Denford Software & Machines

Hello

I stripped, cleaned and reassembled the apron. Despite the gunk, mechanically the apron and saddle is in good shape. No obvious signs of wear and tear.

The interlock pin prevents the lead screw and feedshaft being engaged at the same time. The lead screw adjustment pin needs to be set in the correct position. The optional dial indicator is also mounted on the adjustment pin. When in the right position, the interlock pin can be fully retracted (moved to the left as shown in the photo) to allow the feedshaft handle to rotate and engage the feedshaft. It's important to know this when reassembling.

Now that it's all bright and clean, it should be OK for another 30 years.

Hi

Just an extra shot of the apron. A apron is upside down and complete. This is what it looked like before stripping and cleaning.

Hi,
Can anyone tell me if the apron on this lathe is supposed to be filled with oil? I had always assumed it had an oil bath in order to provide permanent lubrication for the internal components, however during a recent strip down, clean and rebuild of mine, it appeared to me that owing to the position of the oil cup, and the large opening in the back of the casting, the maximum oil level that could be achieved would not be high enough to reach any of the components. Not even the feed shaft worm drive seems to dip into the oil!
I am at a loss as to how this could provide effective lubrication.
The only other conclusion I can draw is that rather than being an oil "bath" it is actually a "sump" intended to collect the oil as it drips down from the various lubrication points higher up, and the oil cup on the side just provides a convenient way of checking when the sump reached maximum capacity and needs to be drained.
Does anyone know any different?

Thanks
Alex

Hi
The apron is definitely made to hold oil. The gears dip into the oil and carry it up into the apron.
There is a pin that indicates the correct level but the oil cup is set at a height that provides oil level. Just put oil into the cup until it nearly overflows.

The oiling points (including down the centre of the shafts) need regular oiling as well.

Dazz