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KO Lee S612 table track & pinion worn - suggestions?

lkthomps

Plastic
Joined
Oct 7, 2011
Location
USA
I purchased a 1963 manual KO Lee Surface grinder, S612. While using it the x-axis table travel started "freewheeling". The pinion still engages the track near both ends of the travel. So it appears to be a worn pinion and track.

Called LeBlond for replacement of the 15.38" track & pinion. They have them, but it's more than I paid for the whole grinder. Any suggestions? I've been using it to regrind the ends of gage pins, light cuts & haven't even "used-up" one grinding wheel.

Cheers,
Lynn
 
It is very likely to be of a standard Pitch that is readily available. Measure and determine what size of Pitch the Rack is and see if you can purchase some commodity Rack and machine it to accommodate whatever mounting concerns there are. You likely will not be as lucky with the Pinion, but can probably find something that can be machined to work with some creativity. Otherwise, there are a few of us here that can make the gear and rack for you that are almost certainly less expensive than the OEM option.

Surface grinders are very low speed devices... You are almost certain to be able to machine the Pinion yourself with an Involute Mill. It is likely that there is no need to have a professionally Hobbed or Shaped Pinion. That means that if you can find some commodity Rack that fits or can be made to fit, you are most of the way home to a low-buck solution to your woes.
 
It is very likely to be of a standard Pitch that is readily available. Measure and determine what size of Pitch the Rack is and see if you can purchase some commodity Rack and machine it to accommodate whatever mounting concerns there are. You likely will not be as lucky with the Pinion, but can probably find something that can be machined to work with some creativity. Otherwise, there are a few of us here that can make the gear and rack for you that are almost certainly less expensive than the OEM option.

Surface grinders are very low speed devices... You are almost certain to be able to machine the Pinion yourself with an Involute Mill. It is likely that there is no need to have a professionally Hobbed or Shaped Pinion. That means that if you can find some commodity Rack that fits or can be made to fit, you are most of the way home to a low-buck solution to your woes.

Look into changing over to drum and cable.

Simple, cheap , inexpensive. Pick three.
 








 
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