feller1554:
Hendey lathe #28678, a 16x70, 12 Speed, Geared Head model, was ordered on April 24, 1935 and completed on June 15, 1935. It was shipped with a Compound Rest, an Oil Pan and a Taper Attachment. It has a V Belt Motor Drive and is an RS (Raised Swing) model swing 18-12" over the bed. the original owner was the Watertown Arsenal, Watertown, New York. There are still a few Patterns, Castings and Repair Parts left in inventory for this lathe. All of the original drawings are still in the files, so parts can be made as required.
Your lathe is a transitional model bridging the design changes introduced in the late twenties through the design changes of the late
thirties. It should be equipped with lever type Clutch Handles, which were used for about five years. Your Apron is equipped with an
Oil Pump that is located near the centerline of the Apron and is only serviced by removing the Apron and the Apron Back Plate. Because
of the location of the inlet stainer and the oil galleys supplying the shafts and the Frictions, heavy oil will not flow and all the
moving parts get starved for lubrication. I would suggest that you do not operated this lathe until you drain out all of the gear oil
and flush the Apron with Diesel or Kerosene before putting in a 32 hydraulic oil. If you have the time, remove the Apron and open it
up and give it a good cleaning, paying attention the pump suction screen.
You may think that I am being a bit of an alarmist, but I base this on first hand experience. Our local cannery has a 16x54 Hendey
that is the same vintage as yours. I got a call from the plant saying that the machinist couldn't get the apron to function. I found
the apron full of 90w Gear Lube and asked who lubed the machine tools? It seems that during the Christmas shut down a group of Mexican
mechanics was hired to change all of the oil and grease in the plant. They were not told that the machine shop was off limits and that
all of the shop equipment was taken care of by the machinist. The machinists were not told of the oil and grease changes and ran the
machines for the next four months. Because the oil was so heavy and not being used, all of the sight glasses showed the proper oil
level. The damage included shafts, gear journals, frictions and worm gears. Since these were no longer stock items, everything had to be made new, time consuming and expensive. I use ISO, GST 32 or 46 Hydraulic Oil in my Headstocks, Gear Boxes and Aprons. Hendey Apron
Oil Pumps seem to handle this very well. John Oder, uses a different type of oil which has given him excellent results. I am sure that
he will post that information when he gets a chance.
Hendeyman