Lathe rebuild/restoration

[Kickstart]

[pdg]

Well, the motor works. I didn't think a picture was much good as it'll look exactly the same as the previous motor picture but with a slightly blurry pulley...

In other news, I managed to get nearly all the swarf/dirt/spiders/leaves out of the void in the bed casting and got an electrolysis bath set up that's slightly bigger than an ice-cream tub.

Filling up the tub (it's got what lathe beds crave, it's got electrolytes):

https://i.imgur.com/WjB8p11.jpg

Making bubbles of hydrogen:

https://i.imgur.com/sr4yRcY.jpg

Drawing about 3.5 amps at that point - as the sacrificial electrode gunks up that goes down, I'll clean them off when it drops under 2 I think.

Because of the amount of surface there is to clean I reckon this is going to be in there for a few days - it seems like a long time but I can just leave it to it's own devices in the main and get on with other things.

Still to do:

Lots....
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[pdg]

This morning, I had a look at how the bed was getting on. I had the bath powered for around 5 hours yesterday and then I turned it off for the night. So, after 5 hours electrified then about 9 hours or so just soaking I took it out and gave it a hose off:

https://i.imgur.com/i2W40EK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dK6uKdi.jpg

The old paint literally just washed off with the hose. I am now officially a fan of electrolysis.

I rearranged the electrodes and put the bed back in the bath the other way up and it's been in there for maybe another 4 hours powered - probably going to leave it overnight and get it out for a rinse and dry off in the morning before work. From my initial guess of 'a few days' it seems it's not going to need any more now.

In total, I reckon it could have been done in a day - and that would have meant less than an hour actually working on it, and the rest of the day just leaving it to get on with it. So very much easier than a wire brush.

While I was very very busy cleaning the bed ( ) I thought it was about time to get the cabinet out of the car at last...

I want to clean it all up inside and give the intermediate shaft and tensioning system a going over too, so I stripped it all out. This is the 'gearbox' that gives the 9 spindle speeds:

https://i.imgur.com/knJnZ5m.jpg

That all came out (better pics to follow) and the cabinet (with some help from a neighbour) found it's way around the back ready to be cleaned/prepped/painted and put where it's going. Then I can start getting it built back up as I complete parts.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[jowettdriver]

Nice work so far.

Not wishing to thread hijack but.......

My Dad and I have re-built a model M lathe built by Smart and Brown of a similar vintage.

Like you we were given it by someone who was going to scrap it.

How it arrived to us:-
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/jowettdriver/Lathe/metallathe004.jpg

https://s252.photobucket.com/user/jowettdriver/library/Lathe

How it looks now:-
https://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh7/jowettdriver/Smart%20and%20Brown%20Lathe/P3220024.jpg

https://s252.photobucket.com/user/jowettdriver/library/Smart%20and%20Brown%20Lathe

I don't know if you are aware of this website https://www.lathes.co.uk/smartbrown/page3.html but the owner of it Tony was quite helpful to Dad and I while we were doing ours.

There is also a Yahoo group for owners of Smart and Brown lathes that can also be worth a look.
I have no idea what if any similaritys there are between our lathes but if I can be of any help with measurements etc then let me know.

Cheers Tim.
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Bikes: 1980 Honda CX500, 2003 Honda CB250, 1980 Honda CG125

[Northern Monkey]

[sickpup]

[Tamsin]

This is fab, I do love me some heavy duty machine tools

[drbaig]

I miss working on a lathe machine. 14 years of age playing in a mechanical engineering lab was a lot of fun. My school had twenty lathes, 3 shapers, and a few drill presses. It was great.
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yzf 600r

[Fisty]

[pdg]

[alt tab]

nice update pdg, very machine, much manly

[Fisty]

Best thread of the year
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[_Iain_]

Sir does not fuck about.

Impressive amount of work in such a short time

[pdg]

Only a little update today, terribly sorry about that....

So, I decided not to fill all the casting marks. Once I start doing that I'll drive myself mental chasing scratches down. It's a tool, made to be used, not a show queen.

This evening I threw a bit of paint at it.

https://i.imgur.com/1DQANkM.jpg

The overall colour scheme is going to be black or plain/polished metal where appropriate on the external surfaces and white everywhere (except where it needs to be bare) inside. If you don't like it, paint your own

Yes, there's a little overbrush here and there - that'll get dealt with once it's dried. Even if I had masked it the paint I used creeps very well so I'd have to re-edge after taking the tape off anyway.

The reason I ended up finishing a bit early is I painted the bed in front of everything else, so I don't want to be trying to lift things over wet paint - planned that well.....
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[Fisty]

I came.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Fisty]

[CaNsA]

[331X2]

Different choice of colours, not what I'd have chosen but then again I've not even bothered to renovate mine because I'm a lazy twat and I completely agree with this ;

[smegballs]

[Pete.]

Stuff the character it's just a machine. It either works or it doesn't work. Cleaning and painting lets you get to know your machine and you'll find out all the little things that need attention whilst you're doing it.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Fisty]

You has updates? I need to fap.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[pdg]

[pdg]

Right, update of sorts.

I started getting the cabinet ready for paint, then it got dark and started raining - so I left it for now... With any luck, that will get done tomorrow at some point.

The bed got a third coat of paint, I think that's done now but I'll see how it dries. I don't think a photo of it will look any different at all, so just look a few posts up.

So, I had a bit of a look at the motor mount plate, belt tensioning system and (as much as it can be) the 'gearbox'.

https://i.imgur.com/MWZTiVv.jpg

That's about as far as I got with that bit, 'test cleaned' a little of the motor mount plate and it looks like it will clean up just fine and then get paint. There's no actual rust or damage so another easy piece of work there.

Hopefully, something more interesting and/or shiny after tomorrow evening.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[Kickstart]

Hi

You are guilt tripping me into thinking about sorting mine out. Main badging on it is "Raglan"

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Pete.]

Raglan make (made) a pretty good lathe Keith. Think they were in Nottingham.

What you got - a Little John?
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good