Thread: Wicks in gear box?

Hi folks, I am in the process of replacing the wicks on my 1943 10L, I did the spindle and apron wicks are there any more? My gearbox is the single tumbler and there are I think 9 oil ports on it. I havent had it apart yet and I'd rather not take it apart if there is no need to. It's way more fun for me to be running it than working on it. However if there is something inside that requires preventative matenance I'd like to do it. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Oscer.

You don't have to take it apart if things are okay, however, I believe that you should take it off the machine and inspect it well to be sure. If it has not been off the lathe since 1943, I can assure you that it is probably pretty dirty and that isn't a good thing when you are talking about gear meshing against one another under load.

Off the lathe you can clean it inside and do an adequate, if not perfect job of it. This will allow a good view of all the gears to see if any are chipped or otherwise damaged. You will be able to see the wicks involved and make sure they are in fairly good condition and especially, see if they are all there.

If everything is okay you can start having the fun of making big things small again and not worry about what might happen the next time you engage the box to doperate a function. Also pay attention to the admonishment about where to place the single lever when oiling the box. There is an oil tube inside the box which directs oil to its proper oiling location. If the selector isn't placed in the proper position, the drip oiling does not get to where it is supposed to be.

Clean it at least, you will be happier if you do.

Eric

Thanks golfer, I had no Idea about position of the tumbler while oiling. Is there a service manual where you guys are leaning all this information? If so where do you find it? I have the how to run a lathe from South Bend, but I don't remember reading much about matenance in there. I also have a lube chart but it's for a much newer machine. I will definately be taking the gear box off to see what I can learn.
oscer

oscar,

Thanks for your help on the sliding gear shaft. I too have partially taken my single tumbler gearbox apart and I am also wondering if there is a way to replace the old felts on the two main shafts without taking the shafts out.

Has anyone sucessfully pulled the old felts out and put new felts back in without taking the shafts out? Thx

It has been a while since I had the box apart on mine own 10L; however, I believe you might be able to slide new felt into the shaft felt slots if you were careful and took your time. Like I said, I don't have the box sitting here so I can just look, but I think it is possible.

Eric

Oscer

Send me an Email at

ibgolfr@aol.com

and I will send you a couple of links to where you can find almost everything you need or want to know about you lathe.

In your email, remind me that you want a link to a maintence manual and the South Bend Heavy links.

I would give them to you here but sometimes the lonks I add here will not open the files correctly. If I send them dorect they will.

Eric

Originally Posted by nojrs

oscar,

Thanks for your help on the sliding gear shaft. I too have partially taken my single tumbler gearbox apart and I am also wondering if there is a way to replace the old felts on the two main shafts without taking the shafts out.

Has anyone sucessfully pulled the old felts out and put new felts back in without taking the shafts out? Thx

Your welcome, good luck with the rebuild. I am doing only what I think needs to be done to preserve this old machine I doubt it will ever look any thing like some of the ones I've seen on here. Just want it to work well. Any way I haven't taken the gear box apart yet. Need to do more research.
Oscer