1940 Sidney Lathe Rehab

[FOMOGO]

This one has been sitting outside covered with tarps for a couple of years now, due to a lack of time, space, and things higher on the list. I could really use it now, so I decided it was time to make some space in the old shop and get after it. When I bought it it was powered up, and all the speed ranges worked, but the carriage would only move a few inches. It's a bit of work moving a 5k# machine alone, but I've had quite a bit of practice, so with the help of the backhoe, a floor jack, skates, and cribbing, I was able to get it where I wanted it in about an hours time. I had meant to oil it down when I covered it, but best intentions, and all that. The constant hot/cold cycles had created condensation which eventually left a nice layer of surface rust on most everything. Got busy with rust removal with the parts I could get to, and pulling off the compound, cross-slide, and taper attachment. Decided to clean, strip, and repair each item as they came off so I don't just end up with a big pile of dirty parts. Should make things a little easier for painting and reassembly. Splitting time between the lathe and my table project every few days for a little change of pace. Mike

 

[rabler]

Looks like an interesting restoration project. I'll be following along. Looks to be something around a 16-18" swing?

 

[FOMOGO]

Like the Monarchs, and others of this era it's called out as a 14", but swings 16 1/2". Mike

 

[FOMOGO]

Think I may have discovered the reason the carriage has limited travel. Must have been quite the crash. Trying to decide whether to weld up the old gear/shaft, and the wallowed out key-way, or just turn, and thread a new shaft/gear blank. Everything else in the apron looks good. Priced a new bearing, and race, which came in at over $200 due to the odd race configuration. The bearing and race look fine, so will be re-using those. Any advice from those who have been down this road is much appreciated. Still a ton of cleaning to do, so back at it. Cheers, Mike

 

[mattthemuppet2]

Bloody hell!

 

[C-Bag]

Wow, I would bet $$’ to donuts that bearing wouldn’t have come off the shaft, or you just have a really big press

 

[f350ca]

Had a similar but not as bad problem with my Hardinge. Think the carriage was bumped with a forklift and damaged some teeth on the pinion that engages the carriage rack.
It has two gears on the shaft so replacing one made more sense.


I machined the old one away


Then cut a new one and shrunk it onto the shaft.


In your case I think I'd make the whole thing. Cut the new gear on a new one piece shaft.

Greg

 

[Martin W]

That’s a train wreck right there.
I agree with Greg. A one piece shaft with the gear machined on it.
Martin

 

[graham-xrf]

That’s a train wreck right there.
I agree with Greg. A one piece shaft with the gear machined on it.
Martin

Of course a one-piece shaft + gear is the ultimate, but I think @f350ca made the right call. If the second gear was undamaged, then replacing only the wrecked one with shrink-fit to achieve a part essentially no different from a true one-piece seems efficient. I would be saying "good job"!

Unless .. that is.. there is some overriding property that makes the one-piece choice compelling ?

 

[Martin W]

Of course a one-piece shaft + gear is the ultimate, but I think @f350ca made the right call. If the second gear was undamaged, then replacing only the wrecked one with shrink-fit to achieve a part essentially no different from a true one-piece seems efficient. I would be saying "good job"!

Unless .. that is.. there is some overriding property that makes the one-piece choice compelling ?

Looking at the shaft, it looks cracked and twisted. I am thinking the whole thing needs replacing. Mike said the bearing still looks okay and for $200 green backs I would re-use also if it was good.
Martin

edit I believe you were talking about Greg’s fix? Yes that was an excellent fix,