Mr. Ed.
That would be spending more $$. I know what you mean though. The reality of the matter is that my lathe does not get a lot of use. It is a nice tool to have around but if I use it a few times a month that is a lot. Alas, upgrading the dial, unless it fell into my lap was not on the list of things to do.
So, I found the source of the noise and it is fixed. I am getting good at taking the spindle apart. (Probably not something I should brag about)
The bellville spring washers were in backwards. They were pushing against nothing and hence were spinning. :*****slap2:
Once reversed and applying a load to the bearings I could tell the difference as I tightened the lock nut. Instead of just locking down now there was pre-load. All is good.
Learned a trick tonight. How do you get the spindle out without removing the front bearing? The woodruff key gets in the way. I
- take off the lock nut.
- Loosen the set- screw retainer for the smaller gear
- Keep the front bearing cover in place but remove the chuck.
- Tap the spindle from the rear. Keep your eye on the bull gear. As it hits the inside edge of the head stock slide it, the pulley and small gear towards to small bearing. This will reveal the spindle.
- Keep an eye out for the bull gear woodruff key as you tap.
- At some point, the rear of the spindle will slide out of the rear bearing. The spacer and lock collar will fall off. Keep tapping and watching the woodruff key.
- Once the bull gear just clears the bull gear stop tapping. Push the bull gear, pulley and small gear all the way to the left.
- Take a pair of long nose pliers and grap the woodruff key. Pull it out of the spindle. You will have to rotate it 90 degrees to get it out from between the bull gear and head stock.
- Now you can tap the spindle out farther to remove it, the bull gear, pulley and small gear.
Assembly is the reverse.
Saved me some time tonight.
Matthew