Rebuilding a cheap lathe

[GrifterGuru]

You must have had better bearings than most other 7x owners did. The bearings in all the 7xs I'm aware of, are single race, deep groove ball bearings; not really suitable for the forces on any lathe that's potentially going to be turning anything harder than aluminium or free machining brass.

I had my original bearings in place for not that long and they developed axial and radial play.

Arc Euro Trade, for all their faults, have pictorial PDF guides to replacing the bearings on a C3 or an SC3 with tapered roller bearings and angular contact bearings respectively.

It's hard to think of anything more critical to the 'health' of a lathe than the bearings the spindle runs in, so whilst I might differ with @GrifterGuru regarding the priority of some things on his list, I'd agree with him about getting good bearings around the spindle.

@SouthernChap

Everyone views certain needs in a certain priority. My views differ from yours, just as yours will differ from somebody elses, mine included.

TBF, I initially only replaced the bearings on the SC3 under warranty. Then carried out the two half-nut conversion, followed shortly afterwards by the complete replacement of the apron for one with a full and proper dovetail for the half nuts and a bearing for the handwheel gear.

Other than that and finally fitting a 4" flange spindle (inc new A/C bearings) along with swapping the plastic gears for metal ones, leaving only the plastic leadscrew gear as a "fail safe" should it ever be needed, the lathe could be looked at and considered as a better spec'd stock machine, which, I suppose, it actually is.

Still, I am looking forwards to getting the 7x I am rebuilding finished!

 

[VicHobbyGuy]

I'd agree with him about getting good bearings around the spindle.

Certainly, if there's a problem the bearings should be replaced.
The OP, @Eric S Dunn asked: "I'd like to know if there's anything I should go ahead and replace while the machine is taken apart."
If 'taken apart' included pulling the spindle, then replacing the bearings (with angular contact type) would make a lot of sense.

 

[VicHobbyGuy]

Still, I am looking forwards to getting the 7x I am rebuilding finished!

Your loyal fans await the pictures and the full report!

 

[Jim F]

You folks amuse me.
I have a SB C model that I would sell for less than you spend in time and parts on chinese junk.......

 

[GrifterGuru]

Your loyal fans await the pictures and the full report!

Don't worry, it will happen. I just need to get a few "little jobs" finished before I do the dry build without the control panel.

 

[GrifterGuru]

You folks amuse me.
I have a SB C model that I would sell for less than you spend in time and parts on chinese junk.......

Let me ask you this... How much fun have you had using your SB C model? Now, imagine the satisfaction of having taken what is essential a "built kit", stripping it down, going through it, adjusting where necessary, upgrading where necessary and modifying it to improve how it functions? How much satisfaction do you think you would derive from doing that when you make the first chips using it?

Sometimes, the journey to cutting the first chips is the most satisfying. Buying a machine that "just works" without needing even minor tinkeriing is, to me at least, just plain boring and lacks any form of satisfaction.

 

[Jim F]

Let me ask you this... How much fun have you had using your SB C model? Now, imagine the satisfaction of having taken what is essential a "built kit", stripping it down, going through it, adjusting where necessary, upgrading where necessary and modifying it to improve how it functions? How much satisfaction do you think you would derive from doing that when you make the first chips using it?

Sometimes, the journey to cutting the first chips is the most satisfying. Buying a machine that "just works" without needing even minor tinkeriing is, to me at least, just plain boring and lacks any form of satisfaction.

Not contributing to the CCP and making stuff right away........

 

[GrifterGuru]

Not contributing to the CCP and making stuff right away........

Be fair, a lot of us with the 7x machines go in with eyes wide open knowing what lays ahead. Some don't and that is a fair point for a different discussion.

As for not contributing to the CCP? half (most?) of the stuff these days is made in china, so that really is a non-starter unless you actively treble check the origin of manufacture on everything you buy.

 

[SouthernChap]

You folks amuse me.
I have a SB C model that I would sell for less than you spend in time and parts on chinese junk.......

Glad us mini lathe peasants amuse you.

 

[GrifterGuru]

Glad us mini lathe peasants amuse you.

@SouthernChap

I thought it was an unspoken rule never to feed the trolls?