What's new
What's new

9a Restoration

bradjacob

Titanium
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Location
Easton, PA
Machine restoration and this site are such a drug, I'll tell ya...

Last year at this time, I started a full restoration of a 10L. Upon its completion, my focus was shifted to restoring a South Bend drill press that I got for a really good deal. Well, it's that time again and I found another really nice machine.

I really became inspired by two PM-member's machines: Turk's "NOS 9a" (with the angle-iron & butcher-block table) and Dave's (kozzmo99) "saw-dust" treasure. His video on Youtube was really the clincher, so thanks to Dave. I began to look around on Craig's List and didn't see anything. Then recently, I was over my buddy Bryan's house (another PM member). He has beautiful 9a with the wooden table, that is just gorgeous. He had another 9a in his shop that he planned on getting to at a later time. It looked like it was in pretty nice condition and felt tight & smooth. We made a deal on it and he generously helped me bring it home. Thank Bryan!

I started thinking about my previous lathe. I recalled all the inefficiencies & mistakes that I made - and immediately created a plan. Instead of working on separate "assemblies", I decided to break the project up into major operations: de-greasing, paint-stripping, re-painting, buffing/polishing, table construction and of course - final assembly & motor-wiring.

So sit back and enjoy the show, or should I say, "the sequel"...


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0348.jpg
    IMG_0348.jpg
    100.4 KB · Views: 2,674
  • IMG_0352.jpg
    IMG_0352.jpg
    60.9 KB · Views: 1,962
  • IMG_0351.jpg
    IMG_0351.jpg
    55.5 KB · Views: 1,792
  • IMG_0350.jpg
    IMG_0350.jpg
    54.3 KB · Views: 1,713
  • IMG_0349.jpg
    IMG_0349.jpg
    43.4 KB · Views: 1,606
Last edited:
Disassembly

It took all of about 4.5 hours to totally disassemble this machine down to every last nut and bolt. This includes the gear box and spindle. Luckily, I didn't break or damage anything (like last year, haha!).

The one thing that DID rear its ugly head again, was a stubborn taper pin. So much so, that it began to mushroom. This was a perfect opportunity to finally use my South Bend drill press. I had to mount the gearbox to the table and drill out the pin. Since there was no real way to square it up to the bit, I scribed a "tick mark" on the retaining collar, on each side of the pin. I then eye-balled it and hoped for the best. Fortunately, the best did happen and I made it right through the pin. Hooray for the drill press accuracy!

Here's some pictures.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0672.jpg
    IMG_0672.jpg
    64 KB · Views: 1,446
  • IMG_0682.jpg
    IMG_0682.jpg
    58.4 KB · Views: 1,521
  • IMG_0688.jpg
    IMG_0688.jpg
    48.4 KB · Views: 1,298
  • IMG_0692.jpg
    IMG_0692.jpg
    31.4 KB · Views: 1,291
  • IMG_0693.jpg
    IMG_0693.jpg
    47.8 KB · Views: 1,244
More Gear Box

Here a couple more of the gear box. The gears themselves look really nice (despite being a bit dirty). The brass tag, doesn't appear to be brass at all. It looks to be aluminum? And I've also included a shot of the that pesky taper pin. My bit did come out of the pin just a tad, but looking at the hole in the shaft, there doesn't appear to be any damage.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0683.jpg
    IMG_0683.jpg
    43.6 KB · Views: 1,049
  • IMG_0684.jpg
    IMG_0684.jpg
    46.8 KB · Views: 990
  • IMG_0691.jpg
    IMG_0691.jpg
    32.7 KB · Views: 1,089
  • IMG_0694.jpg
    IMG_0694.jpg
    48.4 KB · Views: 1,123
  • IMG_0713.jpg
    IMG_0713.jpg
    61.1 KB · Views: 1,195
Apron

Here's a couple shots of the apron.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4286.jpg
    IMG_4286.jpg
    94.7 KB · Views: 853
  • IMG_4279.jpg
    IMG_4279.jpg
    93.9 KB · Views: 981
  • IMG_0669.jpg
    IMG_0669.jpg
    58.5 KB · Views: 869
  • IMG_0671.jpg
    IMG_0671.jpg
    57.8 KB · Views: 830
  • IMG_0670.jpg
    IMG_0670.jpg
    45.7 KB · Views: 860
Spindle

The spindle... I feel pretty lucky that its in really nice shape. The finish is not scorn and has no scratches. It feels like glass... The casting is also in very nice shape. Same for the bearings and back gears. No visible wear and all seems very tight. The pulley however, is going to need some work on removing the surface rust with either electrolysis.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0699.jpg
    IMG_0699.jpg
    51 KB · Views: 899
  • IMG_0705.jpg
    IMG_0705.jpg
    32.7 KB · Views: 938
  • IMG_0706.jpg
    IMG_0706.jpg
    40.2 KB · Views: 888
  • IMG_0707.jpg
    IMG_0707.jpg
    28 KB · Views: 924
  • IMG_0708.jpg
    IMG_0708.jpg
    36.4 KB · Views: 887
More Spindle & Headstock

Here are a couple more of the headstock. It came with a nice little thread protector. I like this "open" design of the headstock for inspection and maintenance purposes.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0709.jpg
    IMG_0709.jpg
    33.1 KB · Views: 682
  • IMG_0711.jpg
    IMG_0711.jpg
    56.1 KB · Views: 712
  • IMG_0701.jpg
    IMG_0701.jpg
    39.5 KB · Views: 751
  • IMG_0702.jpg
    IMG_0702.jpg
    41 KB · Views: 715
  • IMG_0703.jpg
    IMG_0703.jpg
    44.5 KB · Views: 763
...and a few more

Last remaining shots of the headstock. The inside of the pulley and bull gear are very nice. It seems like the owner never let his machine get thirsty for oil ;)


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0715.jpg
    IMG_0715.jpg
    36.4 KB · Views: 625
  • IMG_0717.jpg
    IMG_0717.jpg
    51.2 KB · Views: 586
  • IMG_0718.jpg
    IMG_0718.jpg
    38.3 KB · Views: 565
  • IMG_0721.jpg
    IMG_0721.jpg
    58.6 KB · Views: 615
  • IMG_0704.jpg
    IMG_0704.jpg
    47.5 KB · Views: 565
Bed Ways

The bed was in great shape and still showing plenty of frosting where it was scraped. The ways have absolutely no visible wear or a ridge. Having a 4-1/2' foot long bed, will be handy, for sure.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0725.jpg
    IMG_0725.jpg
    34.4 KB · Views: 1,012
  • IMG_0728.jpg
    IMG_0728.jpg
    44.9 KB · Views: 1,150
  • IMG_0730.jpg
    IMG_0730.jpg
    42.8 KB · Views: 1,103
  • IMG_0727.jpg
    IMG_0727.jpg
    36.5 KB · Views: 1,175
  • IMG_0729.jpg
    IMG_0729.jpg
    37.4 KB · Views: 1,122
Parts and other Stuff

Here some mics stuff including a bin-rack with all the nuts, bolts & gears for each sub-assembly.

The title of the last picture should read, "Now Get To Work!"


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0731.jpg
    IMG_0731.jpg
    46.6 KB · Views: 768
  • IMG_0735.jpg
    IMG_0735.jpg
    37.1 KB · Views: 797
  • IMG_0738.jpg
    IMG_0738.jpg
    53.7 KB · Views: 850
  • IMG_0740.jpg
    IMG_0740.jpg
    55.1 KB · Views: 908
Compound, Tailstock & Crossfeed

Just a couple snaps. And again, all is very tight and smooth. This machine came with a taper attachment that will remain with my friend Bryan. We'll be swapping since he has a non-taper cross feed.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4284.jpg
    IMG_4284.jpg
    94.6 KB · Views: 629
  • IMG_4285.jpg
    IMG_4285.jpg
    94.2 KB · Views: 631
  • IMG_4283.jpg
    IMG_4283.jpg
    90.8 KB · Views: 631
  • IMG_4281.jpg
    IMG_4281.jpg
    96.6 KB · Views: 631
  • IMG_4280.jpg
    IMG_4280.jpg
    98.1 KB · Views: 630
Banjo & Reversing Lever & Others

The gears on the reversing lever look really nice. I know this because my 10L were pretty worn and noisy. They mesh very smooth and nothing seems to be worn.

There was one question that came up. Taking the gears off the reversing lever, required a 15mm socket. Metric - on a 1946 machine? What gives?

.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0678.jpg
    IMG_0678.jpg
    59.2 KB · Views: 548
  • IMG_0676.jpg
    IMG_0676.jpg
    44.3 KB · Views: 555
  • IMG_0696.jpg
    IMG_0696.jpg
    46.3 KB · Views: 575
  • IMG_0675.jpg
    IMG_0675.jpg
    59.5 KB · Views: 500
  • IMG_0677.jpg
    IMG_0677.jpg
    53.4 KB · Views: 494
Horizontal Drive and Chuck

Quick shot of the drive unit and the 4-jaw South Bend (Skinner) chuck.


.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4287.jpg
    IMG_4287.jpg
    90.6 KB · Views: 698
  • IMG_4288.jpg
    IMG_4288.jpg
    61 KB · Views: 597
Countershaft

Brad
Having recently been down this route may I strongly suggest that you do NOT separate the large aluminum pulley from its shaft.

I did, and then ended up having to heat the pulley and freeze the shaft in order to get the taper pin holes to line up for reassembly.

Free advice, worth what you pay for it...
Josh
 
Brad
Having recently been down this route may I strongly suggest that you do NOT separate the large aluminum pulley from its shaft.

I did, and then ended up having to heat the pulley and freeze the shaft in order to get the taper pin holes to line up for reassembly.

Free advice, worth what you pay for it...
Josh

Yup, I'm not planning on removing it - no need ;)
 
The gears on the reversing lever look really nice. I know this because my 10L were pretty worn and noisy. They mesh very smooth and nothing seems to be worn.

There was one question that came up. Taking the gears off the reversing lever, required a 15mm socket. Metric - on a 1946 machine? What gives?

.

not metric- 32nd size. 19/32" IIRC -used to be a pretty common size.
 
Last edited:








 
Back
Top