Did I break my lathe?

[WobblyHand]

Those threads are pretty badly damaged. You will have a tough time fixing them. You might be able to cut off (file or grind off?) the damaged part somehow. I hope there will be enough good thread left. Or maybe you might be able to recover it enough with a thread file, but that is a long shot. It's like you need thread cutting (or chasing ability) on the wrong side of the lathe. Hope someone here can give you better suggestions.

I wouldn't take anything apart at this point. See if the lathe is usable and you can make decent parts with it. Then make decisions based on what you find out.

 

[stupoty]

Hm is this not too far gone for a thread file? I was wondering if I just filed all the bashed threads flat if it would still thread the end stop thing and the threaded gear on and off?

I can't find any information about threaded gears with little keyholes on them anywhere online. I tried putting a little screwdriver in that square hole on the gear earlier to try to tap it around the thread to take it off but got no movement. Is there some special key I put in there?

Mines got some sort of lock collar on it, I will take some photos but the end is also a little different.

Be super careful with the bearing adjustment bolts as people like to snap that part when the bearings are a bit on the lose side.

Stu

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Hm is this not too far gone for a thread file? I was wondering if I just filed all the bashed threads flat if it would still thread the end stop thing and the threaded gear on and off?

I can't find any information about threaded gears with little keyholes on them anywhere online. I tried putting a little screwdriver in that square hole on the gear earlier to try to tap it around the thread to take it off but got no movement. Is there some special key I put in there?

Wow, horry schrit !

You need to learn some finesse if you’re going to fix your own machines.


We have a term at work for this type of thing.

It’s said that the guy “ Fixed the **** out of it”, meaning it was worse after the repair.

Don’t mean to be harsh, but initially I thought you buggered a thread.

Here’s hoping you didn’t cause more damage upstream.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Those threads are pretty badly damaged. You will have a tough time fixing them. You might be able to cut off (file or grind off?) the damaged part somehow. I hope there will be enough good thread left. Or maybe you might be able to recover it enough with a thread file, but that is a long shot. It's like you need thread cutting (or chasing ability) on the wrong side of the lathe. Hope someone here can give you better suggestions.

I wouldn't take anything apart at this point. See if the lathe is usable and you can make decent parts with it. Then make decisions based on what you find out.

The whole end needs to be cut off and redressed.

It’s possible that even the first “good looking” thread was moved out of place.

 

[WobblyHand]

The whole end needs to be cut off and redressed.

It’s possible that even the first “good looking” thread was moved out of place.

Yeah, I was trying to be kind. There's a lot of damage. In a perfect theoretical world you'd turn that off in a lathe - that's if you could remove it. Since I didn't see the pictures of the assembled lathe in the beginning, I don't know how much is safe to remove. Without that it's hard to give advice. Sure the OP would be able to further disassemble, but it remains to be seen if the lathe can be made to function as originally designed. More pictures of the assembly and removed parts might help. A parts diagram would help as well.

 

[MIkalourus]

Thanks for the replies guys, I managed to get the chuck off using rubber strap wrenches (pictured).

I realised quickly, as you have pointed out, that the little files were no use so I filed all the bashed threads flat which helped a little in getting the end cap thing (pictured and highlighted red) started on some threads. But it only goes about halfway then it binds really hard. I've went over all the threads with a little file and they're all clean of bashes, I filed the tops of all the threads to make sure they're all even then filed between the threads and polished with steel wool, but nothing.... Used some oil. Not sure if maybe the small file marks that I can't see are possibly causing it to bind?

Was thinking about hacksawing the end off? I'm not 100% sure what that part's purpose is, to stop the gear coming off? Thought I'd taken a picture of the threads in "as is "condition but apparently didn't.

Still can't figure out what the little square keyway on the gear is for or how to get the gear off, but I think I'm going to take your advice and leave the rest of this part alone till I know a bit more about lathes in general. Got "Basic Lathework", "The Amateur's Lathe" and "How to run a lathe" so should be an expert in no time. For now I'll clean it the best I can then oil it and hopefully break some chips at the weekend, if I can get the motor running!

 

[matthewsx]

No, don’t hacksaw it.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Thanks for the replies guys, I managed to get the chuck off using rubber strap wrenches (pictured).

I realised quickly, as you have pointed out, that the little files were no use so I filed all the bashed threads flat which helped a little in getting the end cap thing (pictured and highlighted red) started on some threads. But it only goes about halfway then it binds really hard. I've went over all the threads with a little file and they're all clean of bashes, I filed the tops of all the threads to make sure they're all even then filed between the threads and polished with steel wool, but nothing.... Used some oil. Not sure if maybe the small file marks that I can't see are possibly causing it to bind?

Was thinking about hacksawing the end off? I'm not 100% sure what that part's purpose is, to stop the gear coming off? Thought I'd taken a picture of the threads in "as is "condition but apparently didn't.

Still can't figure out what the little square keyway on the gear is for or how to get the gear off, but I think I'm going to take your advice and leave the rest of this part alone till I know a bit more about lathes in general. Got "Basic Lathework", "The Amateur's Lathe" and "How to run a lathe" so should be an expert in no time. For now I'll clean it the best I can then oil it and hopefully break some chips at the weekend, if I can get the motor running!

Think of it this way, you displaced metal and it moved outwards in all directions.

The threads not only got pushed sideways into the other threads, but their diameter is also now larger and egg shaped.


I would procede by taking bluing (A blue sharpie is good for this) and blue the threads down to the root, then thread the nut on till it binds and look for where the bluing has been removed.

That spot is where you will need to do additional work to get things right.

 

[Larry$]

I didn't see that you got it off before posting this.

You might want to buy a dead blow hammer.
If you still feel it is necessary to remove the back plate.... Consider putting the chuck back on. Put a square or rectangular bar across the chuck jaws and tighten them. On the long end of the bar sticking out, give it a good smack with your new dead blow hammer. Do not have any gears engaged. You do not need to keep the shaft from rotating, momentum will work. .... Make sure you are trying to rotate it in the correct direction. The bar should be sticking out on the operators side of the lathe. Hit down on the bar. If the spindle thread doesn't start moving after a few whacks, Stop. Soak it in some good penetrating fluid (not WD40!) Try it the next day.

Another possible method is to use a piece of soft copper tubing that an impact socket will snuggly fit into. Hacksaw through one side of it and clamp it into the chuck jaws. The soft copper will protect the jaws and provide a good grip on the impact socket. Use a 1/2 or 3/4" drive impact wrench. Make sure you have the wrench engaged in the proper direction. Use the strap wrench to oppose the impact wrench's force. Brace the strap wrench against the housing. (A second set of hands will be most helpful. Keep fingers from getting pinched!)

If you actually get to using the lathe you will want to be able to swap chucks on a regular basis so it is worth it to get the current one off. At the bare minimum you will need a 3 jaw scroll chuck and a 4 jaw independent. Later a face plate and maybe collet chucks.

 

[redgrouse]

Thanks for the replies guys, I managed to get the chuck off using rubber strap wrenches (pictured).

I realised quickly, as you have pointed out, that the little files were no use so I filed all the bashed threads flat which helped a little in getting the end cap thing (pictured and highlighted red) started on some threads. But it only goes about halfway then it binds really hard. I've went over all the threads with a little file and they're all clean of bashes, I filed the tops of all the threads to make sure they're all even then filed between the threads and polished with steel wool, but nothing.... Used some oil. Not sure if maybe the small file marks that I can't see are possibly causing it to bind?

Was thinking about hacksawing the end off? I'm not 100% sure what that part's purpose is, to stop the gear coming off? Thought I'd taken a picture of the threads in "as is "condition but apparently didn't.

Still can't figure out what the little square keyway on the gear is for or how to get the gear off, but I think I'm going to take your advice and leave the rest of this part alone till I know a bit more about lathes in general. Got "Basic Lathework", "The Amateur's Lathe" and "How to run a lathe" so should be an expert in no time. For now I'll clean it the best I can then oil it and hopefully break some chips at the weekend, if I can get the motor running!

Do not saw off the end of your spindle !!!! See your messages, I am not far from you and happy to help you if i can.
The thread on the spindle can be rescued I am sure, I sent you my contact details in the message