South Bend Lathe Restoration , Part 11 (Gearbox)

[@yournamehere15]

I have been able to buy an identical lathe from a factory I work at. These videos are very inspirational. Thank you for making these videos available.

[@KevinToppenberg]

They are beasts, and with some love and care should serve you very well. I'm happy you have been able to get it!

[@russnixon6020]

The "castle gears" are called "dog clutches". The split gadget that engages the lead screw inside the apron to move the carriage is called the "nut". In a modern lathe, the shafts are running on pairs of taper roller bearings. One of the problems with the inexpensive (and cheap) chinese lathes is that the shafts run in permanently lubricated ball bearings. the ball bearings do not provide any thrust loading and are typically replaced with facing pairs of taper roller bearings. In a more modern or higher quality lathe, the roller bearings are in a sealed case with an oil bath and some type of pumping apparatus to distribute the oil. Your South Bend is going to weep oil if it is properly lubricated. That being said, you're doing a fine job of restoration.

[@KevinToppenberg]

Thanks so much for this information. Yes, it dribbles like crazy when oiled. Very messy, but it gets the job done. :-)

[@MyLilMule]

Lathe is looking great.

[@KevinToppenberg]

It is! But that just is going to upset me more when it dribbles oil all over itself! LOL.

[@MyLilMule]

@@KevinToppenberg That's the nature of these lathes. They are a total loss oil system. But that hard enamel paint job will make cleaning it up a breeze.

[@anissawood4882]

It’s looking so good I’d hate to use it and get it dirty! It’s like an art piece. The gearbox was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’m glad this is not my project because I would make a mess of it.

[@KevinToppenberg]

Yeah. I think I am going to try to get it perfect right up to the point that I start using it. Like a new car. But at some point you have to drive your car to the store in the rain and get it all dirty. LOL! Thanks for watching!

[@christinepryor5893]

Watching the gears move is just mesmerizing and so soothing. Boy oh boy changing them out does seem a little much! The labels look so pretty. I like how how heavy and sturdy older appliances, cars, etc., were but I suppose it really is impractical. (Although different companies ride the fine line between cheap and impractical!) I liked the math lesson. 😀 Good to use the old noggin’ and tools instead of a calculator sometimes.

[@KevinToppenberg]

LOL! Thanks! The gear calculator is a bit bulky though!

[@christinepryor5893]

@@KevinToppenberg Indeed! 😌

[@hogan6216]

I use a wooden dowel rod and glue with a CA glue a scotch bright strip to the dowel rod end.Now you can use a drill and spin it at a high speed and you will get a nice polish.I have made up different size rod's from 1/4 to 3/4....

[@KevinToppenberg]

I tried something similar, but I couldn't get by drill in there at the right angle. I probably needed a longer dowel. :-) Thanks for watching!

[@terrycannon570]

The extra weight of the cast-iron also absorbs vibration which is critical in precision machine tools. The heavier the better. Else they would use aluminum.

[@KevinToppenberg]

True. I wonder how it is done with modern machines. Maybe they still have massive columns inside the sheet metal boxes? Thanks for watching!

[@jeffanderson4979]

For the future, the felt kits and oil are available on ebay.

[@KevinToppenberg]

I saw those. It looked like they were for smaller lathes. Do you know if they all use the same size felts? I probably should have gone with them. Thanks for watching!

[@seldendaniel8819]

Felt strips are available from McMaster-Carr. I bought a kit on ebay for my 1944 Heavy Ten.

[@billshafley6048]

What felt did you use?