Thread: GIANT South Bend lathe

Ronnie,
Before you go in with a ball hone, check the spindle for run-out and/or mushrooming. If the spindle wasn't manufactured of hard enough material way back when it may have mushroomed in the area of the MT socket from operating a too large diameter/dull drill driven with excessive pressure against a stationary workpiece. Those Morse taper ends are after all great wedges. I'd also look for mushrooming in the spindle in the area where the drive screw mates with the spindle.

Clean up your threads in the tailstock first before trying to chase the acme screw. You may find that you needn't do much more than polish up those threads with a piece of Scotch-brite or, at most, touch up a few burrs here and there with a small file. With that said, gut feeling tells me that the screw threads probably stand a better chance of becoming deformed. Sounds as if the old gal may have been pushed beyond her limit once or twice. It is after all a South Bend product...so with a bit of time to invest, some elbow grease and patience it should come back to at least as good as new.

What is the dimanter and threads per inch on the lead screw of your monster. Gary P. Hansen

Originally Posted by garyphansen

What is the dimanter and threads per inch on the lead screw of your monster. Gary P. Hansen

Hello Gary The main lead screw that drives the carriage is 1 1/2" x 4 TPI

Roy Thanks for the advice I will take that approach first.

Ronnie

I am wondering if I have the biggest one out there (lathe that is) because I have not had any Members chime in that own a big South Bend Lathe. Is this a freak? How can I find out how many of these were made? The fellow I talked to at South bend really did not have the education and history of South Bend like the old day's when you called and talked to Rose. Is it possible that I do have the biggest one among all of us South bend people?

Ronnie

Yours is the first true 24" South Bend Lathe with a quick change gear box that I know about. I remember seeing photos of a very early true 24"SB with change gears. Did South Bend ever make a larger lathe? If they did, I think it must have been very early in the histry of the company. Gary P. Hansen

Originally Posted by garyphansen

Yours is the first true 24" South Bend Lathe with a quick change gear box that I know about. I remember seeing photos of a very early true 24"SB with change gears. Did South Bend ever make a larger lathe? If they did, I think it must have been very early in the histry of the company. Gary P. Hansen

Gary I really don't know if they made a bigger swing lathe without riser blocks and in all the years of collecting south bend I never came across one of these. Like I said earlier in the post, I would never in the past buy anything this size but I will be honest and say that I have fallen in love with Kong


Roy After a closer look at the tail stock I found two things that were a problem. One was a small burr on the edge of the cutout for the spindle lock halves so I touched it up with a small swiss file. The spindle slides in and out to the point where I got excited The second is I believe the screw might be slightly bent because when I slide the spindle in the bore,catch about 2" of threads and then slide the whole assembly in to screw the bushing into the casting it is off a fraction and I have to put a little pressure to line up the threads. When the spindle is fully extended the hand wheel turns nice and easy and when I retract it it starts to get harder and harder the further in you bring it. I have it working much better than it was but still not happy. I have to straighten the screw somehow.

More pictures of this thing ... I'd like to see a video of it hoggin out some chips !!

Originally Posted by cvmikeray

More pictures of this thing ... I'd like to see a video of it hoggin out some chips !!

Will do once I get it sorted out. Its really in excellent shape except a few small issues which will be fixed shortly. My first project will be to make a new axle for one of my sons hot wheels car I am looking for a QCTP and a new aloris to fit this lathe is $2400.00

Ronnie

Guy's and Gals I have taken some comparison pictures to put the size of this lathe into perspective. I have held a heavy 10 single tumbler gear box next to the monsters as well as the apron,tail stock and compound. I will post them shortly and I hope you enjoy them.

Ronnie

C'mon Ronnie...put the scented oils and peeled grapes down and take some pictures of your new love!

Ronnie, pull yourself away from the shop and your newfound girlfriend, have a sandwich or two to build your energy level back up and post some pictures!

[QUOTE=penelopepitstop;1347680]Will do once I get it sorted out. Its really in excellent shape except a few small issues which will be fixed shortly. My first project will be to make a new axle for one of my sons hot wheels car I am looking for a QCTP and a new aloris to fit this lathe is $2400.00

When I was at Joe's (plazamachinery.com) a couple of weeks ago, he had a bunch of used Aloris / Dorian QCTP's. I don't know if anything was big enough, but it might be worth an e-mail.

FWIW

Ron

[QUOTE=ronlyke;1354572]

Originally Posted by penelopepitstop

Will do once I get it sorted out. Its really in excellent shape except a few small issues which will be fixed shortly. My first project will be to make a new axle for one of my sons hot wheels car I am looking for a QCTP and a new aloris to fit this lathe is $2400.00

When I was at Joe's (plazamachinery.com) a couple of weeks ago, he had a bunch of used Aloris / Dorian QCTP's. I don't know if anything was big enough, but it might be worth an e-mail.

FWIW

Ron

Hello Ron Thanks for the heads up. I will look into that. I am sorry it took so long to post these pictures but I have been swamped with work and ebay. I hope you guys enjoy them and get a sense of the size of this South Bend

More pictures:

The parts I used next to King Kongs are from a heavy 10" south bend. The bed is 18" wide and I believe this machine is so heavy that it is self leveling. I noticed the left side of my shop is a few inches lower than the right

Ronnie

Hi ronnie! thanks for posting the pics. Even after seeing ''king kong'' twice in person I am still amazed at the perspective that the side by side pics show. Thanks again for the rpc and the steady rest- Ron

Originally Posted by penelopepitstop

I am wondering if I have the biggest one out there (lathe that is) because I have not had any Members chime in that own a big South Bend Lathe. Is this a freak? How can I find out how many of these were made? The fellow I talked to at South bend really did not have the education and history of South Bend like the old day's when you called and talked to Rose. Is it possible that I do have the biggest one among all of us South bend people?

Ronnie

Funny you should ask that, I logged in tonight to see if anyone had seen a big South Bend... this just showed up on our Craigslist. Hard to tell what the swing is but it is a long one for sure (and in sad shape):

metal lathe

Ronnie, those comparison shots are great. Really puts that monster into its correct perspective.

Thanks,
Tom B.

Originally Posted by charlz

Funny you should ask that, I logged in tonight to see if anyone had seen a big South Bend... this just showed up on our Craigslist. Hard to tell what the swing is but it is a long one for sure (and in sad shape):

metal lathe

Thanks for the heads up, I really appreciate that and to Ron as well for calling me today to tell me about it. Its nice to have guy's like this. I spoke to the fellow tonight and from what I can gather the lathe is toast because its been outside uncovered for many years. He wants to sell the lathe and parts in one package only, even after I offered to pay good money for just the chucks,face plates,steady rest etc plus pay shipping on about 1000 pounds. Oh well,it was worth a try. He did say that the bed was heavily rusted and would require regrinding and I am sure that would be about $5000.00

Thanks again and I am glad you guy's like the pictures

Originally Posted by new2a4

Hi ronnie! thanks for posting the pics. Even after seeing ''king kong'' twice in person I am still amazed at the perspective that the side by side pics show. Thanks again for the rpc and the steady rest- Ron

Hey Ron No problem buddy,your quite welcome. Let me know how you made out with the Rotary Phase convertor.

Ronnie