New restoration project! 12" Craftsman lathe.

I look forward to seeing how your lathe performs after it's mounted and leveled.

I have a 10F and it does everything I ask of it. My only problem was with the chuck that came with the lathe, which is the exact same 5 inch Cushman that you have. After a lot of futzing around, I found that the jaws were bell-mouthed but a tune up with the tool post grinder fixed that.

Great job on the restoration!
 
I am sending the chuck, bought on eBay, back because it was misrepresented on it's condition. After cleaning and lubing the jaws still would not move. Someone had replaced the jaws and were a mismatch to the chuck. I'm just going to buy a new 6" scroll chuck.
 
WOULDN'T YOU JUST KNOW IT! I found these parts laying behind my bench grinder! Now I have three rear saddle gibs (accidentally ordered two), two rear saddle gib plates and two cross feed nuts! That was a waste of about $70+ bucks spent with eBay. Haven't figured out where the horseshoe shaped shim goes yet but probably between headstock and backgear mount. Only have one shim though and should be two. Too big to be used behind the apron mitre gear. Gives me hope that I can find the missing nuts and bolts!
 

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Depending on how many wi[ie "honey do's" that come up, I plan on getting the Crafty 6" off the table. Gonna be a major task with all the heavy stuff I have on the shelve below it. I think I'm going to switch 1/2 hp motors from the Crafty 6" to the 12" lathe. That cast iron motor is just to darn big and heavy. Glad my table is on retractable wheels so I can move it around the shop when putting the 12" back together. (minor spell ck)
 
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UPDATE 4/28/24:
"DANG IT!" Just cant't make any headway on installation of my new lathe! Due to my neglecting the storm door on the patio, for years, that project has taken priority! The hinges failed and door wouldn't close. I know this should be an easy fix but I didn't want to spend the money for a new door. (Cheap Charlie) I replaced the hinges, even though not designed for replacement as well as door jam woodwork. "Bubba Redneck" has to finish this job tomorrow.

UPDATE 4/30/24: Have to replace the whole door jam and buy a new storm door! The termites were eating very well. Not my forte and carpenter coming this Saturday. Guess no reason I can't start on the lathe installation.
 
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I guess I've spent an extra $150-$200, or more, on small parts like gibs, rear saddle plate, compound gear for stud, cross slide nut, countershaft spindle, thread dial indicator, carriage lock assembly, and mitre gear mount so far. Reason is, mostly, all because a can't find either a large can or box of stored parts "SOMEWHERE!" That's not even considering a shorter 42" bed and QCTP I bought.
 
I know everyone just loves to hear more useless trivia so here's another. The reversing gears would hardly move with hand pressure. I took them apart and discovered that when the nuts were tightened it put the squeeze on the gears. So I removed the bushings and ordered some new nylon bushings. The old bushings were flush with the sides of the gears. Seems like there should be a more narrow washer on the shoulder bolt to give a little play. I polished the gear sides to make rotation smoother. Depending on the new nylon bushing fit, I could take .002-.003" off the gears sides. May do that anyway with the mill.

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I would recommend that, if possible, you install the two flat washers backwards to the way in which they came out to keep the running clearance of the gears closer to original.
 
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Continuing update to post #77. I had ordered new nylon bushings for the reversing gears "but" guess I ordered wrong bushing as they came in today and they were actually for the change gears "just like they were advertised!" Go figure. Guess I could just cut these in half to fit the gears. They are exactly twice as long as needed. Oh well back to eBay for the correct parts.
 
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Okay. You are probably wise to re-order the correct bushings rather than to cut off the ones that you already have and end up throwing away the remainder as they would be too short to use for anything.
 
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