My Hercus 9 Restoration.

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My Hercus 9 Restoration.

This topic has 53 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 8 April 2020 at 10:29 by Mark Eisen.

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18 January 2019 at 06:44 #19213
Mark Eisen
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@markeisen61287
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18 January 2019 at 06:44 #391657
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
My Hercus 9 Restoration has started, I am hoping any Hercus or Southbend owners will be able to help me.

Finally got a nice cool day for a change, only 41°C.

So I thought I would start cleaning up my Hercus 9 and try and keep the missus happy.

I saw this lathe advertise in Alice Springs in a recycling yard ( Alice is the closest town 500 Km away) in March last year, I only wanted the stand for my Hercus 260, but when I picked it up I found out it was an Hercus ARL.

When I bought her home, I had to dismantle her to get her off the trailer and stacked the parts on an obsolete hospital bed, 6 month later I transferred to a different department at work so bought home my bench that I originally took there because it was too big for my shed.

For some reason the missus is keeps whinging about 2 lathes, a hospital bed and a bench on the back veranda, strange woman.
18 January 2019 at 06:45 #391659
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Inside the cabinet amongst the swarf, rust, cobwebs and dirt., I found these goodies.
As well as the spare parts manual with the inspection certificate inside it.
18 January 2019 at 06:52 #391660
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Just a couple of photo showing the crap in her.

Bit of a difference.
18 January 2019 at 07:31 #391663
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
That hospital bed is a touch of genius Mark

I hope the patient makes a full recovery.

MichaelG.
18 January 2019 at 07:55 #391664
Paul Lousick
Participant
@paullousick59116
2 lathes, a hospital bed and a bench on the back veranda, Can't see what the problem is !

I live in Sydney and have been sharing the high temperatures, just not as extreme as yours and have a 9" Southbend (earlier model without gearbox). Good luck with the restoration.

Paul.
18 January 2019 at 08:12 #391667
John McNamara
Participant
@johnmcnamara74883
Hi Mark

Greetings from Melbourne OZ

A Hercus Model A was the lathe I had on the top of my wish list when I was a young man. I still have the brochure! Never did get one due to lack of funds good luck to you with your find, Hercus machines were very well built in South Australia. you will find a real gem under all that dust.

Regards
John
18 January 2019 at 08:37 #391668
Simon Collier
Participant
@simoncollier74340
G'day Mark,

I have a Hercus ARL. Happily, it is in excellent condition. There are some photos in my albums of dismantling the spindle to change the belt, and a T- slotted cross slide I fitted which was machined from a casting bought from the USA. It is a lovely little lathe.
18 January 2019 at 09:41 #391676
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 18/01/2019 07:31:46:

That hospital bed is a touch of genius Mark

I hope the patient makes a full recovery.

MichaelG.

I had to take about 20 of them to the dump, I asked every one I could think of if they wanted one, now takers.

All the electric work perfectly.
18 January 2019 at 09:50 #391677
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Posted by John McNamara on 18/01/2019 08:12:49:

Hi Mark

Greetings from Melbourne OZ

A Hercus Model A was the lathe I had on the top of my wish list when I was a young man. I still have the brochure! Never did get one due to lack of funds good luck to you with your find, Hercus machines were very well built in South Australia. you will find a real gem under all that dust.

Regards
John

I used to live about 45 min from where they were built, though in those days I wasnt interested in wood and metal work.

Would you be able to scan the brochure for me?

I have a copy of the Hercus 260 if any one wants a copy.
18 January 2019 at 09:57 #391678
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Posted by Paul Lousick on 18/01/2019 07:55:12:

2 lathes, a hospital bed and a bench on the back veranda, Can't see what the problem is !

I live in Sydney and have been sharing the high temperatures, just not as extreme as yours and have a 9" Southbend (earlier model without gearbox). Good luck with the restoration.

Paul.

This warm enough for you?
18 January 2019 at 10:06 #391680
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Posted by Simon Collier on 18/01/2019 08:37:24:

G'day Mark,

I have a Hercus ARL. Happily, it is in excellent condition. There are some photos in my albums of dismantling the spindle to change the belt, and a T- slotted cross slide I fitted which was machined from a casting bought from the USA. It is a lovely little lathe.

That is a very nice lathe, your lucky to get one in that condition.

When I get to my head stock I will have some questions for you.

I like your T slotted cross slide very much.
18 January 2019 at 10:29 #391685
Robin King
Participant
@robinking15611
Mark

Just a suggestion, but you might already know this – if not have a look at Tony Griffith's site – 'www.lathes.co.uk' and his section on the Hercus lathes. Some way down there's a photo of the front of the apron and immediately under it a link to 'article about rebuilding Hercus apron ……..' . It details a complete rebuild, including the pitfalls, so well worth a read. It helped me a lot with my Boxford rebuild (another Southbend clone).

Best of luck with it
18 January 2019 at 12:14 #391699
BW
Participant
@bw
Hello Mark,

There is a Hercus forum here that might be worth looking at and searching previous posts

http://metalworkforums.com/f189

You might even find some neighbours with similar lathes.

Bill
18 January 2019 at 20:59 #391800
Ian McVickers
Participant
@ianmcvickers56553
49 degrees. Now that's toastie hot. It's currently 1 and trying to snow here in Central Scotland. I would like to be warm for a while but that's just too much.
18 January 2019 at 22:24 #391809
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Re apron rebuilding. If the clutch is the same as the Boxford then the screw in the middle of the star wheel is RH thread.
19 January 2019 at 09:27 #391839
Robin King
Participant
@robinking15611
Er, no it isn't – it's a LH thread – unscrew clockwise.
19 January 2019 at 09:36 #391844
Robin King
Participant
@robinking15611
BTW – Some years ago I bought a copy of a very useful fully illustrated manual – 'A Guide to Renovating the South Bend 9" Model A, B & C Plus Model 10K' lathes published by ILION Industrial Services LLC in the USA. It details the overhaul/adjustment of these machines and might help you a lot with the Hercus.

IIRC I ordered it direct from the publisher so a web search should find them.
19 January 2019 at 09:39 #391845
Robin King
Participant
@robinking15611
Quick check shows Amazon list it.
19 January 2019 at 11:51 #391869
Dalboy
Participant
@dalboy
Did you manage to separate the tailstock yet Mark
20 January 2019 at 07:29 #391964
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Thanks for your replies everyone

Great link Robin, very interesting,

I have ordered that Guide to Renovating the South Bend, just got to be patient for our slow mail.

Derek I finally had succuss , the S/Bend tailstock has square recess and the Hercus is dovetailed, I finally got the base off, now just got to get the cap of the end.

The bed is cleaned up, All the Hercus I have seen all have been paint red inside the bed except mine.

Hang on whats this.
25 January 2019 at 08:38 #392866
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
How can I get this pin out without wrecking the key?

I have tried gently tapping it etc with an success.

According to the Southbend Army manual, there is a worm, key, pin and collar.
25 January 2019 at 10:14 #392885
Robin King
Participant
@robinking15611
That pin passes through the locking collar into the key to hold it in place lengthways in the keyway. If you give the projecting end of the key a light tap inwards towards the centre of the bore it'll separate from the pin.

To remove the pin – put the key back in the keyway with the blank section pressing against the inner end of the pin. Put something like a piece of steel tube or a socket over the outer end of the pin, then fit a C clamp over the key and tube, tighten it, and it should push the pin outwards. Don't be tempted to use a hammer/punch from the opposite side as it can damage the collar.

When that's out you can unscrew the locking collar and remove the worm gear. On my Boxford it was a tight fit doing this as the plain end section of the worm went tight up to the clutch gear but it's just do-able.

Edited By Robin King on 25/01/2019 10:16:07
26 January 2019 at 06:01 #393050
Mark Eisen
Participant
@markeisen61287
Thanks Robin, got it apart no problems.

Is your Boxford Whitworth thread?
26 January 2019 at 10:58 #393077
Robin King
Participant
@robinking15611
It's 1951 vintage, model A with rear motor mount, all imperial threaded fixings.
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