Old American HMT

[Yellowironguy]

Hello all,
I have a customer that I've been servicing their equipment off and on for roughly 5 years. They have an American Pacesetter, HMT A24UP if I'm not mistaken.
It hasn't been used in at least 8 years.
Now, I'm not a machinist. I used to have access to a lathe at my first wrenching job, and would regularly make custom bearing or bushing drivers out of heavy pipe, etc... but that is where my hands-on experience runs out.
Anyway, I've been playing carefully with this one after hours. I've wiped and lubed the ways (they need more than that, they have light rust in spots) and am cleaning up both chucks.

I need to re-measure the swing, but I think it is 20". From the face of the chuck to the tip of the live-center in the tailstock pulled fully back was about 83" (a shade under 7 foot) and the actual bed from the face of the gearbox to the end is 107-11/16".

The 3-jaw scroll is a 12" Buck 2124R. I have it stripped and am getting ready to Evapo-Rust and wax it, as well as perform some repairs to the back plate.

The 4-jaw independent is a 12.5". I believe it is a Bison-Bial, it has a stylized FPJ or maybe FPU and "Made In Poland". I have it soaking in Varsol for the moment.


The power feeds work.

The belts are angry that I have disturbed their rest and are starting to come apart.

American Toolworks has a manual available that I just might buy.


I do not own this machine, nor the Lagun next to it, nor the big Ole Jet-1250 next to it. However... I have expressed interest. The repairs and cleaning I'm doing are for my own joy and education so far.


Any input anyone has would be appreciated.

 

[Yellowironguy]

2/3 pictures

 

[Yellowironguy]

3/3 pictures

 

[johnoder]

Made in India?

Just an Asian import?

The 3 belt drive looks a little lame for a 20" lathe - much smaller ATW Pacemakers had five belts - and the 20" heavy had 8

 

[Yellowironguy]

Made in India?

Just an Asian import?

The 3 belt drive looks a little lame for a 20" lathe - much smaller ATW Pacemakers had five belts - and the 20" heavy had 8

Best I can tell, it is India-made castings with USA gears, clutches, etc. Information is a tad sparse on the ground. Seems a pretty stout machine to my untrained eye. I've seen Chinese lathes that just look and feel.... junky.
Though, yes, 3 belts seems a bit lame

 

[mister honey]

HMT was Hindustan Machine Tools... I don't recall that HMT rebadged ATW lathes or vise versa, but that was 40-ish years ago. HMT had a facility in Florence, KY. at that time... unsure about today.

 

[Yellowironguy]

More pictures

Looks like maybe a brake bar or something broke off at some point.

The lower and upper brake switches do not engage the brake- or if they do it is worn out or out of adjustment (if such exists on this)

 

[Yellowironguy]

Power box guts

Yes, the main disconnect was open.

 

[Lanza]

I used their newer machines. It had the two speed motor, super accurate. I have not seen one this old

 

[Yellowironguy]

Cleaned off the coolant pump which is inoperative. Queen City Gusher.
The sight glasses are all very frosted, and I was concerned about low oil so I pulled the lid. No oil in the bottom, so I added some Meropa 68 I had. And it started running out. Well what the crap?
I crawled all over trying to see where it was coming from, and it looked like behind the gear change (?) box that sends power over for the feeds.
Went back today and carefully removed the box. I can assure you that removing the snap-ring from the end of the shaft, under the spindle, while trying to contort was... interesting. But, I got it. I then carefully pulled it off. The bearing was a very light press onto the shaft, so it did take a little gentle working.
Once out of the way, I could see behind. Lo-and-behold, the top of the sump is open to the world! Fascinating. Add oil up top, it overflows into this area, flows down behind the gearbox, then flows down under the headstock and into the chip pan. Well now I know!
The gears look like they were done with care. It's a very interesting machine inside.

Now the next puzzler.... the oil pump isn't pumping. I tried priming back through the outlet, and I tried removing the checkballs and cleaning the seats carefully.
So that, and the seal for the shaft into the box, will be next orders of business.

And a shout out to Mr. Behner, thanks for taking my call on the matter!

 

[Yellowironguy]

Apologies... I mixed up on the coolant pump. I remembered Gusher but then mixed up Queen City with their big 12x3 grinder.
The actual coolant pump is a Gusher Rumaco.