Crashed My 7x10, Time For Upgrades!

Sharky

Active User
Registered
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
198
While pushing the limits on a recent project, I crashed the toolpost into the chuck... CRUNCH!
The grinding and chatter in the headstock meant a teardown and repair was in order, so why not upgrade?

IMG_20150731_164822166.jpg

The teardown confirmed my suspicions: plastic transmission gears....

IMG_20150814_135529499.jpg

So... here's my current set of upgrades:

IMG_20150814_140134910.jpg
16" Bed from LMS (a full 8" longer than the alleged 10")

IMG_20150817_102910131.jpg
Metal transmission gear set from LMS

IMG_20150817_103030755_HDR.jpg
Plastic -vs- metal gear set

the following are some of the teardown pics:

IMG_20150814_135155615.jpg IMG_20150814_135536225.jpg IMG_20150817_100117635_HDR.jpg IMG_20150817_100122606_HDR.jpg IMG_20150817_100816175.jpg IMG_20150817_101555672_HDR.jpg IMG_20150817_102435327_HDR.jpg IMG_20150817_102516350_HDR.jpg
 
I had two 7x machines a ways back: a 14" and 16" and found the 16" actually made the lathe useful for projects that I never intended to tackle, like threading the end of a 1911 barrel for a comp.

Just be careful though, as in replacing the plastic gears with metal could mean even more expensive damage if/when you next crash. (nanny mode off...) :D
 
I was thinking about that too. I'm toying with using the small metal gear with the large plastic gear. It seems like the small one is usually the culprit.
Two thoughts were: 1-keep noise and vibration down with the plastic/metal combo. 2-the plastic will break before something more severe.

I've been really careful not to crash it, but I was working at the max length for the lathe, so I had to be closer to the chuck than I like and with power feed that's always a risk.

Also thinking about the paint.... don't like the red, hammertone silver/grey or a machinery grey....
Gives me a good excuse to clean up the castings and smooth all the burrs and rough surfaces for easier cleaning....

Hummmm...
 
While pushing the limits on a recent project, I crashed the toolpost into the chuck... CRUNCH!
The grinding and chatter in the headstock meant a teardown and repair was in order, so why not upgrade?

View attachment 108993

The teardown confirmed my suspicions: plastic transmission gears....

View attachment 108994

So... here's my current set of upgrades:

View attachment 108995
16" Bed from LMS (a full 8" longer than the alleged 10")

View attachment 108996
Metal transmission gear set from LMS

View attachment 108997
Plastic -vs- metal gear set

the following are some of the teardown pics:

View attachment 108998 View attachment 108999 View attachment 109000 View attachment 109001 View attachment 109002 View attachment 109003 View attachment 109004 View attachment 109005

While you have it apart you should replace the spindle with one from Arceurotrade here

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machine-Spares/C3-Mini-Lathe-Spares

You can then mount a 4" chuck with no adapter plate. You can still mount a 3" as well. I got one and it was $65 delivered and took about a week to get. I got the herrings from LMS. There is a complete set of instructions at Arceuro.
 
Ok, finally finished the project..... almost.....

IMG_20150830_084248911.jpg
Gears installed.....

IMG_20150830_084248911.jpg
Hummmm....... something looks funny.....

IMG_20150830_084708116.jpg
Damn, headstock is backwards....... re-do it all over again.....

IMG_20150830_094906552.jpg
That's more like it.........

IMG_20150830_124318464.jpg
Not a 7x10 anymore, now its a 7x16!

Metal gears are a little loud in high range, not bad in low, which is where I work most of the time.

Just need to fond my M3x0.5 tap and mount the gear rack. Otherwise its done and seems smooth!
Back to making swarf really soon! IMG_20150830_084708116.jpg
 
Nice work.

I'm sure the metal gears will quiet as the teeth high spots start to wear into a good mesh, some open gear lube might help.
 
+1 on the open gear lube. And while they will get quieter as they wear/mesh, metal gears are just inherently more noisy than plastic. Just do like I do and crank up the AC/DC a bit more. :D
 
Sharky,
I see that's it's been a year but do you still have the old 7x10 bed? If so are you willing to part with it? I have a 7x10 also, and I was thinking of extending the bed by attaching the two 10-inch beds together.

Thanks,
TomVil
 
Back
Top