Boxford apron

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

Hello all. Me again,

Can anyone one help with this one. The worm drive on my boxford has over 1mm of left and right play. To me with looks worn. Should it have this play or is it that worn? There are no shims in there so I am at a loss. Also the cross slide control wheel has a lot of play it it. It looks like it has been shimmed in the past. Is this normal for boxford or have I got one that seems to have been turning the earth for the last 60 years? I have added some pictures below as I am not sure how to add them to this thread. Sorry for the lack of technical terms, I am still learning (not very well it would seem). Thank you in advance. Martin

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Do you mean the cross slide handwheel or the saddle traverse wheel? If the latter why would it matter? If the worm has some play again why would it matter?

Is the cross slide handwheel play such that when you grab the handle without turning it you can move it back and forth? That can be adjusted by setting the nut on the end of the handle though a bit of a hassle sometimes on ones that have been messed around. If that is set ok but you are talking about the amount the handle turns before the cross slide moves then that is backlash due to wear in the screw and nut. You can live with it or get/make new ones.

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

Let's see if I can explain this a little better. The first 2 pictures show the worm drive on the back of the apron. This has just over one mm of play, forwards and backwards. It looks like it is well worn. Is the play normal for these lathes or is it well Worn?

On the 3rd picture, it is the large cross slide wheel, this has side to side play and it looks like the hole has been shimmed in the past. Is this again a normal setup for boxford?

It does not matter in a sense of using the lathe, I can deal with the backlash issues. I am only asking for 2 reasons, I like things to be correct as I have a slight OCD when it come to tools and machines and my 2nd reason is that It has taken me nearly 15 years to be able to aquire a lathe due to funds. The one I have is a smoke damaged one and not knowing them well leaves me at a disadvantage when it come to repairing what may not be broken.

Hope this helps, I don't seem to have the nack of explaining things it would seem. Lol

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Is this a modelA?

A  1942 southbend 9A, im still doing up had more wear than yours on the hand wheel ,it was bushed on the apron hole and on the pinion shaft. The bronze bushing sleeve on the pinion shaft had worn conical and had a hell of a lot of sideways play.

I ended up making a new pinion gear/shaft with a slightly thicker shaft.

The worm is similar to the southbend as far as i know and my other southbend which is from the 1960`s and in great condition ,still had the little play you refer to. On the southbend the locking ring is held in place by a small pin that goes through the ring and worm body into the key inside the worm . Your worm thread look a bit worn but not excessively.

Edited By mark smith 20 on 01/06/2017 10:25:38

If you get stuck on anything i have done almost 2 southbend 9A`s .I still have to make threaded bushings to repair the totally worn half nuts and a few other things.

Edited By mark smith 20 on 01/06/2017 10:31:51

Edited By mark smith 20 on 01/06/2017 10:34:46

[Martin FaulknerParticipant @martinfaulkner67684]

Hello Mark,

It is a BUD, the model A is out of my price range. It is a little worn but the play on the pinion is quite a bit and has quite a bit of backlash. It looks like it has had a piece of shim steel thrown in at some point as the oil hole has been blocked off and is not round. I know the pinion gear is worn as it does catch while turning against the gear. I assume that you have or have access to a milling machine? Is that how you opened the hole up on the Apron? I have seen a pinion on ebay for around £15 but not sure on the condition without better pictures.

Thank you for the offer of help, you may regret saying that, if you do just tell me to go away. If it makes it easier for you, drop me an email lexleigh@outlook.com.

[Author]

Posts