Yahoo groups is probbly your best bet

**LINK**

The F3 comes in not just early/late versions but has crossover versions too. But it is such a simple machine that if you have one ( or two) it should not be too difficult to work out what is happening once the manuals reveal the hidden details (such as the pre-load adjusts on the spindles). The problem is spares as Aceira shut down a very long time back. There are a few parts around in Switzerland but make sure you are sitting down before asking.

Would check that the oil levels are OK and that grease has not been used where it should not have been used if you plan a full strip down. Hope you get both machines back working as they are one of the finest mills ever made for precision work.

Good luck

Billy.

Anglo-Swiss Tools

Thought you were talking about the spindle drive! The Feed belt should be 13/8 X1475. The top pulley has an outside diameter about 150mm. The feed belt is tensioned after the main drive belt tension has been set with the adjustment behind the botom door.

The feed belt is tensioned by slackening the four mounting bolts on the feed gearbox ( on the outside of the machine, two bolts backside and two more on the side.) then moving the gearbox verticaly to tension the belt. You then tighten the mounting bolts which should have washers under the heads. It is helpful to be an octopus!

They advise not to change the gear selector when the table is being driven. The shaft with universals is called a cardan shaft in the manual. There is a shear pin at the table end of the shaft, 4mm x 28mm mild steel. The manuals don't have a full parts list even when you pay a lot of money for them!

Sounds like you have started collecting collets! The W20 has a very small gripping range unlike more modern types you have to use the correct size or it just won't grip. There are also a few W20 lookalikes that have a slightly different thread to the correct buttress types.

If your drilling head is the high speed milling head then you have one of the several sought after add-ons. It is powered from a seperate position on the speed selection switch via the two pin socket on the back. There are several different kinds of switch gear panels on the front which were fitted at different stages , these give a clue to when the machine was made apart from the serial number and importer's plate. The rounded or angular casting shape causes some to say "Late model" or "early model" but it is a little more complicated than that. But still a very nice machine.

regards,

Billy.

The feed top pulley should be held on by a small capscrew and washer in the centre of the pulley, there is a square key locking the pulley to the shaft- a very Aciera way of doing things. Guess that you can slip the belt off then unbolt the gearbox and then take out the whole assembly but never had to do it myself. Whole lot on page 6 of the Parts drawings.

Yes -you are lucky having the high speed vertical spindle with the sensitive feed, a very useful extra for fine milling and drilling. There are a few other special add-ons that are very sought after, these include a slotting head which replaces the standard vertical head . There are also alternate tables and a work-of-art dividing head and tailstock. If you win the lottery you might treat yourself to the cabinet that contains all of the add-ons but you need the engine crane to mount some of the bits on the machine!

The machine uses tapered gib strips, they are adjusted by a coaxial arrangement of an inner lock screw and an outer slotted worm, slacken the lock, turn the worm to tighten the gib then back off till the axix is free and re-lock. Makes multiple screws holding gibs look very crude.

Norman – nice explanation but is the width issue affecting the side bars resolved?

regards,

Billy.

Hi Yoram,

Check " my messages" in "My account", have sent you a message.

Billy.