Thread: Oil/Set Screw on Cross Slide Lost!

I messed up and lost the small screw while lubing up my SB9. The screw is located on the dovetail of the cross slide just north of the cross slide dial (I'll get a picture if still unclear). Does anyone know where to get these or what the dimensions are to make another? While I'm at it I'd like to replace others around the lathe and in the dials as the slots are pretty well worn...any suggestions?

Jesse

I purchased a convenience pak from Harbor Freight but they might be too large; HD had some really small ones in their expensive trays but M-C always seems to have everything you need


I messed up my oil set screw on my apron and tried to replace it with a small flat head screw after jb welding the area that was dynamited, but the flat head screw protruded up just a bit much so there's a wick in place for now as temporary stopgap measure; so to pun; dental pick would remove wick when required, just a thought

Dave

Originally Posted by jessadamessa

I messed up and lost the small screw while lubing up my SB9. The screw is located on the dovetail of the cross slide just north of the cross slide dial (I'll get a picture if still unclear). Does anyone know where to get these or what the dimensions are to make another? While I'm at it I'd like to replace others around the lathe and in the dials as the slots are pretty well worn...any suggestions?

Jesse

I lost mine as well. Silly mistake. I bent over to blow a little piece of swarf away from the opening without thinking (the set screw was next to the opening) and blew the screw to lands unknown. I pulled another out of the same size to determine what the threads are then went to Ace Hardware and got a number of replacements (sorry, don't remember the size). Should be no problem to get.

-Ron

#10 x 32tpi

Thanks fellas. Do you know if the screw in question has a special end treatment (extended, cone, cup, etc)? I've noticed some of the other set screws have an extended end, for example. Or is the only purpose of this one to keep chips out? Thanks again.

Think this might be the set screw you're talking about, correct me someone if I'm wrong. I just dissassembled and then assembled the saddle/crosslide and compound. Looks like a slotted set screw with conical end. Not sure why the end needs to be conical

Quote : ...Or is the only purpose of this one to keep chips out?

Exactly . It is not a set screw ; doesn't hold anything , just keeps dirt out of the oil channel below .

Originally Posted by SE18

Think this might be the set screw you're talking about, correct me someone if I'm wrong. I just dissassembled and then assembled the saddle/crosslide and compound. Looks like a slotted set screw with conical end. Not sure why the end needs to be conical

Wrong screw. That screw Holds the Cross feed nut in place. The end is Beveled because it pushes against another pin, That is set 90° to The screw. That screw needs to be tight in order to reduce backlash.

Note: if you clean the top around the screw you'll notice that the screw goes into a Brass dowel. The Brass dowel is Part of the nut.

Thanks for the info. Ordering some from McMaster...problem solved. Thanks again!

Jesse

I changed all my oiling screws to socket/hex type.Some machining is necessary on the cone pulley and the back gear ones and maybe some of the straight ones are odd lengths.My 13 has an oil plug in the cross feed nut as well.I made a cap screw for that but decided it would catch dirt.I put in a regular socket setscrew and use a tooth brush to clean it before oiling it.Those screws are a lot easier to manipulate.