Does it have to be cast.

Steve.

If you have the flat pulleys, the best belt I have found is a modern Poly-V "serpentine" belt run straight on the flat pulleys. LK7 series from memory. The V-groove side of the belt grips the pulleys better than any of the old leather or leather substitute flat belts I've tried over the years. Only rub is, you have to remove the headstock spindle to change the belt. But once installed, it should last a lifetime.

Edited By Hopper on 02/05/2020 11:10:46

Yes you're right Chris it's not original, I didn't read the listing.

Improvements, well the vee drive definitely, the stand and self contained countershaft, the bench countershaft.

They also prototyped a new apron which incorporated an extra gear to reverse the rotation of the saddle handwheel. I suspect that is all it was though, I have seen no evidence that it ever went into production. However I would love to be proved wrong on that point.

On the downside Myford did stop using the horn handles replacing them with their standard pattern steel ones, they cheapened the half nut arm with a more lightweight casting pattern and what I appeared to me was an inferior grade of cast bronze. They were no where near as durable as the drummond arm which was originally made from cast iron and later models from bronze. The drummond arms were much heavier and thus more substantial the later Myford ones were much more prone to wear and subsequent fracture damage.

geoff

Tumbler reverse was optional, castings sometimes available to make your own. Geoff knows more about that.

Thread chaser dial on mine is a homeshop-made job. Not sure if Drummond ever made one themselves? I've never seen one in any of the old pics. A Myford ML7 indicator uses the same gear to engage the leadscrew so could be adapted possibly.

One handy thing is you can use the leadscrew dog clutch for screwcutting threads that are a multiple of 8. IE, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40tpi etc. No need for a chaser dial. The dog clutch always engages in the right position for these threads. It's a super-handy feature that is sadly lacking on Myford's later lathes. I miss it every time I use my ML7.

Edited By Hopper on 02/05/2020 11:40:55

Chris, under the member's avatar – forum posts link – click on this and it shows all their posts.
DaveD