Harrison 140 Project

[Pete.]

Yes you ought to adjust that saddle gib using the slotted adjuster. I've never done it but it seems pretty intuitive. Loosen the cap screw, turn the adjuster to the left, tighten cap screw I should think. Keep adjusting until you get no lift and then check you have full travel without sticking.

The thing to remember is that the underside of the saddle ways on all machines will wear at the ends first, so you get a hump in the middle that allows the saddle to rock. Adjusting that gib will hold the left side of it down and steady any tiny rocking motion.

Loose headstock bearings you check for by putting a dial gauge on the spindle behind the chuck and lifting the chuck with a lever to see what movement you get.

 

[JonE]

This is where where my L13 travelling steady attaches..

 

[Brad93]

This is where where my L13 travelling steady attaches..
View attachment 181995

That’s what that is for then lovely thanks mate

 

[Brad93]

Yes you ought to adjust that saddle gib using the slotted adjuster. I've never done it but it seems pretty intuitive. Loosen the cap screw, turn the adjuster to the left, tighten cap screw I should think. Keep adjusting until you get no lift and then check you have full travel without sticking.

The thing to remember is that the underside of the saddle ways on all machines will wear at the ends first, so you get a hump in the middle that allows the saddle to rock. Adjusting that gib will hold the left side of it down and steady any tiny rocking motion.

Loose headstock bearings you check for by putting a dial gauge on the spindle behind the chuck and lifting the chuck with a lever to see what movement you get.

Okay.

This is the finish I’m getting on EN8
To be honest my setup could be a lot more rigid though. I’m just using random packers under the tool at the minute.

Also I’ve only got three grub screws in the rear gib.

 

[Brad93]

Need some sort of harrison expert. Under that adjuster is another adjuster. Can’t turn that one or the top one.

 

[Pete.]

Can't help you there I'm afraid.

EN8 doesn't finish well with small cuts BTW. If you're using carbide wind the speed up and take a healthy cut and it should give a mirror finish.

 

[Brad93]

Adjuster is siezed.

I’ve sprayed penetrating oil on it. That’s all I can do without having everything off again.

This is where you need an impact screwdriver

 

[doubleboost]

Thanks John.

Just out of interest, with your carbide tools, they're negative rake yes?
What sort of feed rate are you using?
It’s hit and miss but on light cuts I’m not getting the nice surface finish you get.
Heavier cuts 0.3mm+ I get a nice finish.

With carbide and neg raker you need to push things hard to get a decent finish
Any finishing cuts less than 0.2 mm i use high speed steel
Once you get to know the lathe you can dial in a 0.5 mill cut to finish size with a good finish
EN8 is my favorite steel to go to

 

[grim_d]

Need some sort of harrison expert. Under that adjuster is another adjuster. Can’t turn that one or the top one.

No need to remove the cap screw just loosen it, then the slotted part can be turned, it's tight though, I use a small brass punch to turn it. It only needs tiny adjustments. You need to leave it slightly looser than you want as tightening the cap screw up to lock it will tighten it up further.

It's a bit of a balancing act but it makes a big difference, just keep adjusting and testing, remember that uneven bed wear means if it feels good at the chuck end it may be too tight up near the tailstock.

Regarding headstock bearing adjustment, I had no play in mine using the lever method but found out they needed tightening up when trying to face a backplate flat, it would always end up with a high spot. Tightening up the bearing eliminated it.

 

[Dieselman 63]

If you need a steady then theseappear to be quite cheap:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COLCHEST...400767?hash=item4b64b91e7f:g:FSMAAOSw08Fc4vQD

 

[Brad93]

If you need a steady then theseappear to be quite cheap:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COLCHEST...400767?hash=item4b64b91e7f:g:FSMAAOSw08Fc4vQD

I’ve got a travelling steady but need a fixed

 

[Brad93]

No need to remove the cap screw just loosen it, then the slotted part can be turned, it's tight though, I use a small brass punch to turn it. It only needs tiny adjustments. You need to leave it slightly looser than you want as tightening the cap screw up to lock it will tighten it up further.

It's a bit of a balancing act but it makes a big difference, just keep adjusting and testing, remember that uneven bed wear means if it feels good at the chuck end it may be too tight up near the tailstock.

Regarding headstock bearing adjustment, I had no play in mine using the lever method but found out they needed tightening up when trying to face a backplate flat, it would always end up with a high spot. Tightening up the bearing eliminated it.

I’ve had a piece of 3mm steel ground to the right size in there with a adjustable turning it. It bent the steel.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I’ve got a travelling steady but need a fixed

Same. Bantam/chipmaster ones just don’t seem to surface. Even the travelling ones are beginning to fetch a premium. You could try emailing G&M, they have more stock than what’s listed on their site.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Same. Bantam/chipmaster ones just don’t seem to surface. Even the travelling ones are beginning to fetch a premium. You could try emailing G&M, they have more stock than what’s listed on their site.

Same for most old machines.
Last one I saw for mine they wanted £180
Ended up making my own with a donor saddle I aquired

 

[Keith 66]

I been looking for a fixed steady for my 140 for years, they are rocking horse poo. Good luck! I have one off a colchester master or triumph but its way too big.

 

[Brad93]

I been looking for a fixed steady for my 140 for years, they are rocking horse poo. Good luck! I have one off a colchester master or triumph but its way too big.

Have you got a picture of what they look like? Could probably make something from a bit of waterjet cut strenx

 

[Brad93]

How are the spindle bearings adjusted? @grim_d @MrFluffy

Is levelling the lathe likely to improve the cut quality?

At the minute it is sat on blocks of hardwood across the two feet at either end so I can move it with forklift and paint it.

The only other thing I can do is get a 3MT test bar and chuck that in the reducing bush inside the taper

 

[Brad93]

Also I’ve found this in the coolant sump.
Any ideas? Piece of bright steel

 

[Dieselman 63]

Looks like a parting off blade. I found a spare jaw for my three jaw in the sump on mine, it was proper minging in there - they must have just ordered another one

 

[123hotchef]

or a shim