South Bend Needle Bearing Mod

A breif description of replacing the fibre washer behind the take up nut with a needle bearing.

[@liplessyeti444]

Thank you for sharing this info. I'm restoring a model A and your video has saved me time figuring what parts I needed to eliminate spindle end-play. Great job!

[@KnolltopFarms]

Thanks Greg, I was having severe run out last night prior to attempting to turn down a shoulder on a chuck backing plate and I thought that I was going to have to shim the bearings but when I tested it the play was right in the 0.001 ball park on both ends and then I just pushed on the spindle gear and it moved a whole bunch in the axial direction. Turns out that the fiber washer is blown out(go figure, it's a 1919, LOL!), so I'm now going to find the right sized hardened washers and needle bearing to install to get her running true again. I knew I'd seen this video, but it took me a while to find it since it's your 1st one! I really appreciate it man...Aloha, Chuck.

[@mibooth1852]

Thanks for answering so quickly, that's good news. I've watched all of your videos and find them to be very informative and easy to understand, I think some of the other you tube video makers forget a big percentage of viewer are new to lathes and mills but are eager to learn, tearing down and rebuilding a vintage machine helps in the learning process. Keep the vids comin !

[@EarlRausch]

Great stuff. SB owners are some of the best people you will ever meet. And I have never met an owner who is not proud of his or hers South Bend Lathe. Please keep the videos coming.

[@BruceBoschek]

Very informative and entertaining. Be kind to yourself about your video skills. You do a very good job while showing and telling. I may never again own a South Bend lathe, but if I do I will know what to look for and if necessary take care of. Thanks again for your efforts.

[@mattruth7109]

After seeing this I gave it a shot and it worked like a charm. That spindle runs so smooth now. I ordered the bearing parts from McMaster-Carr. 5909K39 and (2x) 5909K53.

[@EarlRausch]

Great tip Bruce. I also have a 9A and will now know the remedy in advance. Thanks Earl

[@fritznordi5303]

Thank you for the part numbers , I have a Model A that I restored and painted and wanted to do this mod to

[@Colt3854]

Very clear and informative. Well done,hope to see more in the future. Frank

[@bslturtle]

As of this week, the needle bearing number is wrong. That will give you an 8mm needle bearing. You need the 5909K39 bearing and the 5909K53 washers. Great video, thanks for posting

[@AmmoMfgProducts]

Just wanted to let you know, your mcmaster-carr part nos were wrong... Bearing 5909K39 - flat washers 5909k53 (you had this one right, you just forgot the last digit on the bearing)

[@chronokoks]

Thank you for this vid - it was a great inspiration for a modification on my 1949 wooden lathe (which comes with bronze bearings).

[@1889michaelcraig]

Man that's a nice looking Lathe.

[@rlewis1946]

Beautiful restoration and improvement! I wonder if "needle bearings" were available back in the day when this machine was manufactured? Really enjoy your videos! Thanks for posting. Roy

[@johnwayne2103]

I don't think needles bearings came out until the late 60's. I could be wrong because I never saw them until the late 60's.

[@Marc757]

Part # is 5909K39 for bearing, washer is still correct.

[@TX200AA]

I have a 9 inch Model A which I think dates from WW2. On examining the rear bearing, instead of a fibre washer there is a hardened steel washer which is pinned to the take-up nut so that it rotates against the headstock. It seems to work OK. Is it a factory fitment?

[@keyko555]

Thanks for this video, would like to see a lot more on the "9". Maybe one a gear change would be nice esp. for a newbe 9 owner like me.

[@grahamsharpe1367]

Good job! I hope my 9a looks as good when I get it finished. when you were doe your resto did you have a sagging gear cover door. Mine has definitely got a worn acentric bolt and I don't want to damage it trying to replace. Any advice is welcome, thanks.

[@sylaswojciechowski6895]

The right part number for the needle bearing is 5909k39 (Someone else said this below, just wanted to say it again.)

[@salvadormendez9867]

I need that bearing and washers which is the N/P please

[@bart7654]

Since a few wks a proud owner of a Southbend. Regarding this upgrade I do have a question: where to put the felt washers? I my lathe I only had one felt washer and this was between the needle baering and the holder. Should I keep it at the same place? And should there be one on the other side on the ball bearing? Thanks, Bart

[@stanwooddave9758]

Parts can be found at www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/122/1201/=15sg89c. The part number for the Needle Bearing is 5909K39, as of today Jan/6/2017. Thanks for this information Greg. I maybe late to this video, today is 1/6/2017, but very useful information none the less. Thanks Greg.

[@mibooth1852]

Hi Greg, great video and right on time for me as I am in the process of a restore of my 9a, when I took the head stock apart I noticed a groove worn into the surface where the fiber washer is. Can I still go ahead and use the needle bearing replacement or do I need to find a replacement head stock ?

[@Halligan142]

M&Ibooth You'll be fine with getting the bearing and washers. No need for a new headstock.

[@tonyhills8029]

Hi Greg. Very good video and as an owner of a SB 9A now wish to do this modification. I live in UK and emailed McMaster-Carr requesting shipping charge to UK, only to receive this surprising answer: "Due to the complexity of U.S. export regulations, McMaster-Carr accepts international orders only from our established customers. This decision also applies to orders shipping within the United States, because it is based on the final destination of the items. We will not provide a quotation or accept your orders." Never had that before! Do you know of any other source for these parts? I have no idea where to get them here in the UK. Thanks.

[@Halligan142]

Any industrial supply store dealing in bearings should have them. Not sure who is popular in the U.K. They are also available from MSC here in the States.

[@ikesquirrel]

How about the friction surface on the other side? Is there a bearing there too or do you need to add another one?

[@Halligan142]

There is a ball thrust bearing on the inboard side of the left spindle bearing.

[@gadget73]

So any troubles with this some 3 1/2 years later? I believe I located the right needle bearing assembly to do this to a Heavy 10. Annoyingly the 10L you have to press the rear gear off in order to change the thrust bearing, so I need to decide on whether or not to use it before I assemble the spindle. The steel washer it had was pretty chewed, so I'm really looking at using the needle bearing to eliminate that problem.

[@Halligan142]

Still going strong

[@Jmastffp]

Do you know what sizes you’d need for a heavy 10 spindle??

[@jacomar1496]

ya lo compre para mi torno gracias

[@johnunderwood3132]

What is the tumbler reverse lever for. And should it be up or down?

[@Halligan142]

Changes direction of carriage feed. Your carriage should feed toward the headstock.