GraemeVW
Member
- Messages
- 1,657
- Location
- Chesterfield
I'm thinking of buying a colchester student mk1.5.
I went to look at it but there were a couple of things I didn't like, or maybe didn't understand.
I know nothing of these lathes.
First off, apparently the right hand speed lever on the top sometimes won't stay put and pops back towards the left.
Lewis_rx8 kindly showed me pics of the inside. There are engagement dogs. I guess these could be worn?
Is there any other cause for this though?
Secondly, the carriage traverse handle is very sloppy. Not the shaft and handle, but the engagement to the rack. It still winds the carriage along the bed and the loosened is the same all the way along. It has some much free play there is litteraly no resistance for at least 1/8th of a turn, if not more. Feels like it's not engaged. Then the play it taken up and it moves. Rocking the handle back and forth it knocks. It seems almost too loose to be wear. Can it really be worn that bad? Is it adjustable?
Feels almost like the pinion is one tooth too small, or every other tooth is missing. It's that kind of loose.
The thing is, the lathe in general looks really well cared for. It's done hardly any work in the last 30 years and other than these points, doesn't seem like a worn old lathe at all.
Looking at the dirt in the lead screw, and the fact the gearbox selector is stiff, I don't think they ever used power feed.
Seller is a bit clueless tbh.
He seems to understand it less than I do, even though it's been in his business for 30 years. I guess he was never the guy who used it.
I got the impression for the last 30 years it only ready did the odd job here and there.
He says it all works (Its been moved so no power to test). He comes across as honest and trustable. He always internal, it needs the slides adjusting and setting up.
They have obviously cared for it, making guards, fitting new electric junction boxes etc.
Just these 2 things that stood out to me.
I went to look at it but there were a couple of things I didn't like, or maybe didn't understand.
I know nothing of these lathes.
First off, apparently the right hand speed lever on the top sometimes won't stay put and pops back towards the left.
Lewis_rx8 kindly showed me pics of the inside. There are engagement dogs. I guess these could be worn?
Is there any other cause for this though?
Secondly, the carriage traverse handle is very sloppy. Not the shaft and handle, but the engagement to the rack. It still winds the carriage along the bed and the loosened is the same all the way along. It has some much free play there is litteraly no resistance for at least 1/8th of a turn, if not more. Feels like it's not engaged. Then the play it taken up and it moves. Rocking the handle back and forth it knocks. It seems almost too loose to be wear. Can it really be worn that bad? Is it adjustable?
Feels almost like the pinion is one tooth too small, or every other tooth is missing. It's that kind of loose.
The thing is, the lathe in general looks really well cared for. It's done hardly any work in the last 30 years and other than these points, doesn't seem like a worn old lathe at all.
Looking at the dirt in the lead screw, and the fact the gearbox selector is stiff, I don't think they ever used power feed.
Seller is a bit clueless tbh.
He seems to understand it less than I do, even though it's been in his business for 30 years. I guess he was never the guy who used it.
I got the impression for the last 30 years it only ready did the odd job here and there.
He says it all works (Its been moved so no power to test). He comes across as honest and trustable. He always internal, it needs the slides adjusting and setting up.
They have obviously cared for it, making guards, fitting new electric junction boxes etc.
Just these 2 things that stood out to me.