Cross feed questions

[robsig]

Hello all. I have 2 questions about my SouthBend heavy 10L lathe cross feed.
1. With my cross feed screw, that only thing that seems to secure the screw in the "x" axis (the axis perpendicular to the ways??) is the ball crank handle. If I remove this handle there is a good 3/4 inch play back and forth. The small nut that holds the handle in place seems rather delicate for such a responsibility. Am I missing a part (or parts) in the assembly?
2. I am trying to find a large dial for this cross feed. I can't seem to find one on eBay. Perhaps I'm using the incorrect search terms. Does anyone know where I may find one?

 

[GrifterGuru]

IIRC, the dials are often referred to as "lathe micrometer dials" or just plain "Lathe dials".

If you ARE looking for a larger than standard dial, remember to source one with the same number of divisions.

 

[robsig]

Thank you. I hadn't thought of that!

 

[GrifterGuru]

If you do find one with a smaller bore than you want, remember, you own a lathe, you can bore the hole out to the size you need (providing you use a cushion between it and the vice jaws / soft jaws).

If you find one you want, but the bore is too large, remember, you own a lathe, you can make an interference fit bush to make it fit

As for divisions, Metric and Imperial dials have different numbers of divisions on some machines, so be aware of that also.

Don't be afraid to buy a dial where the divisions and numbers are stamped, but not infilled with a colour to make them stand out. You can easily do that with paint on a rag wrapped around a finger. Other methods are also available

 

[Mr Mike]

Hello all. I have 2 questions about my SouthBend heavy 10L lathe cross feed.
1. With my cross feed screw, that only thing that seems to secure the screw in the "x" axis (the axis perpendicular to the ways??) is the ball crank handle. If I remove this handle there is a good 3/4 inch play back and forth. The small nut that holds the handle in place seems rather delicate for such a responsibility. Am I missing a part (or parts) in the assembly?

The Handle is usually keyed to the cross feed screw, the nut just keeps the handle from backing off, its not meant to take up backlash, Some lathe use split nuts to reduce backlash, you'll have to check your manual ( If you can even find one ) to see if you have a backlash adjustment for your cross slide. Heres a couple videos to watch.

South Bend 10L Cross Slide Screw and Handle Repair.​

.
There are a number of ways to help control backlash.

Mr Pete

 

[robsig]

If you do find one with a smaller bore than you want, remember, you own a lathe, you can bore the hole out to the size you need (providing you use a cushion between it and the vice jaws / soft jaws).

If you find one you want, but the bore is too large, remember, you own a lathe, you can make an interference fit bush to make it fit

As for divisions, Metric and Imperial dials have different numbers of divisions on some machines, so be aware of that also.

Don't be afraid to buy a dial where the divisions and numbers are stamped, but not infilled with a colour to make them stand out. You can easily do that with paint on a rag wrapped around a finger. Other methods are also available

Thank you so much- this is great information. I noticed a narrow keyway about 2" long in the handle end of the screw, but nothing is keyed to it. The handle itself is keyed to the screw shaft by a 1/8" round key about 1/4" long. The handle and micrometer dial bores are both smooth without keyways or keys. I think I may be missing a part somehow, but I will watch the videos you so kindly recommended and see where I've gone wrong. Again- thank you for your very generous help!

 

[Mr Mike]

Thank you so much- this is great information. I noticed a narrow keyway about 2" long in the handle end of the screw, but nothing is keyed to it. The handle itself is keyed to the screw shaft by a 1/8" round key about 1/4" long. The handle and micrometer dial bores are both smooth without keyways or keys. I think I may be missing a part somehow, but I will watch the videos you so kindly recommended and see where I've gone wrong. Again- thank you for your very generous help!

I could easily be wrong about that handle being keyed, I researched a bit more and cant verify it... the first video shows a pin used in the keyway, On Mr Petes videos he shows many iterations of the cross slide screw.

Maybe post some photos of what you have, there are a bunch of nice People on here that may see them and be able to give you a heads up...

 

[Razzle]

check vintagemachinery.org They have an extensive library of machine manuals and documents. You can probably find the manual with parts diagrams there.

 

[G-ManBart]

Hello all. I have 2 questions about my SouthBend heavy 10L lathe cross feed.
1. With my cross feed screw, that only thing that seems to secure the screw in the "x" axis (the axis perpendicular to the ways??) is the ball crank handle. If I remove this handle there is a good 3/4 inch play back and forth. The small nut that holds the handle in place seems rather delicate for such a responsibility. Am I missing a part (or parts) in the assembly?
2. I am trying to find a large dial for this cross feed. I can't seem to find one on eBay. Perhaps I'm using the incorrect search terms. Does anyone know where I may find one?

Does your Heavy 10 have a taper attachment? The versions with a taper attachment have a keyed section of the screw while those without a taper attachment do not.

The screw runs through a nut which is secured to the cross slide with a screw which is visible in the top center of the cross slide. It has a slot with a small set screw that you remove to oil the screw/nut. That's where the in/out pressure is applied to the cross slide when you turn the handle, not the small nut at the end of the crank. If you have a taper attachment there is also a bearing/bushing at the far end with a double-nut that needs to be adjusted as well. If that's loose you'll get excess movement of the screw before the cross slide moves.

Pictures always help, so if you can post them of the parts in question, it should narrow things down.

This picture is from the back of the lathe looking to the front. Circled in red is the screw that secures the nut to the cross slide.

 

[gard]

The nut that holds the handle on is what holds sort of everything together, if there is endplay in this area it is fixed with shims AFAIK. The little round keys are often installed by drilling a hole by hand so a handle from one lathe may not fit a leadscrew from another, replacement parts were sold as an assembly so that is what you want to look for on ebay for the easy solution. The large dial lead screw is also longer with a longer bushing. Some people add a larger dial over the existing one which works but you loose a little cross travel. Exploded parts diagrams are available as well as the how to rebuild a south bend lathe book. Sometimes there is a slot that looks like a key way but it is actually for oil distributation.