South Bend 9" lathe, a beginners rebuild- Questions and Suggestions

I purchased this old South Bend 9" lathe about a year ago. I paid $750 for it(probably too much) and didn't really know anything about it. I took by (ex)bosses word that it was good. It came with a fair amount of tools so I figured it was an OK deal.

I have spent the last month disassembling it. I have been using electrolysis, POR-15 degreaser and lots of scrubbing and polishing to slowly get it back to being functional.

I purchased the manual and rebuild kit for the lathe and I'm on the home stretch to getting is going again. I'm now at a point where I need to track down a couple small parts and some items to get things shimmed up and tight again.

The bed on my lathe is stamped U.S. Navy and it has a War tag and some stenciled Navy Symbols on it.

Serial #138142
Cat# 677Y
3' Bed
Best I can tell it's a 1943 South Bend 9b

I'm in need of a Hand wheel pinion spring (Part# 89b), a back gear, (one tooth missing)and a back gear friction spring. I had tossed a paper towel with the spring in my wood stove, only to remember a couple days later. I sifted through all the ash and found it but I'm afraid it has lost it's temper. I also need to purchase the take up bearing, thrust collar bearing, a motor with the correct bolt pattern and belt. I did track down some belt part numbers searching on here.

So here's my refurb. I will be asking some questions as I go, and hopefully y'all can help me.

I started by tearing it all down, and giving the bed a healthy scrub. I did not do anything to the bed or ways, just a light cleaning.

After I got the bed cleaned up, and chose 'Navy' blue as the color. Later on I was told I should have used a paint with a hardener, because I will run into problems with chips sticking in the paint. Luckily it's a thin coat, and it'll do for now. I got the bed as level as I could. I know the rolling bench is not the best option but it's what I had and I have seen others with one. I don't plan to turn anything with high precision and this is just for my hobby shop.

Cleaning. This takes forever.

The parts you need are either on eBay now or will be soon enough if you keep a saved search and keep your eyes peeled. It's a darned popular lathe. When I last searched for a couple parts I need, there were probably a half dozen back gears on eBay.

...and where I'm at now. The next few posts will be asking for help with identification of random pieces I got with the lathe, and also recommendations on some things. I gotta get to work on this '65 Ranchero project. I'll check back in later.

Thanks for looking.

I bet someone here knows how to retemper that spring.

Beau Dirt said:

After I got the bed cleaned up, and chose 'Navy' blue as the color...

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I have a WWII era 13" with an anchor on the ways. Came with about the same shade of blue (this was about 40 years ago)!!!

John

mdshunk said:

The parts you need are either on eBay now or will be soon enough if you keep a saved search and keep your eyes peeled. It's a darned popular lathe. When I last searched for a couple parts I need, there were probably a half dozen back gears on eBay.

Click to expand...

I have been keeping on eye on ebay. I don't have an account but was able to purchase the manual and felts/gaskets as a 'guest'. Like EVERYTHING on ebay, it's tough to know what a fair price is without knowledge. I understand that if I need it, I should just buy it, but I'm not looking to get screwed. I'm also wondering if there are difference among the 9" (or 10"). I see most of the bearings are on there and I will get those ordered soon. Thanks.

Yan Wo said:

I bet someone here knows how to retemper that spring.

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I have an old timer friend that explained the process to me. It still has a tiny bit of spring. How much would you say it really needs?

comstockfriend said:

I have a WWII era 13" with an anchor on the ways. Came with about the same shade of blue (this was about 40 years ago)!!!

John

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Well that's cool. Here I thought I was being clever painting it Navy Blue.

My stamping was not an anchor. I don't think I see one stamped. Just letters and numbers.

It would be neat to find out what ship it was on if it was on a ship.

Can you identify these pieces? I assume some are lathe parts.

The pulley in the above photo is larger than what came with the lathe.

I also scored a motor from an old timer down the road that fit that pattern on the motor mount. The motor that came with the lathe was a GE 1/3 horse, 1725 rpm and was mounted on wood. The new motor is quite a bit larger. It's a 3/4 horse 1725 rpm motor. I thought I had read that a 3/4 horse would work decent.

I'm also on the hunt for a pulley. I know I can make one using parts available from the local Fleet Farm, but what size v belt pulley's should it have? I'm assuming it is a double pulley since the large pulley on the counter shaft has two steps.

Thanks again for the help.

Anybody?

You might also try the Antique Machinery and History forum here on PM, those guys love a mystery like this.
Chris