Harrison M250 Restoration

[Dieselman 63]

I know, I’m edging towards doing it. The base of the cabinet is really flaking off badly especially round the back. Just the thought of stripping it all back thats putting me off

I’m mid repaint/rebuild. It’s a lot of work. Also a lot of fun though. There’s a lot of things that needed cleaning I would never have discovered about the lathe had I not chosen to rebuild it. Didn’t you do a Fobco Star as well? We must have similarly capable workshops by now

 

[R-D-R]

Yep the fobco is all done, keep meaning to update that thread with final pics. I think I’ll steam clean the base and bed at the weekend and then step back and make a decision on painting. It’s got original stickers that I done think will survive removal and refitting which will be another hurdle to consider.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Yep the fobco is all done, keep meaning to update that thread with final pics. I think I’ll steam clean the base and bed at the weekend and then step back and make a decision on painting. It’s got original stickers that I done think will survive removal and refitting which will be another hurdle to consider.

You could paint it as a Colchester Bantam 2000 given they’re a rebadge job (super sexy paint job imo!)

 

[R-D-R]

The later model M series have the same scheme. They probably went along the production line right until after paint before being badged Colchester or Harrison.

I’ve pinged the spares dept with the part numbers for the decals that will probably decide it.

 

[RichardM]

Go on paint it - you'll never be happy and it will be a shame to have to take it to bits again in another year.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Could @dazza help out with the decals?

 

[Carl Wilson]

Wow such progress you have made, so good to see.

Glad 600 group are helping you out so readily. It is great to see those drawings!

I had issues with the feed shaft protection clutch too. The Belleville washer pack had been assembled any old way. So I dismantled it and completely rebuilt it.

 

[R-D-R]

Thanks my Belleville washers were all packed in parallel rather than sets of 4 in series plus theres evidence of grip use on the nut too - probably someone didn't have a Pin Hole Spanner!

It was a really nice surprise on the drawings, and good to know the originals have been archived digitally.

@Dieselkid 63 Yes thanks I guess I could get the decals made up, just looking for excuses to avoid all the stripping! Theres 3 two on the front and one on the end of the bed however I have noticed the M300 has a plaque on the end of the bed for the 600 Logo which I prefer. I've been in contact with stationaryengineparts.com where I got my original Fobco Cream and Blue paints, they can supply the exact OEM colour in either Gloss, Semi Gloss, Satin or matt. Not sure what the original was Semi Gloss ?

If i do paint, I really don't want to remove the bed from the stand nor do I want to disturb the mounting of the headstock so spray would be the best option to ensure I get coverage in the harder to reach areas. The original red between the bridges on the bed looks good so I don't think if need to do that, ill steam clean it and have a look.

VFD research continued in the hotel last night and after reading the manuals of various I think i'm going to go for a Mitsubishi 1.5KW 720 series I like the programming features and also like the option of a secondary control interface I could integrate into a new control panel. Before any final decision on painting I think it will be prudent to just get it spinning as is to make sure there are no obvious gremlins in the gearbox warranting further mechanical strip down.

 

[Carl Wilson]

That Mitsubishi 720 series vfd looks good, until you factor in the paramaterising unit at 90 odd quid and/or the pc based programming software also at a cost.

 

[R-D-R]

Cost is one factor I’m weighing up and Still looking at options but it’s certainly top of the list for now. Without the parametrising unit but with the satellite remote panel which is £30. Been talking to a few companies it seems to be the one they favour most.

Friday is VFD decision day !

 

[Carl Wilson]

It looks like a good unit. Hard to see how you could go wrong with a name like Mitsubishi.

I'd never really looked at them before because I made the unqualified assumption that they'd be too expensive. Could well be looking at one now for my Harrison Mill.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Well I’m not sure who you spoke to at the 600 group, but Mick Senior told me they don’t release drawings He didn’t seem very happy to hear from me, they must get thousands of spares requests though with such a back catalogue of machine tools...

 

[Carl Wilson]

Must admit I was surprised they release drawings. They wouldn't want firms or individuals copying their products and possibly making spares to undercut 600 group. Let's face it, it wouldn't be hard to undercut them!

Maybe someone will get a bollocking for releasing those drawings.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Must admit I was surprised they release drawings. They wouldn't want firms or individuals copying their products and possibly making spares to undercut 600 group. Let's face it, it wouldn't be hard to undercut them!

Maybe someone will get a bollocking for releasing those drawings.

A tidal wave of bootleg 600group spares hitting the market is my dream come true!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Also a surprise was their open policy on original drawing for obsolete items. If ever you need something its definitely worth calling them, if its obsolete they may have the drawing you can have (they emailed me them for free). Heres a couple of examples they sent me, quite nice to see and gives me some projects to attempt when i get it up and running...

Well I’m not sure who you spoke to at the 600 group, but Mick Senior told me they don’t release drawings He didn’t seem very happy to hear from me, they must get thousands of spares requests though with such a back catalogue of machine tools...

If you ask for drawings of items they sell there gonna tell you to sling yourhook.

 

[R-D-R]

Interesting difference in experience there then. I literally made an equiry in parts through their online form and was contacted by a sales rep from there. Couldn’t have been happier to deal with a private customer and small order. The diagrams were for obsolete items only that they no longer stock or manufacture.

I have another list of bits building up so will be interesting to see how my next purchase goes. I’ll keep you posted.

 

[R-D-R]

Cleaned up the gearbox, it was low on oil and lots of slurry in the bottom, I soaked the whole thing in citrus greaser then washed it through, stripped some of it down and checked everything over replacing the seals on the bottom shafts as they didn't look the best. Things are spinning and shifting nice and free now

spent 20min hitting the tray and bed with the steam cleaner to get some of the solid oil and gun off and assess the paint. Its not too bad but not brilliant, the base is bad however the paint uncovered looks like its had stripper applied!

lots of areas are like this..

 

[Dieselman 63]

If you ask for drawings of items they sell there gonna tell you to sling yourhook.

Yeah but they don’t sell them that’s the thing, I was under the impression they released old drawings for machines they no longer stock parts for.

Oh and the hilarity continues. Colchester spares sell the cross slide on its own as a used spare for £30. When I make an enquiry for the dial which holds the top slide on, the cross slide and dial cannot be separated - price £300. I asked if there was a typo

Back on topic though...

That looks like rust pockmarking not stripper, I’ve been using it loads lately. Go on, repaint it, you know you want to!

 

[MattF]

Oh and the hilarity continues. Colchester spares sell the cross slide on its own as a used spare for £30. When I make an enquiry for the dial which holds the top slide on, the cross slide and dial cannot be separated - price £300. I asked if there was a typo

If they can't be separated, how can they be selling a slide alone?

 

[Shox Dr]

I’m sure the headstock sits on the bed, just like the bigger M300. So no worries with alinement issues refitting.