1936 Atlas 10D lathe bed swap?

[Quick Cal]

Last year I made the newbie mistake of buying a lathe with a worn out bed. Live and learn,,,lol. I made the mistake of buying a new chuck, qctp, and some other parts before I realized the bed was junk. The lathe has now just been sitting,

I have now stumbled across a possible replacement bed. I was at a guys place last night for something unrelated. I seen he had a lathe bed sitting there. I could not remember my way measurements at the time. His bed does have 3/8'' ways and 2-3/4'' in between the ways, and now I know so does my bed. My bed is 36''. His is 42''. That will be a welcome upgrade. I don't know yet if he has a lead screw and what size it is if he does. I need to go back and clean it up and get some good measurements for wear. But from what I seen it looked good.

I have read where Robert says there are 4 (I think) beds in the earlier years. And I think they will mostly interchange?

Info on my lathe that may or may not matter:

Thinner change gears than later models, no qcgb.
No power cross feed.
Babbit bearing headstock.
5/8'' lead screw.

Just some random questions.

1. If his bed is newer with the other type bearings will my headstock still bolt up?

2. Does it matter if his had a qcgb? I'll just have extra holes. I don't know if his had it or not. I don't know where the qcgb mounts,,,lol.

3. If he has a 3/4'' lead screw can I convert my carriage half nut and make it work? Or is there a work around?

4. If I have to buy a lead screw is it still worth getting this bed?

5. Can you shorten a longer lead screw?

6. It looked like the last bolt hole on the rack, on the tail stock , end MIGHT have been broke, maybe. Could that be repaired or would it need replaced adding to the cost.?

Well that's all I can think of for now. Thanks for any info.

My 1936 10D when I first got it.

 

[pontiac428]

I had a 1937 TH54, very similar to yours. The PO put the heavy diameter lead screw on, so the bearing carrier on the right and the half nuts are a direct fit. I had the same reversing box but I don't know if the output stub is needed for that swap (I don't think so). Lead screw stock can be bought from McMaster and cut/turned at the ends to fit. A Long one can be shortened as needed. Original QCGBs bolt on, later ones have different holes, but swapping/converting is feasible. The last hole in the rack probably won't be missed (extreme end of travel), but repair is an option. How you go about it will depend on what is damaged. The head should also bolt right on. Atlas lathes are like small block Chevys, some small changes over the years but they're mostly similar. Read through the Atlas threads, there is a lot of info available covering the 10" lathes.

 

[Quick Cal]

I had a 1937 TH54, very similar to yours. The PO put the heavy diameter lead screw on, so the bearing carrier on the right and the half nuts are a direct fit. I had the same reversing box but I don't know if the output stub is needed for that swap (I don't think so). Lead screw stock can be bought from McMaster and cut/turned at the ends to fit. A Long one can be shortened as needed. Original QCGBs bolt on, later ones have different holes, but swapping/converting is feasible. The last hole in the rack probably won't be missed (extreme end of travel), but repair is an option. How you go about it will depend on what is damaged. The head should also bolt right on. Atlas lathes are like small block Chevys, some small changes over the years but they're mostly similar. Read through the Atlas threads, there is a lot of info available covering the 10" lathes.

Thanks for the info.

 

[pontiac428]

Thanks for the info.

Forgive my ignorance, I'm a bit rusty on what I never knew,,,,lol. Is the output stub what the gears connect to?

The input in this case is driven by the change gears. The output connects the reversing gears to the lead screw. It's a simple little stub with a slot drive. There are a lot of blueprints that don't exist anywhere else and factory literature on our members library on this site. @wa5cab put a lot of effort into obtaining and recreating component drawings from Atlas, so it's worth the small price of admission to help fund the site's hosting fees.

 

[pontiac428]

This is relevant to you:

Thread 'Atlas 10" Headstock Variants & Information Request'

May 30, 2016

'For the benefit of the probably few who will be interested, here is the "other story" that I was referring to in a post yesterday.

First, to get this at the top, one of the two 10" parts list that we have that actually gives the part number of the bare headstock casting is the bad photos and list one on the 10E. We have nothing directly on the 10D and the several illustrated parts lists that we have on the 10F only show the part number for the complete headstock assembly. So if any of you currently have your headstock off of the bed, please find the part number in the casting and send...

• wa5cab
• Replies: 19
• Forum: ATLAS, CRAFTSMAN, COMPANION, DUNLAP & AA

• 

 

[markba633csi]

Remember that if the bed is/was worn the carriage likely is too. As far as the leadscrew diameter I think just the half nuts would need to change- I think they are both 8 tpi. Not sure about the right hand support block
Frankenlathes are often seen in Atlas land

 

[Quick Cal]

Can you guys date this bed by the serial number? Or will it tell us any other kind of info? There's no other tags or anything that I could find.

 

[pontiac428]

ATLAS, CRAFTSMAN, COMPANION, DUNLAP & AA

Discuss any issues dealing with Atlas & Atlas-Clausing lathes, drill presses, mills, etc. in this forum.

www.hobby-machinist.com

There are a few threads on dates. Look for machines with similar serials in your best guess date range. The Babbitt head puts it pre 1945, iirc, so that's a relatively short window. Good reading either way, lots of gems of information pursuing that particular rabbit hole.

 

[Quick Cal]

ATLAS, CRAFTSMAN, COMPANION, DUNLAP & AA

Discuss any issues dealing with Atlas & Atlas-Clausing lathes, drill presses, mills, etc. in this forum.

www.hobby-machinist.com

There are a few threads on dates. Look for machines with similar serials in your best guess date range. The Babbitt head puts it pre 1945, iirc, so that's a relatively short window. Good reading either way, lots of gems of information pursuing that particular rabbit hole.

The babbitt bearings is on my 1936 10D. That serial number is from the potential new bed that I have no idea what it was,,,lol.