Hello everyone! I am a new member, and I apologize up front for a potentially annoying post...
I was kindly given a South Bend 9A that has been used and abused, and I finally got a cheap-o tool post and a box of Harbor Freight carbide bits. I fiddled with some scraps of brass and steel, my first attempts at turning on a lathe, and was quite excited at the process. Also humbled... I have a lot to learn!
The major disappointment I found is the excessive play in the spindle. After reading the posts on this forum and others, I carefully took the headstock apart to find the bearing races (cast iron) totally grooved and scored, especially the chuck side. The spindle, after cleaning up carefully, looks good.
I cleaned the headstock completely, mildly sanded/deburred the bearings, and reassembled with new wicks and fresh oil. I then began removing laminates off the shims, trying different thicknesses. I came to the conclusion that even though I can remove one or two tiny sheets of the shims, if I tighten the stews down to where the spindle won't rattle up and down it just gets too tight for the motor to turn without giving it a tug on the chuck. Even then, the bearing areas get barely lukewarm while running.
I know the shims must be carefully used, not too thick or thin of layers. I also know that this headstock has only one hex screw for each bearing that tightens down on throughout the shims. There is no bolts or adjusting screws behind the bearing races.
My question is: As a paranoid novice, am I crazy to use the lathe (hobby only) as is? If I don't feed the bit too hard and learn how to avoid chatter I seem to be able to turn cool little shapes. I imagine that highly accurate parts will be unlikely with the lathe this way?
Meanwile, I have been thinking I probably need to find another headstock if I want to get serious about using this lathe.
I was kindly given a South Bend 9A that has been used and abused, and I finally got a cheap-o tool post and a box of Harbor Freight carbide bits. I fiddled with some scraps of brass and steel, my first attempts at turning on a lathe, and was quite excited at the process. Also humbled... I have a lot to learn!
The major disappointment I found is the excessive play in the spindle. After reading the posts on this forum and others, I carefully took the headstock apart to find the bearing races (cast iron) totally grooved and scored, especially the chuck side. The spindle, after cleaning up carefully, looks good.
I cleaned the headstock completely, mildly sanded/deburred the bearings, and reassembled with new wicks and fresh oil. I then began removing laminates off the shims, trying different thicknesses. I came to the conclusion that even though I can remove one or two tiny sheets of the shims, if I tighten the stews down to where the spindle won't rattle up and down it just gets too tight for the motor to turn without giving it a tug on the chuck. Even then, the bearing areas get barely lukewarm while running.
I know the shims must be carefully used, not too thick or thin of layers. I also know that this headstock has only one hex screw for each bearing that tightens down on throughout the shims. There is no bolts or adjusting screws behind the bearing races.
My question is: As a paranoid novice, am I crazy to use the lathe (hobby only) as is? If I don't feed the bit too hard and learn how to avoid chatter I seem to be able to turn cool little shapes. I imagine that highly accurate parts will be unlikely with the lathe this way?
Meanwile, I have been thinking I probably need to find another headstock if I want to get serious about using this lathe.
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