GForceJunky
Plastic
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2023
Let me start off by saying I last used a lathe in my university's machine shop nearly a decade ago. I have missed having access to a lathe and a mill (yet to come) and am super excited about the capabilities it will afford me. So there will probably be some heavily beginner questions, but I am also extremely hands-on and have a pretty well equipped shop (outside of precision machining tools/measurement equipment) and have rebuilt various other (smaller) machines, engines, transmissions, bikes, cars, etc.
My buddy was able to pick up 6 South Bend lathes coming out of a school shop (they were replacing with CNC machines). He knew I wanted one, so he loaded one up in WI and drove it over to MI (Detroit). I did not get to pick from the bunch, but I did get the only one with the taper attachment. I have no idea if others were in better or worse shape. I ended up spending more than I wanted to, at about $2500 for everything included in the pictures, but since it was all trade value for stuff of mine he wanted it didn't hurt so bad.
Looking at the machine, it's obvious it's well used. My first question is, do I even bother trying to run it as is? No matter what, I would do basic maintenance and replace whatever comes in the kit Steve has available, but I am wondering if I should just tear the whole thing apart before I ever make a chip. Reading some threads and watching some videos it doesn't seem terribly difficult to pull the whole machine apart and clean it up. Now, I wouldn't go to the trouble or expense of having the ways re-ground but short of that I would like to freshen everything up. Along the same lines, I was wondering what the best way to a) tell if my ways are hardened is, and b) clean up any nicks/indents/minor damage to the ways? Do people stone their ways?
I am planning to control the lathe with a VFD and am also looking to add a foot brake for obvious safety reasons. Any input/good resources on this would be greatly appreciated. Would also like to add a DRO if anyone has any tips/advice on this. Not a must, but definitely ideal.
All-in-all, I'm mostly just looking for some advice on where to start and key things to look for (signs of major trouble?). Does the book included with Steve's rebuild package kits go over a legitimate full rebuild (bearings, adjusting screws/etc.)?
The machine is a CLK145B (I can't find anything about the 'K' in CLK) with 13" swing and a 5' bed. The serial number is 10321TKK14 which puts it around 1964-65 and equipped with "Quick Change Gear (QCG), Friction Feed Apron, Underneath Motor Drive (UMD) and "Taper Key Lock Spindle", if my interpretation of the code/serial number is correct.
Please see attached pictures for more details including pictures of the various accessories I got with it, about 2/3 of which I know how to use/what they're for and about 1/3 I have no idea about. Not sure why the pictures aren't showing up in the thread without clicking the link, but they're there.
My buddy was able to pick up 6 South Bend lathes coming out of a school shop (they were replacing with CNC machines). He knew I wanted one, so he loaded one up in WI and drove it over to MI (Detroit). I did not get to pick from the bunch, but I did get the only one with the taper attachment. I have no idea if others were in better or worse shape. I ended up spending more than I wanted to, at about $2500 for everything included in the pictures, but since it was all trade value for stuff of mine he wanted it didn't hurt so bad.
Looking at the machine, it's obvious it's well used. My first question is, do I even bother trying to run it as is? No matter what, I would do basic maintenance and replace whatever comes in the kit Steve has available, but I am wondering if I should just tear the whole thing apart before I ever make a chip. Reading some threads and watching some videos it doesn't seem terribly difficult to pull the whole machine apart and clean it up. Now, I wouldn't go to the trouble or expense of having the ways re-ground but short of that I would like to freshen everything up. Along the same lines, I was wondering what the best way to a) tell if my ways are hardened is, and b) clean up any nicks/indents/minor damage to the ways? Do people stone their ways?
I am planning to control the lathe with a VFD and am also looking to add a foot brake for obvious safety reasons. Any input/good resources on this would be greatly appreciated. Would also like to add a DRO if anyone has any tips/advice on this. Not a must, but definitely ideal.
All-in-all, I'm mostly just looking for some advice on where to start and key things to look for (signs of major trouble?). Does the book included with Steve's rebuild package kits go over a legitimate full rebuild (bearings, adjusting screws/etc.)?
The machine is a CLK145B (I can't find anything about the 'K' in CLK) with 13" swing and a 5' bed. The serial number is 10321TKK14 which puts it around 1964-65 and equipped with "Quick Change Gear (QCG), Friction Feed Apron, Underneath Motor Drive (UMD) and "Taper Key Lock Spindle", if my interpretation of the code/serial number is correct.
Please see attached pictures for more details including pictures of the various accessories I got with it, about 2/3 of which I know how to use/what they're for and about 1/3 I have no idea about. Not sure why the pictures aren't showing up in the thread without clicking the link, but they're there.
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