It mirrors the lever on the Hardinge HLV-H so I tend to agree with Keith.

I made one of those. My topslide backlash is no more than expected from the leadscrew and nut and not problematic.

As has been said it's George Thomas' screw cutting retractable topslide and normal operation is with the slide fully forwards. My main reason for the mod is it gives me a larger free movement micrometer dial which is lockable and the handle is shifted away from the tailstock giving more clearance. You will also not the little lever on the gib strip which locks the topslide.

To be pedantic, any play in the gearing merely shows on the micrometer but does not move the leadscrew so cannot be regarded as backlash in the usual sense of the term. Micrometer or gearing backlash is adjustable, as one of the gears is on an eccentric spindle. I suggest getting in touch with Kirk at Hemmingway Kits for a set of drawings and full description of operation. Alternatively it's in Georges book The Model Engineer Workshop Manual along with lots of other usefull items.

That's food for thought, a very useful insight.

TVM.

Andy

Quick retract for screwcutting and general use is more useful on the cross-slide and fitted as standard to some lathes like the Holbrook.

This is a good example except today their server is down so hopefully will be available again soon. Don't be put off by the type of lathe, as well as directly compatible with many of the larger import lathes the key thing is the principle which can be adapted for other machines.

GHT's rotation is normal too, but nice mod KWIL.

regards Martin

It is clear from GHT's description that turning the LH leadscrew and nut was challenging; I think the Hemingway kit included these items.

The timing belt seems ideal – thanks for the photo – but was presumably not available in his day.

I like the idea of the timing belt as it uses the standard leadscrew. Bought a Hemmingway kit years ago, but never built it due to other life issues and I had converted the lathe to metric, which meant making a 2mm pitch LH screw. This method removes that issue. Have both imperial and metric screws, the lathe is currrently set to imperial.

What size timing belt and pulleys did you use?

Thanks

Peter