Harrison M300 lathe - treading water & lead screw problem

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Inspired solution to reverse counter bore. I’m well impressed 👏👏👍😀

[@laurentianvmx1692]

Our VS330TR is doing exactly the same thing ! Thanks for the video will post up how it went later upon completion. I'm suspecting it comes from worn bed saddle sitting lower.

[@patrickvanwhatsit5476]

I have been re-reading these posts: Regarding the lead screw problem, what did you finally decide to do?

[@samuelfielder]

Nothing so far! I fear any bed regrinding would be too costly in the sense it might be better value to get a new lathe, or find an M300 in better condition. I migtht be able to grind down the underside of the saddle myself on the milling machine, and then put turcite on it and scrape in, thus raising the saddle. If really necessary.

[@daveharriman2756]

Following with interest, yes I agree, the fouling of the leadscrew in the apron casting, definately due to the wear on the bed and saddle, decisions need to be made I guess. You could, like you say, solve it temporarily by relieving the casting, and even if you get the slides machined in the future, it wouldn't hurt have a bit more clearance, but a bodge I know! I like the reverse spot face, brilliant!, keep at it Samuel, cheers Dave

[@timothysfather5496]

Hi Samuel, your pain is our gain. Where did you get the emergency stop switch ?

[@samuelfielder]

Kempston Controls, Rushden. The original one was made by Klockner-Moeller. The new one is made by Moeller (possibly named Eaton) and is type M22-PV. Be very careful ordering the switchgear that goes on the back of it (I think mine is M22-K01).

[@adrianbritton428]

Looking forward to seeing the lathe functional. I hope all is going well with the installation of the three phase consumer unit? I wonder if a Sirius Professional 5kva 110v Site Power Supply Kit would help you to test the lathe whilst you wait for your installation? I look forward to seeing your update soon, I’ve been missing watching the progress of the Harrison M300. 👍

[@samuelfielder]

Glad you're still interested! I'm nearly there on 3 phase, just waiting for my own electrician to bridge a 3 foot gap in the wiring! I could easily do this myself but prefer to leave it to the professionals who will have to sign off the whole works anyway. That Sirius, I think, is just a single phase 240 to 110v transformer, so wouldn't help. I do have a friend who has some kind of 1 to 3 phase converter and might borrow it if it goes on much longer.

[@adrianbritton428]

@@samuelfielder I agree about letting the professionals do the job, having them sign off the work, pleases the insurance goblin’s 😄 I look forward to the “grand start up video”, your post are always interesting and easy to watch and listen too. I will keep my fingers crossed 🤞 for you that you’ll be up and running soon. 👍

[@passenger6735]

Regarding the leaky apron. There is a company called Reliant Rubber that can manufacture a rubber (or cork) seal for your apron (to your specifications). He remanufactured rubber treads for some tank wheels that I picked up for a friend of mine. They were very helpful and even took the time to show me around. If you don't fancy going down that route how about sticking some sandpaper to a flat plate and grinding the apron bottom by hand. I have used this method on several and far more demanding situations with great success.

[@samuelfielder]

Thanks, I'll beare that in mind for future use. I later discovered it isn't leaking from the bottom plate, but rather from the two shaft seals around the tube through which the drive shaft runs. Need to replace those seals in due course.

[@darrylshelford2674]

Just a thought, if you get the ways and the saddle ground won't that make the problem even worse, not to mention the feed shaft misalignment as well. The problem is where do you stop, not knowing what the lathe cost and the amount already spent on it, sometimes new is a cheaper option. I know when I got my lathe, new was just to much and second hand was my only option, problem is most lathes of the small to medium size are used by novice users and although their intentions are good, maintenance and cleaning after a while become a bit slack. Rust, chips and dirt really wear out ways etc if left unattended. Also we have to remember that things do wear out eventually no matter how well they are looked after. Mind you some new lathes are just junk. Keep up the good work Samuel.

[@samuelfielder]

Being comfortably retired, I could have bought a new lathe. I did look at the Gate Machinery G330, which comes in at about £15,000, but I decided that the use I would make of it could not really justify the outlay, and not sure of its quality (I haven't seen it in the flesh). You are right that some old lathes are just beyond redemption and, now that I have learnt a lot about my M300, I'm thinking I should have been more patient and more picky before buying mine. But the learning experience has been useful anyway, for someone who has never used a lathe other than my Chinese SC2 mini-lathe. If the saddle is ground, you block it back up to the original height using Turcite (which is actually used on the ways of some modern machines from new). If the bed ways are ground one would also grind under the headstock, so it all goes down by same amount. Only limit on this is to avoid the headstock casting hitting the top of the feed gearbox. One then has to grind the tailstock down to restore vertical alignment with spindle axis.

[@darrylshelford2674]

@@samuelfielder Seems like you have done your homework, in the land down under (Australia), very hard to find someone to do this kind of work (grinding ways etc)and the cost. Probably doesn't help I'm in a rural town, maybe the major cities you would have more luck but can't even get any parts or very, very limited stock, and the cost is out of this world. It's good to watch you go through the fun and frustrating times, I thought those sort of things only happened to me.

[@peterbailey775]

How is progress with the lathe. I have the same machine albeit a long bed and it serving me well.

[@samuelfielder]

Nothing happening now as busy with other things. I will take some cuts as soon as 3-phase electricity arrives. Nearly there on that.