?

Bud - you don't even post not one bid on that thing for another 6 days and 23 hrs - yuh hear?

It may not turn like a new machine - but I bet it will run longer yet (given the chance) than the life of any new cheap import and be able to possibly get parts for it if/when desired. (I have never tried.)

'Pends on your requirements.

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

 

J

jkilroy

Diamond

Joined

Jul 23, 2004

Location

Vicksburg, MS

• Jun 23, 2005

• #11

Would you be suggesting that I snipe! Why Ox, what would ever give you the idea that I would do such a thing.

 

mister honey

Stainless

Joined

Feb 2, 2005

Location

eastern blowville heights, ohio

• Jun 23, 2005

• #12

From the first photo, it appears to have the integral, cast, hand scraped ways, judging by the area to the left of the micrometer length stop. I have a 1949 LeBlond full line catalog, and those heavy duty series lathes had the hardened & ground steel ways. I think this one is a pre-WWII lathe.

It's probably a 14" Tool Room lathe as my catalog lists the swing at 16-1/2" for that model. A 5 or 7-1/2 horsepower motor was offered. Shipping weight was 4250 lbs.

Did you hear it run under power? Did you ask to take any cuts to check the taper? Those would be the deciding factors for me.

Probably not a bad lathe for $1250, if it does not need any major repair parts: gears, etc. A new crossfeed screw could be a good update. Did you check the backlash at the crossfeed dial?

Mike

 

J

jkilroy

Diamond

Joined

Jul 23, 2004

Location

Vicksburg, MS

• Jun 23, 2005

• #13

Mike,

They did not have the machine under power. They offered to set it up but I didn't have time for that, had to get back. The cross feed didn't exhibit a lot of backlash at all. (For a machine of this age, hereafter FAMOTA) The motor is a 7.5 hp two speed motor, top RPM about 1120. I could pick up a little speed by motor swapping.