Richard.
Member
- Messages
- 18,335
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
wow
That's some brass. You'll likely get a complete headstock from a scrapper for less than that. Just make sure it doesn't suffer similar problems before buying
- Thread starter God mode restorations
- Start date
That's some brass. You'll likely get a complete headstock from a scrapper for less than that. Just make sure it doesn't suffer similar problems before buying
God mode restorations
Member
- Messages
- 8,150
- Location
- uk colchester
Yes. That's seriously crazy money. Will ask gamet just to find out. Colchester lathes have a lot of spares so will visit this week.
ronan
Member
- Messages
- 11,382
The problem is anything from the scrappers are likely to be as bad as what he's got. Personally i'd never pay a penny for a colchester, extremely overrated machines, and i have one (free from the job to take away). I would also never pay big money for spares for one either, good money after bad, if this machine was mine, i'd have one eye on scrap prices.
Dieselman 63
Forklift Certified
- Messages
- 5,868
- Location
- Wellington, New Zealand
Also when taking the spindle bearings out of the headstock you want to be very careful as the shaft was aligned in the factory, as was the headstock and tailstock to the body but you can adjust those latter two relatively easily after. I'm taking the gearbox apart on my Bantam but I don't dare touch the headstock innards. It works, it's too complex for me to dismantle so I'm leaving it.
Yeah, Colchesters are a bit overrated but there are plenty of them around like Boxfords so always good for spares if something does go wrong. In the land of dreams I would have a Monarch 10EE, but they don't come up for $500 so you've got to go with what you can afford.
Yeah, Colchesters are a bit overrated but there are plenty of them around like Boxfords so always good for spares if something does go wrong. In the land of dreams I would have a Monarch 10EE, but they don't come up for $500 so you've got to go with what you can afford.
God mode restorations
Member
- Messages
- 8,150
- Location
- uk colchester
Scrap prices ain't worth a rub. Unless someone is wanting a particular part. Good or not ..this is what I have got and I got to do something with it. As said I would sooner have something that stands me in a lot of money but works than something that just a expensive pile of metal that doesn't work. It's like buying a second hand car...somtimes you get a good one..somtimes you get a bad one..there are thousands of second hand lathes about..so it's a 50 50 gamble.
God mode restorations
Member
- Messages
- 8,150
- Location
- uk colchester
Yes I could of waited longer and brought something that's totally refurbished and probably £5000 plus. And even then no guarantee that all that glitters isn't gold. Taking the headstock apart isn't no big deal and they are a basic of gears. A lot better than a lorry gearbox. And done a few of them. I got to fix the porous part of the case so i have no choice but to strip it.
Dieselman 63
Forklift Certified
- Messages
- 5,868
- Location
- Wellington, New Zealand
I think it was because they were producing top-of-the-line models as well as the basic ones which went to education institutes, Gamet is a 600 group company so maybe some sort of standardisation exercise?
Unless this filler cap is simply a false marketing ploy, I would have to refute your statement that the gears are unhardened as my machine tells me otherwise.
God mode restorations
Member
- Messages
- 8,150
- Location
- uk colchester
They are most certainly a quality set of bearings that are produced on a large scale. But can't see the need to price 1500 plus each for them. I am going to gamet tomorrow just to see.I think it was because they were producing top-of-the-line models as well as the basic ones which went to education institutes, Gamet is a 600 group company so maybe some sort of standardisation exercise?
Unless this filler cap is simply a false marketing ploy, I would have to refute your statement that the gears are unhardened as my machine tells me otherwise.
Dieselman 63
Forklift Certified
- Messages
- 5,868
- Location
- Wellington, New Zealand
1975 Bantam Mk I, FCAA10058, 259 more were made and then production of that model finished.
Dieselman 63
Forklift Certified
- Messages
- 5,868
- Location
- Wellington, New Zealand
Also mate, ripped this from Lathes.co.uk . I believe Tony used to (maybe still does) have a Student.
"Small oil leaks from the headstock are almost a feature of these lathes and, providing the oil is kept topped up, should result in no harm; the time to worry is when the oil stops coming out - the reservoir will be empty."
"Small oil leaks from the headstock are almost a feature of these lathes and, providing the oil is kept topped up, should result in no harm; the time to worry is when the oil stops coming out - the reservoir will be empty."
Hood
Member
- Messages
- 17,982
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
Yes so from the era that the new gear cutting machinery was used. Mine was a Mk1.5 Student from about 67 and it just had the soft gears although it was unusual for a Colchester in that the paintwork wasn't the best but the machine itself was exceptionally good, well when I got it anyway
Usually the paint looks excellent but the machine is knackered especially when talking about the newer ones such as the Student 1800 and Triumph 2000 (of which I have)If I had a choice of manual lathe it would be something Eastern European (Tarnow etc.) or maybe Japanese like the Ikegai my friend had, wouldn't say no to a good DSG either.
God mode restorations
Member
- Messages
- 8,150
- Location
- uk colchester
Well chaps...i brought the machine. It's got issues. But I will not condemn it. Anything that's broke can be fixed. Bearing cost is extreme. But if I can't find a good second hand set then I will have to buy new..if the bed is worn then I will get it reground. I am in no hurry...i could go out and buy a new one but can't see the point..any second hand machine will need work...
Hood
Member
- Messages
- 17,982
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
Can't see you getting a new lathe for less than you would be spending on going that way even if you have to go as far as bed regrind, that however may bring in new problems as you would have to do something with the saddle to align the feed shafts etc I would think. Would I go down that route? probably not but then I wouldn't want to spend big money on a lathe as I know how rough I am on them
There are probably not many new lathes available anyway except the usual Chinese/Taiwanese ones and their quality can vary, that is unless you go high end and that means very high £££
I know Alec at Budget Machinery Imports Tos Lathes, what price they are I have no idea but may be worth checking out though if the bearings/regrind etc are required. I have always fancied one of them.
There are probably not many new lathes available anyway except the usual Chinese/Taiwanese ones and their quality can vary, that is unless you go high end and that means very high £££
I know Alec at Budget Machinery Imports Tos Lathes, what price they are I have no idea but may be worth checking out though if the bearings/regrind etc are required. I have always fancied one of them.
There is an awful lot of people that would disagree with this. Me being one. I have the MK2 student and its a great little machine. if you want to see overpriced stuff look at MYFORD and BOXFORD in my opinion.
Hood
Member
- Messages
- 17,982
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
Here is another make I would have if looking for a small lathe, I had the pleasure of using one at a friends place and it was a dream to use.
Obviously I have no idea how good/bad this particular one is but....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CVA-1A-TO...030464?hash=item3af0525400:g:4KwAAOSwarNZsUjQ
Obviously I have no idea how good/bad this particular one is but....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CVA-1A-TO...030464?hash=item3af0525400:g:4KwAAOSwarNZsUjQ
Hood
Member
- Messages
- 17,982
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
Colchesters are middling machines, not the best but no way are they the worst. The square heads (Mk2 Student etc) were the last of the ones before they started to go downhill rapidly in my opinion.
You say that but the 1800 student fetches a lot more than a mk2 student does money wise. Never used one so not sure on the quality.
Hood
Member
- Messages
- 17,982
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
Yes and I almost made a mistake of getting one from Aberdeen Uni where I got the Mk1.5 from. Was waiting for the 1800's to come up but they went for stupid money and I had talked to the guy that had been in charge of the machine shop and he said he wouldn't touch them with a barge pole and said the Mk1.5 was ten times the machine that the 1800's were.
Having said that I have never used one either but I do have a Triumph 2000 and it something that does a reasonable job but if I hadn't bypassed the headstock gearing I would be totally deaf by now and from what I have heard they were almost all the same.
