Thanks Dave. It's more reassuring really that it should come off in that direction.

I had slackened off the rear nut, pushed the spindle forwards to create clearance between the sleeve and the rear bearing and expected to be able to push the sleeve back along the spindle. It's stuck and wont move at all with finger pressure so I wondered if something else had to be done. Sounds like it just needs a bit of forces to free it.

It's a pity no one seems to have the "words".

The ebay pultra I mentioned never reached the end of the auction. Bid's cancelled and marked no longer available. I suppose the seller had an offer that they thought they couldn't refuse. Pity really I was very curious to see how much some one would bid on it. I contacted the seller as the listing showed the same headstock drawing but it seems they didn't have the words either.

Next problem for me is just where do I find some oil wicks. Looks like they need to be around 0.1" dia. Perhaps a bit bigger to ensure they stay in.

John

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Looking around on the web some people use petrol lighter wicks on Lister engines. 2 off them together might work out on a Pultra. It seems that they are 2mm dia. There was also a suggestion that the flow can be regulated by binding them more tightly, fine copper wire maybe.

My 17/50 has seen a lot if use in anger. An owner made new bearings for it in 1995 and reckoned they lasted around 15 years. The lathe was new in 1947 and the next and last owner used it daily for a long time. The bearing seem to be still fine. From the way the oil reservoirs empty I can see that there is a wick fitted to the front bearing but not the rear. I assume that's been done to prevent oil from causing too much belt slip. I need to make a new pulley for the headstock so will see if I can build in some sort of oil slinger but there isn't much space. On the other hand I suspect that the person who made the bearings knew what he was doing so none in the back might be common.

John

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