Newbie here with a new 07403

[verbotenwhisky]

Hi, I'm new here so just making my way around to get some info.
I just bought a Craftsman 101.07403 lathe. I'd like to do some cleaning and lubing on it before I set it up
in a permanent spot. I have some questions:

1) What is a good way to clean old grease of the head stock gears and re lube (with out removing)?
2) Where can I find detail disassembly instructions for the tail stock, mine does not retract properly
3) The previous owner remove the drive screw as he never could get it to work, is it really needed?
I may want to thread a rifle bbl or two.
That's all for now, I'm sure they'll be many more before I get this up and running, Thanks in advance!

I like break cleaner in a spray can with a small brush....

PS, Welcome to the forum....

 

[verbotenwhisky]

Thanks for the welcome, I plan on doing a good cleanup but I'm not competent or knowledgeable enough to even mess with gears right now but I'd like to clean them in place as best I can, maybe once I find a manual I'll attempt to take it apart and put it in an ultrasonic tank.
I doubt I'll paint it right now as I want to star learning it and finding parts and tooling for it, as you can see in the pic it's missing the lead screw and I'd like to find a four jaw chuck and a qrtp for now.

If you need to take it apart take lots of pictures as it comes apart and save them in order...

 

[LX Kid]

If you look at the compound slide, tool post mount, you can see a chunk of metal removed where it has been crashed into the chuck. I think there may be damage in the apron and is why the leadscrew is missing. Check half nuts, mitre gears and traversing gears for broken teeth or damaged mounts. All are made from Zmak and are fragile including all the cranks. Can you share a pic of your gears inside the left cover? Here's a pic of mine from the back where the leadscrew passes the middle of the mitre gear and broke the mount. I had to replace it as it controls the Y axis for facing etc.

 

[tonesearcher]

Until I had everything up and running I wouldn't even be thinking of tooling at the moment. You have a long learning, cleaning, lubing and inspecting of assemblies ahead of you. Did it come with a motor and a set of change gears?

Yes it came with a motor, When I went to look at it it was still set up and ran smooth and quiet, The owner had used it for antique gunsmithing, unfortunately he passed and the wife is selling the home and needed to clear it out, the son was a bit familiar with it so he told me what he knew about it. No change gears BUT the owner was pretty neat so he might've put them away till needed, so If they find them they will LMK.
This pass weekend I went to a garage sale and found a bunch of stuff I'll need to identify, chucks and such.

 

[LX Kid]

If you buy a chuck or a chuck backing plate the spindle thread is 1.5" X 8 tpi. Have you had a change to drop the apron down, just two bolts, and take a pic of the back side? I'm kinda interested in what you find. The mitre gear, where the leadscrew passes thru, should have a spline inside and no cracks in the mount.

 

[tonesearcher]

Here's some pix.

 

[tonesearcher]

Here's some pix

 

[LX Kid]

Thanks for the pics! So far, other than being really dirty, it's looking pretty good. Looks like the former owner was using it for wood as well. Maybe that's why the leadscrew was removed cause it would get fouled really fast. Maybe it can be found with a little luck.

 

[tonesearcher]

Thanks for the pics! So far, other than being really dirty, it's looking pretty good. Looks like the former owner was using it for wood as well. Maybe that's why the leadscrew was removed cause it would get fouled really fast. Maybe it can be found with a little luck.

Yeah,he made grips for the old pistols also,had a box of some real nice walnut blanks I thought about grabbing,but I left them. Hoping they find the backgears and some other tooling.

 

[LX Kid]

There are whole back gear assemblies on eBay real cheap. I see one for $27.50 on there right now that looks real clean and complete. I had to replace mine when I started restoration as a couple of teeth on the small gear were chipped. I paid a lot more.
I think you mentioned doing threading so you will "need" to have the leadscrew, back gear assembly and change gears to do that.