Colchester Student Mk1

[Peter ParkerParticipant @peterparker23659]

Hello everybody

I hope that there is someone who can help me. I have just installed my new very old Mk1Colchester Student. Unfortunately I have found that there is a problem with the screw cutting half nut. I can see that it moves downward when I engage screw cutting but does not engage with the leadscrew. I need to remove the Apron to identify what the cause is, I can see that the lead screw and power drive shafts need to be removed. The power drive shaft seems straight forward with a pin holding a dog collar but the driven end of the lead screw looks like it is also part of the Norton gearbox and appears to me a bit daunting. Has any one done this and are there any difficulties to watch out for? My Lathe has the open Apron with sliding power crossslide and traverse engagement. I only have the Mk1.5 manual to go by. I have failed to find a Mk1 manual sofar.

If the leadscrew half nut is stripped I will need to find a replacement, I know there are plenty of companies selling Colchester spares but they all want mega money for spares, does anyone know a good source that is economic.

The serial No of my Lathe is 30438 A, can anyone tell me how old it is ?

[Peter ParkerParticipant @peterparker23659]

Apron Screw Cutting Half Nut Not Working

[Peter ParkerParticipant @peterparker23659]

Hello everyone

Any advise on how to get the Apron of ?

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Peter,

Welcome to the forum…

Have you tried Tony at Lathes.co.uk for a manual?

He may also be able to date it for you….

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Peter

Its quite easy I have done it a few times the drive shaft as you say has a dog collar clutch sometimes with spring balls that you can lose easily..

The lead screw you remove the top off the gearbox and then there's a collar with 4 slots in it also with a grub screw to stop it undoing. You need to undo the grub and then unscrew the collar at the same time drawing the lead screw to the right hand side…make a note of which gear mates with which other gear on the gearbox row of gears..carry on removing the collar and moving the screw rightways when the collar is loose the screw will pull out be careful not to drop and spacers and the gears.

Oh and i seem to remember there's a circlip in there too

Oh and before you start loosen the collar at the far right hand side of the lead screw at the end of the bed

Its a bit fiddly getting it all back together but its just a reverse of disembly. I have a spare half nut if you need one

I have no idea on age but pre 65 if its a mk1

Edited By Ian Parkin on 17/10/2016 14:14:22

[Peter ParkerParticipant @peterparker23659]

Thankyou very much for your response to my posting Ian. There are two locking collars on the leadscrew at the external right hand side of the Norton gearbox that need C spanner to undoe them. Do I need to undo them ?

For the time being the panic is over. I did a bit of investigation by removing the leadscrew indicator and cleaned out some muck and saw that the half nut moves up and down. So I thought that the mechanism that operates the half not works and if the half nut was stripped I would feel it bumping along the leadscrew when the carriage is traversed. I then noticed that there were allen screw stops for the half nut engagement lever. I cannot recall there being stops on any Lathe that I have operated in the past. Well, I removed the lower one and the half nut now engages.

Your advice wil not be wasted as I do intend to strip the Lathe down and re-paint it as it is a horrible hammerite green at the moment.

Kind regards Peter

[Peter ParkerParticipant @peterparker23659]

Thanks for you reply John. I will contact Tony. I am aware of lathes.co.uk. I have found this site very interesting and infomative.

Regards Peter

[Jonathan GarsideParticipant @jonathangarside40968]

Peter

According to the records I have s/n 30438 was manufactured in 1958

Jonathan

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Peter

The 2 collars are holding the bearing in and don't need to be removed they set the end float

Can you post a picture of your lathe?

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

MKl Student manual here.

**LINK**

[Peter ParkerParticipant @peterparker23659]

Ian

Thanks for your reply. Do you want a photo of the whole Lathe or just the Apron, Norton Gearbox and Leadscrew?

John Garside

Thanks for the link to the manual, I have it already but it does not cover my Apron or my Main Gearbox because version my lathe is the 1000rpm and sliding power crossslide and traverse engagement handle. There is a picture in shadow of my Apron on page 26 where the subject is the suds pump but thats all.

John Rudd

Thanks for the info, I have found a chart of serial Nos to manufacure dates on lathes.co.uk indicating that is is 57 / 58. This means that it is nearly as old as me, what a thought and we are both still going strong.

Regards Peter

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

just wondered if it may be an old one of mine

Just the whole lathe

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