Back Gear Shims

[cdhknives]

When I pulled my back gears there were 2 stainless steel shims in place. In looking at the gear engagement, I think the back gear to headstock gear is loose, a lot looser than 'sheet of paper between teeth' engagement. Should I remove the shims to tighten the gear engagement or do they serve a purpose above and beyond just offsetting the back gears to the headstock?

 

[wa5cab]

That's weird. Back gears seldom show much wear as on most lathes they don't get much use. Unfortunately, the Headstock tech bulletin doesn't say anything about the shims. If it were mine, I would pull shims until the gears met the paper test and then turn the spindle through by hand a few times and if that seemed good, run it and check for noise changes.

 

[cdhknives]

Also, shims would work to loosen the engagement, not tighten it. I have no idea why they are there, but they look commercial and look made to fit. They are rectangular U shaped exactly the width and height of the headstock to back gear bracket mounting face.

 

[MikeMc]

My early model Craftsman 12", 101.07381 depends on shims to set the backgear spacing. The parts list has them as PN 10-261. If you remove the shims and the gears are too tight and you don't have a selection of shim stock readily available cut some replacements out of aluminiun foil or throw away AL pie pans.
Mike

 

[wa5cab]

Knives,

Look at any 10" or early 12" headstock parts drawing. The shims came in two thicknesses, .002" and .003". Current part numbers are 711-001 (.002") and 711-002 (.003"). Earlier part number was 10-261 (thickness not specified). You haven't said how many shims are in each stack from your machine but I would start with half of each stack and work in whichever direction is indicated by the results.