DSG 13/30 drive motor.

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

Hello all, I have a question to ask about the main drive motor on a recently aquired DSG 13/30 lathe. Allthough in lovely condition, she is over 50 years old along with the original electrical control system.The motor is a 5hp, which was newly fitted before I bought the lathe and all works as it should. My concern is that if anything went wrong on the control side, repairs would be difficult tosay the least. I could bypass all this lot with a VFD for the 5hp motor, but have been warned of the very high cost. Because the lathe will only get light usage in a home shop environment, my question is, would I get away with a smaller 3 hp motor, for which a VFD would be relatively cheap ?The present motor is 3 phase , dual voltage, which I run off a RPC. Has anyone done a similar job on say a Colchester for instance. Many thanks..

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

For home use 2 to 3hp should be quite OK, it starts to get expensive on tooling if you are using 5hp to its full potential, in your own workshop you have a bit of time, and you don't want to annoy the neighbours with too much noise. Might be 50yrs+, but so are a lot of lesser machines. One of our local engineers, after he set up his own business, bought the DSG lathe he learned on as an apprenice in the early 1950s, Its a wee bit bigger than yours, about 8ft overall, and runs 10hp, the only thing is, they tried Tungsen tooling, and found it a no go, the machine is no where near fast enough, or ridgid enough, that machine is over 70yrs old. Ian S C

[Anonymous]

There should be no problem in changing the motor, although if it is working I'd be inclined to leave it alone and worry about it when, or of, there's a problem. The only problems I've had with the electrics on my machines are sticky contactors and the odd blown fuse, due to old age.

I'm envious that you have a DSG in good condition; it would be tantamount to treason not to use it to its full potential by hobbling it with a smaller motor. I have a 3hp motor on my lathe, and I wish it was bigger.

Regards,

Andrew

[Jim NolanParticipant @jimnolan76764]

I am with Andrew on this why bother you have a new motor so the expensive bits changed. I would worry about the what ifs when they happen and only then.

All I would do is make sure it’s well greased your oil pumps are working and there is plenty of lubrication flying around the head stock and gear box. Then sit back and watch the chips fly.

Jim

[Geoffrey SwalesParticipant @geoffreyswales34461]

I'm with everyone else, don't change the motor – there's a lot of mass in a Dean Smith's headstock and it needs all the h.p. you can give it, even for light to medium work. Regarding the electrical control panel it shouldn't give you any trouble on machine of that age in fact on a machine of any age. In all the time I worked in Dean Smith's Service & Spares dept, I don't recall having problems with electrics on either Type 13 or 13/1. I do recall about eight years ago removing all the electrics from a 1952 built Type 13 that had been in 2 1/2' to 3' of water for a short while and after washing/removing all detritus from the panel/ motor, cooking in a industrial oven at 110 degrees for 72 hours, sticking it all back together, it worked faultlessly and still does. Quite robust these machines designed to run forever.

If you do encounter problems with your machine you can always give Dean's a call on 01535 605261 – always found them very helpful.

Regards,

Geoff.

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

Hello , most grateful for the advice from everyone.Funnily enough, I did have one of the phase fuses in the on/off isolator switch go just after I bought it, but as I said, its been ok since. I did a quick check behind the control panel, as you do, and after looking in there,thought I would be in the s–t if anything burnt out. Anyway, I wont fix it till its broke !!!. If anyone is interested, theres a couple of pics by my `name`. Oh, Ive just cleaned it because its not always this tidy !!. Many thanks, Roger.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Roger Williams 2 on 02/02/2013 17:43:42:

If anyone is interested, theres a couple of pics …

That looks a lovely beast, Roger !

MichaelG.

[Anonymous]

Posted by Roger Williams 2 on 02/02/2013 17:43:42:

If anyone is interested, theres a couple of pics by my `name`.

Hmmmm, the chicken liver I had for supper this evening must have been off, I seem to have gone a funny green colour……….

Regards,

Andrew

[Raymond AndersonParticipant @raymondanderson34407]

Roger,

I also have a DSG [17t ] I got the electronics guys at the brothers work to design and build the electronics to enable me to run it, It works superbly but was very expensive. I would be inclined to leave your machine as it is, DSG still have a repair and parts dept for their lathes going back many years. incidentally the 17 t has 3.75/ 7.50 hp. Just be happy that you have a superb lathe that will still be going strong many years from now.

Best wishes,

Raymond.

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

Hello again, thank you for the kind comments. Raymond, do have any pics of your DSG and experiences with it ?.Have you the power drilling attachment with your lathe and if so, would you consider it a worthwhile accessory to buy.(mainly because I know of one for sale!!!) ?. I bought a fixed steady, but have yet to use it. I think that must have been a bargain at £ 50. Im not a machinist by any means, but for some unknown reason, have the love lathe disease, which I believe is a common affliction!.That and motorcycles, milling machines, shapers, lumps of metal, women ………..Regards, Roger.

[Raymond AndersonParticipant @raymondanderson34407]

Roger, I will stick a few photo's in my album when I get a chance [ I borrow the neighbours digital camera ] As for my experiences with the DSG, It is a simply fantastic machine, everything about it just feels and works right, One of my brothers is a foreman turner so he kept me right with the machine he did all the testing, and it is bang on. I don't have the power drilling attachment ,but I don't think it is a hardship not to have it as I would probably never need to use it. So enjoy your machine, and revel in the fact that you have probably got the finest make of lathe ever.

Best wishes,

Raymond.

[Author]

Posts