Interesting bore dimensions

[cas3]

That is a shame, a SouthBend lathe left to die. My first lathe was a big antique Lodge&Shipley, cheap, had been tipped over in a move, all the handles broke up, made to run off a line shaft, but 16"x6' so you could make wheels and drive shafts. I was told it was pre wwI due to no numbers on the dials, only hash marks. Lost it in the fire in 2010 I'll post a pic later.

I'm not sure about the power loss with a cheap converter, my lathe and bridgeport start rite up, and #3 is on a 20" disk sander. That machine is slow to get up to speed, but I've always thought its due to just getting that mass moving. Point is, GB's big grinder may act the same, but once up to speed they both will have a huge flywheel effect, and you can't really lean into it without burning the wood, or blueing the metal, so its irrelevant I believe.

Now, here's a typical thing GB will do with his new toy, due to his remote location, and in my case not patient enough to wait for a part in the mail or even wait for the store to open tomorrow morning. And lets not forget all his new"best friends" after folks on the island find out there is a machinist in town! (I charge a 6 pak minimum).

So, my 52 willys jeep had gobs of grease in a front brake assembly. Not just a seal problem, but the spindle had bad wear and rust pits. I got a good spindle from a friend, but it had the wrong bushing for the axle to spin on. The bushing sits in a recess so that there is no way to pull it out without wrecking it. No room for any kind of puller, and remove by screwing in a big tap would wreck it. They are made to be wrecked and replaced, not remove and reuse. So, I did this...

Checked for hardness with a hack saw...its soft. Then cut my old spindle off in the band saw about an 1/8" from the edge of the bushing. Then put the flange in the lathe and face it off down the the end of the recess, or the end of the bushing to see what size pusher to make on the lathe to press it out. In this case I had a hunk of shaft already made from some other project that fit good, so no new one was made. Keep in mind when you own a lathe you never throw away round things! So, I got the bushing out, its good, and better than new as the new ones do not have the grooves in the to help pump grease into the bushing. The same pusher will be used to press it into the spindle. Next, while the 4 jaw chuck was centered up for the flange I put the good spindle in the lathe and spun it while sanding up to 600 grit, she's smooth now!

Here's a crappy pic, never mind the mess, the maid hasn't showed up for work in a while.

 

[GB SISSON]

Very nice Skip! Yes I'm hoping to get to that point before I'm too old to see. Tonight I wired up the 1/2hp-1hp digital converter that I had bought for my grinder into the new lathe. I didn't have a 220 plug so I crimped on 3 eye terminals and folded them in half in the vice, Instant spade terminals! There is a 5 step pulley system in the base from the motor to the jackshaft above, then the triple matched belt drive up to spindle. With all belts off and power into the Allen Bradley magnetic starter, I hit the forward button on the face of the cabinet stand. My buddy Tim had commented these controls look like something out of the German sub movie 'Das Boot'. Bingo, it fired right up!. I hit stop and after a full minute I decided the stop button didn't work. Finally it looked slower and then stopped. Hit reverse, all good. That step pulley is steel and I'll bet 8" in dia at big end. So when I turned it off I looked at my watch for 2 1/2 minutes til it stopped. Now I know all functions will work with digital converter. Just gotta find the right one. The one I'm using claims 90-95% efficiency retaining the motor's HP. This setup should be fully acceptable as I learn, and down the road I may change systems, but the german sub switching has to stay. Tomorrow I will belt the thing up and CAREFULLY test the functions as outlined in my operator's manual. I love all this input I am getting. Lathe tips for new guy much appreciated. GB

 

[cas3]

Excellent news! the reason it spun so long is the "flywheel" effect I described for your grinder and my big sander. Its also good news because machines have a better grade of bearings, and yours are obviously good. I have a 3/4HP (I think) bench grinder I bought laying in the dirt at a junk yard for 5 bucks. 40's or 50's I think. Rotten cord, switch and ID plate missing, but looked like a good old quality thing, so I splurged and spent the 5 bucks. Got it running, and that thing will run on for about 5 minutes after you shut it off! never have figured out what make it is, but it will out live me!

 

[petehoovie]

That is a shame, a SouthBend lathe left to die. My first lathe was a big antique Lodge&Shipley, cheap, had been tipped over in a move, all the handles broke up, made to run off a line shaft, but 16"x6' so you could make wheels and drive shafts. I was told it was pre wwI due to no numbers on the dials, only hash marks. Lost it in the fire in 2010 I'll post a pic later.

I'm not sure about the power loss with a cheap converter, my lathe and bridgeport start rite up, and #3 is on a 20" disk sander. That machine is slow to get up to speed, but I've always thought its due to just getting that mass moving. Point is, GB's big grinder may act the same, but once up to speed they both will have a huge flywheel effect, and you can't really lean into it without burning the wood, or blueing the metal, so its irrelevant I believe.

Now, here's a typical thing GB will do with his new toy, due to his remote location, and in my case not patient enough to wait for a part in the mail or even wait for the store to open tomorrow morning. And lets not forget all his new"best friends" after folks on the island find out there is a machinist in town! (I charge a 6 pak minimum).

So, my 52 willys jeep had gobs of grease in a front brake assembly. Not just a seal problem, but the spindle had bad wear and rust pits. I got a good spindle from a friend, but it had the wrong bushing for the axle to spin on. The bushing sits in a recess so that there is no way to pull it out without wrecking it. No room for any kind of puller, and remove by screwing in a big tap would wreck it. They are made to be wrecked and replaced, not remove and reuse. So, I did this...

Checked for hardness with a hack saw...its soft. Then cut my old spindle off in the band saw about an 1/8" from the edge of the bushing. Then put the flange in the lathe and face it off down the the end of the recess, or the end of the bushing to see what size pusher to make on the lathe to press it out. In this case I had a hunk of shaft already made from some other project that fit good, so no new one was made. Keep in mind when you own a lathe you never throw away round things! So, I got the bushing out, its good, and better than new as the new ones do not have the grooves in the to help pump grease into the bushing. The same pusher will be used to press it into the spindle. Next, while the 4 jaw chuck was centered up for the flange I put the good spindle in the lathe and spun it while sanding up to 600 grit, she's smooth now!

Here's a crappy pic, never mind the mess, the maid hasn't showed up for work in a while.

 

[GB SISSON]

Some pics from today...

 

[petehoovie]

Some pics from today...

 

[Scotty's 52 F3]

NICE lathe! Now you'll be asking about grinding HSS blanks. I tried a few times and finally bought insert type but still HSS. Enjoy your new toy.

 

[GB SISSON]

In researching the baldor grinder in the photo above, I found out it is specifically built and set up for grinding carbide lathe tooling. I picked it up on the island. The retired gentleman who sold it to me had a business in machine tools and would often buy whole lots on pallets from Boeing when there was a downturn, or they lost a contract. That top mylar sticker is a Boeing inventory tag. I asked him how much for the grinder and he shrugged his shoulders and said "I dunno, how's a hundred bucks sound ?" Lists for 4200 bucks today. I don't think it's ok to grind steel with the diamond stones, but this system opens up another new realm of discovery. When I look at what lies ahead, entering a whole new field of education at 70 while still self employed in the woodshop, I fear I may have awoken the proverbial 'Sleeping Giant'..... And what ever happened to that nice 8ba block I dropped off with Les at the machine shop? I think that was what this thread was about a long time ago. I need to call him today as I have a few questions.

 

[GB SISSON]

Don't get me wrong, I like the meandering thread this has become. When I get back on the stroker 8ba, I will likely start a whole new thread about that adventure. Something that can be looked at by future flathead builders who want to drive something cool, or perhaps need basic transportation after the zombie apocolypse.

 

[GB SISSON]

After morning coffee I went down and hooked up and adjusted the four belts that were off as the lathe had been seperated form it's base. Brought the operators manual down and carefully went through what each knob and lever was for. I engaged back gear as the manual suggested and was in low range on the 5 step motor pulley. That's some slow moving parts. No bad sounds or vibrations. Carraige moving fine both ways. Ran motor for an hour as I tried various combinations and it was still at room temperature. I'm gaining faith in that little digital phase switcher. Fun stuff for sure. And thanks all for the help and encouragement. GB

 

[Scotty's 52 F3]

The Hobby Machinist is a great forum for beginners. No flaming for newbie questions like on some of the other forums. Lots of antique machines. Easy to get sucked in.

I enjoy your threads, even when they get off topic.

 

[GB SISSON]

Thanks Scotty, Much like Duane Allman, I was born a ramblin' man. As in blah, blah, blah.... Besides it's mid winter, and here in the PNW we get very little daylight with our Northern latitude, and while I'm not completely sure of this, I think Western Washington is what people are referring to when they talk about "Where the sun don't shine". In many parts of the country, guys (sometimes gals) will go the the diner, coffee shop, McDonald's etc for breakfast, morning coffee, talk trash about each other, catch up on what's going on in town, etc. I was part of that scene in my early 20s in a small town before I moved to Orcas and loved it. If I tried to do that today, it would be a 25 mile round trip, a 5.00 french latte and a six doller croissant sitting with a bunch of new 'Islanders', retired stock brokers, tech executives and college professors who are wondering who this dirtball is that dared to sit at 'their' table. So, like this morning I sit at my laptop visiting with my like minded friends on the barn, and if the subject veers off course a bit. So be it. Rest in Peace Duane....

 

[51504bat]

GB drinking my morning cup of coffee as I read your post Light drizzle rain here so I'm working on getting the gumption to go to the shop to continue working on repairing the cracks in the steering wheel from my '54 Ranch Wagon. But I really need to take advantage of the wet ground to dig the trench for a water line for the lower shop. But first I'll have another cup. Thanks for all the info you share.
Tim

 

[Als48]

Hey GB/Ramblin' Man,

I'm enjoying this rambling post as much as anyone. Kinda like a novel-huh! Your recent tool purchases make me think of a fellow who has a great automotive machine shop. He is getting older tho, must be about 87 by now and not in great health. He did the machine work on my off thread engine in my '48 Ford Super Deluxe. He did everything except turning the crank. He's a great machinist, but retired now and his shop is just sitting there going to ruin as he was for the most part a one-man shop and never had a son or an apprentice that stayed for long. It's sad to think of all of his expensive lathes, boring machines, mills, etc. just going to waste. I guess his daughter will have to deal with his estate in a few years. I used to love to go by and just chat with him about some of his history and experiences. Pat likes to talk and he always brings up the '48 Ford hotrod he put a Hemi in when he sees my car. He always had a flathead or two sitting around in various states of assembly in the shop. He also has experience with Hemis, Oldsmobiles and he even had a six-cylinder Austin-Healy engine there on a run stand last time I was in the shop. I'm guessing he's worked on them all.

He went to breakfast with Terry(a Ford guy and one of my oldest friends) and I a few months ago. That's the last time I have seen Pat, as I hear he's in poor health. Good luck with your machine tools and your new stroker motor.

Al Hook

 

[GB SISSON]

Tim, Al and others, I'm so glad you are enjoying this with me. I thought I'd get some pics up of some of the other good stuff that followed me home from where I got the lathe. It was getting late and he kept uncovering stuff and putting it in my truck. A lot of it had been strewn around on the floor and the place was in dissaray as he was in the process of moving out. The seller had been given most of this by someone who inherited it and it was time to move it along. Now that I have spent some time looking at this collection, primarily the valve seat replacement kit, I would of course like to scour his place looking for more parts and pieces. A lot of what he thought was lathe tooling is adjustable reamers, and a lot of collets that fit drill bits, but the taper is unlike a Morse. ??? The Sioux seat grinder has a huge collection of really nice stones. I have not tested to see if the threads will interchange with my B and D seat grinder's. I have the ford mandrel already. Anyways, everything in these photos came on Sunday's trip. There is still more loose parts here and there, maybe valve seat tools? And yes, I made him take more money than his asking price for the lathe.

 

[petehoovie]

Tim, Al and others, I'm so glad you are enjoying this with me. I thought I'd get some pics up of some of the other good stuff that followed me home from where I got the lathe. It was getting late and he kept uncovering stuff and putting it in my truck. A lot of it had been strewn around on the floor and the place was in dissaray as he was in the process of moving out. The seller had been given most of this by someone who inherited it and it was time to move it along. Now that I have spent some time looking at this collection, primarily the valve seat replacement kit, I would of course like to scour his place looking for more parts and pieces. A lot of what he thought was lathe tooling is adjustable reamers, and a lot of collets that fit drill bits, but the taper is unlike a Morse. ??? The Sioux seat grinder has a huge collection of really nice stones. I have not tested to see if the threads will interchange with my B and D seat grinder's. I have the ford mandrel already. Anyways, everything in these photos came on Sunday's trip. There is still more loose parts here and there, maybe valve seat tools? And yes, I made him take more money than his asking price for the lathe.

 

[Mart]

Nice array of stuff there, Gb. That should keep you busy for a bit!

 

[flatford8]

Nice array of stuff there, Gb. That should keep you busy for a bit!

Ya I agree!!.....it’s like Christmas all over again on the Island!....but it’s all stuff that you actually want!!......I like buying old full tool boxes at yard sales....every piece you pull out is like a new prize.....Good for you GB.....it all couldn’t have gone to a more deserving man!!........Mark

 

[cas3]

Yup! nice to have a bunch of stuff on hand that can be mixed up and made to do weird jobs that you never knew you wanted to do!

 

[cas3]

Also, I keep looking back at your grinder. That really is a nice thing. I've only seen one like that once just last year on a machinery auction. I did not bid or watch it sell, no room here for more. Certainly back when we had industrial strength here in the US one of those was in every tool room at the big plants with someone who knew how to sharpen every tool. Got a small miter that fits the track on the table?