Colchester issue concerns

[GraemeVW]

I would like to here it Powered up just because of the bearings. Colchester are a noisy lathe but if the bearings are worn they make a right row.

It's local at least, so should be able to sort this.
I can then check power feed, check if it's been reground, and try and understand the rack/pinion issue.

 

[GraemeVW]

You need to get an indicator on the spindle nose and test for radial play....expect some whilst cold but should be minimal warmed up.

@Machinery restorations is correct, the bearings aren't cheap....I would estimate £1K - £1k5 for a pair.

That may be harder to try before it's in my workshop.

 

[God mode restorations]

It's local at least, so should be able to sort this.
I can then check power feed, check if it's been reground, and try and understand the rack/pinion issue.

Also check the sliding to surfacing leaver as they normally wear badly and are bit of a pig to replace because you have to dismantle the screw box to remove the feed screws

 

[Pete.]

That may be harder to try before it's in my workshop.

Put a mag base on the headstock, dial gauge on the spindle behind the chuck. Put a good chunk of steel bar in the chuck and lever up on it. If the bearings are shot you'll see the needle jump on the gauge.

 

[GraemeVW]

Also check the sliding to surfacing leaver as they normally wear badly and are bit of a pig to replace because you have to dismantle the screw box to remove the feed screws

Safety apron so has the plunger

 

[GraemeVW]

Put a mag base on the headstock, dial gauge on the spindle behind the chuck. Put a good chunk of steel bar in the chuck and lever up on it. If the bearings are shot you'll see the needle jump on the gauge.

When you say a good chunk, how much leverage are we talking?
I could take my shear handle. 2' of 2" heavy wall tube.

Would you trust that test if seeing it run wasn't an option?

 

[Pete.]

Yeah that would do it. The needle will move a bit but if it jumps then there's a problem. If it moves a few thou easily then won't move much more no matter how hard you pull then the bearings are loose or shot. There's a good chance you'll 'feel' a loose bearing when levering it up and down.

 

[GraemeVW]

Yeah that would do it. The needle will move a bit but if it jumps then there's a problem. If it moves a few thou easily then won't move much more no matter how hard you pull then the bearings are loose or shot. There's a good chance you'll 'feel' a loose bearing when levering it up and down.

Like checking head bearings on a motorbike really.

I need to make a bit of a list of things to go back and check.

It's like when you buy your first car, you go look, but have no real clue what your doing!

 

[Lewis_RX8]

I would like to here it Powered up just because of the bearings. Colchester are a noisy lathe but if the bearings are worn they make a right row.

You need to get an indicator on the spindle nose and test for radial play....expect some whilst cold but should be minimal warmed up.

@Machinery restorations is correct, the bearings aren't cheap....I would estimate £1K - £1k5 for a pair.

Bloody ell , will have a stern word with my triumph and tell the bearings to behave themselves.

They.are getting a little hot doing lots of heavy cuts putting the headstock to 40°c but still needs investigated

 

[GraemeVW]

Bloody ell

To be fair, I've read reports of 3k for bearings!

 

[Keith 66]

That amount of wear on some parts sounds to me like it was used for one job only, If the gap was out maybe skimming brake drums or similar? rusty cast iron dust & poor or no maintenance? you would be amazed how many operators never ever touch an oil gun to a lathe, i have seen toolmakers do this who should have known better.
20 years ago i bought a Colchester Bantam 2000 of a dealer, good price for what was an ex school machine, but it had been hammered doing just a few operations over & over, the headstock bearings were on the way out. All it takes to bugger them is for someone to lift it with a bar in the chuck spindle.
I was lucky to get shot of it to another dealer & didnt loose any money, but it was a salutary lesson in not trusting clean paintwork! At the time headstock bearings were £477 & £550 each, i doubt they have got any cheaper. No way would i buy a Colchester without seeing & hearing it powered up & running.

 

[GraemeVW]

That amount of wear on some parts sounds to me like it was used for one job only, If the gap was out maybe skimming brake drums or similar? rusty cast iron dust & poor or no maintenance? you would be amazed how many operators never ever touch an oil gun to a lathe, i have seen toolmakers do this who should have known better.
20 years ago i bought a Colchester Bantam 2000 of a dealer, good price for what was an ex school machine, but it had been hammered doing just a few operations over & over, the headstock bearings were on the way out. All it takes to bugger them is for someone to lift it with a bar in the chuck spindle.
I was lucky to get shot of it to another dealer & didnt loose any money, but it was a salutary lesson in not trusting clean paintwork! At the time headstock bearings were £477 & £550 each, i doubt they have got any cheaper. No way would i buy a Colchester without seeing & hearing it powered up & running.

Interesting.
I don't know what it's precious life was bit the last 30 years it's been in a place that makes induction forges.
They have 3 huge pillar drills they barely use, 2 mills that pretty much just skim copper heat sinks, a big hole punch that just punches small holes in 5mm copper sheet.

No idea what they used this for, but not alot by the looks of it.

Been looking at a few YouTube vids and one thing I have noticed is it has very little backlash in the cross slide. Hardly any in fact.
That's got to be a good sign!

To be honest, it looks 20 years old, not 60-70!

The paint is good, all the handle chrome is good, all the ball handles are perfect, not been repainted, the data plates are all good too. I opened the coolant pump door and everything loomed clean and nice. Wiring all looks good, nice film of oil on the ways.
Just seemed like a good machine, apart from the seller saying it needs the slides adjusting, the speed lever slipping out of position, the carriage traverse being loose and the power feed gear lever didn't seem to want to easily go up high enough to engage the decent.

The way it looks in pictures, I've not really seen an un restored one look better. Most look hammered to me.

 

[daedalusminos]

This is why they're so expensive...that woman on initial inspection just tosses them in a bin

From 17mins...

 

[Lewis_RX8]

This is why they're so expensive...that woman on initial inspection just tosses them in a bin

From 17mins...

High precision part no F's given lob.into the bin put a nice bur on it

 

[GraemeVW]

This is why they're so expensive...that woman on initial inspection just tosses them in a bin

From 17mins...

Fantastic.

They must have had alot of gold paint!

I now see why the bearings are so expensive.

 

[GraemeVW]

High precision part no F's given lob.into the bin put a nice bur on it

I'm sure it's a precision lob from a specified height.