Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
Long post.
I've had my lathe for 5 years now.
It did good work but the base under the headstock end was cracked and welded - long before I owned it. It was fine. Stable enough to to be moved.
But I didn't like that about it so I kept watching for another one that I could part out and get a good base. I found one last November, bought it and hauled it home from Michigan City, IN.
It turned out to be in much better shape than the old one was wear wise. The carriage wouldn't move. It had sat unused in a barn for much of 30 years. Turned out the mice had nested inside the apron and used it as a latrine. Ruined a lot of gears and bearings. And the quick change gear box housing was cracked.
I mulled it over for a couple of weeks then took the plunge. I swapped the QCGB and the apron over from my old one. Replaced the oil lines inside the carriage.
It is a complicated machine and I&T doesn't make a manual for these.
And they were hand assembled so you're like an archeologist looking for small clues how they did it. You learn to read witness marks and taper pins.
Big learning experience and a test of patience but very interesting.
With the help of an electrician friend I reused the best of both electric ststems. Have the motor running but haven't spun the machine up under power yet. Might be another week or two before I do that.
Gave it the obligatory paint job.
I have most of 3 months working on this but
am nearing the exit of the rabbit hole.
Selling the extra parts on ebay - the project won't cost me much. There's much more to do but it's been a good winter. Warm shop. No hurry except, I do have a tractor I need to get in here before spring.
Oh, and it has some cool bronze machine tags.
I've had my lathe for 5 years now.
It did good work but the base under the headstock end was cracked and welded - long before I owned it. It was fine. Stable enough to to be moved.
But I didn't like that about it so I kept watching for another one that I could part out and get a good base. I found one last November, bought it and hauled it home from Michigan City, IN.
It turned out to be in much better shape than the old one was wear wise. The carriage wouldn't move. It had sat unused in a barn for much of 30 years. Turned out the mice had nested inside the apron and used it as a latrine. Ruined a lot of gears and bearings. And the quick change gear box housing was cracked.
I mulled it over for a couple of weeks then took the plunge. I swapped the QCGB and the apron over from my old one. Replaced the oil lines inside the carriage.
It is a complicated machine and I&T doesn't make a manual for these.
And they were hand assembled so you're like an archeologist looking for small clues how they did it. You learn to read witness marks and taper pins.
Big learning experience and a test of patience but very interesting.
With the help of an electrician friend I reused the best of both electric ststems. Have the motor running but haven't spun the machine up under power yet. Might be another week or two before I do that.
Gave it the obligatory paint job.
I have most of 3 months working on this but
am nearing the exit of the rabbit hole.
Selling the extra parts on ebay - the project won't cost me much. There's much more to do but it's been a good winter. Warm shop. No hurry except, I do have a tractor I need to get in here before spring.
Oh, and it has some cool bronze machine tags.
