Standard-Modern 2000 series, shocking outcome

[aaronpadilla]

Hi there,

I got this SM 2000 series 13 inches lathe, it is in overall good shape, some signs of negligence like mid rust due to bad storage, but not that bad.

It was already partially disassembled because the seller tried to move it to his basement with no success, I did a preliminary check of gear head and other than some wear un the spindle splines for advances, it looked good, I also noticed that heavy gear oil was used but I though it wasn't a big deal.

Well, at first run test, I heard gears grinding in headstock at mid speed, then at high speed the motor struggles to run.

Looking closer I found what it seems to be some kind of weird crash-save, in the intermediary shaft, the splines looks roughly regrinded and gears over it has visible wooble.

It s almost like if the shaft was broke then welded back and regrinded :s

First, how is it even possible?.

Second, how bad is it? can I just run it and endure the noise?

Third, SM claims to sell/build any part for their lathes even obsolete ones, how much would it cost?

Fourth, can it be better repaired?

 

[markba633csi]

I can't see clearly enough the shaft you think was re-welded, the lighting is not good. It looks to me like just a lot of wear, but in any case I think the news is that it will be expensive to put back to factory condition. Fortunately you are in Canada already. Perhaps you could find a donor lathe? Or part it out and recover some of your expense?
It's hard to imagine crashing a lathe hard enough to shatter a shaft but I suppose it's been done- having the shaft x-rayed or magnafluxed would tell you for sure. Know a cooperative dentist who is into machine tools?
-Mark

 

[aaronpadilla]

I can't see clearly enough the shaft you think was re-welded, the lighting is not good. It looks to me like just a lot of wear, but in any case I think the news is that it will be expensive to put back to factory condition. Fortunately you are in Canada already. Perhaps you could find a donor lathe? Or part it out and recover some of your expense?
It's hard to imagine crashing a lathe hard enough to shatter a shaft but I suppose it's been done- having the shaft x-rayed or magnafluxed would tell you for sure. Know a cooperative dentist who is into machine tools?
-Mark

Hi Mark,

Not Xray required I guess, I have unmounted it and it seems like it had a lot of wear and someone fill the splines with some kind of weld and then mill it back, but the job is bad and because of heat now it is just crooked, I will try to buy or build a new one, part out will be the least choice, however I think that I would be able to get back my investment, I paid $1200 CAD

 

[markba633csi]

OK I see what they tried to do. A job like that could have been done correctly by a skilled enough person. There are processes now like plasma spraying that can put metal back, but not available in many shops. Plus the splines would have to be accurately recut- a considerable amount of equipment and skill involved to do it right
-Mark

 

[markba633csi]

I would take stock of all the gears and shafts and see what you have. Standard Modern lathes are excellent and it may be worth spending the money to have a beautiful, accurate machine that will serve you for many years. I think you got a good fixer-upper for the price. They usually go for much more.
-M