Help with my Axminster Mini Lathe problem

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

I have an Axminster mini lathe that stoped working this morning. The motor was running but the chuck wouldn't turn. Like it had stalled.



I started to investigate and found that if I removed the large gear that sits between the leadscrew and the driven gear the chuck would turn as normal.



I found that the gear off the quadrant would not rotate on the shaft. (See picture of shaft below) It screws into an arm that is bolted around the lead screw shaft.

I'm assuming that's a bearing on that shaft under the gear and that it is seized?

If it is a bearing does anyone know where I can get another and how I get it off?

Mick

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

Hello again.

After a bit more research it seems it's a bush on that shaft and that is what has seized.

I may try some heat to see if I can remove it that way.

I can order a new bush but the shaft is out of stock. Ideally a new shaft and bush would put it all right.

Mick

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

If its similar to the Sieg machine, then Arceurotrade may have parts?

They have exploded views of the parts on their website….

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Dumb question from me. If you have a lathe, why not make a bush? You wouldn't need to ream the hole, just bore it to size. But First check the shaft, perhaps clean it up with a cheap diamond lapping stick from the 'pound shop' or fine file and emery cloth. Do this and you will appreciate your lathe more as it will have become part of you.
BobH

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'd stick it in a small bottle and soak it with penetrating oil. It shouldn't take to much to shift it.

Pattex do a rust remover/unsiezer spray that works well too (got mine from Lidl of all places!)

Neil

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

there should be a small hole at base of the shaft to allow oil to get between the shaft and the key bearing bush – suspect too little oil in past and maybe ran dry – and thus hot -with luck + oil should be salvageable

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

Oil is a most wonderful thing ! How do I know ? Been there,done that !!

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

Thanks for all the replies. Arceurotrade do in fact list the parts. The bush is in stock but the shaft is not.

I think I'll try the PlusGas route before ripping into it it with something that may cause damage.

I suspect you are right when you say the bush has been allowed to run dry. Won't let it happen again once I've sorted it.

Mick

[Martin Shaw 1Participant @martinshaw1]

Mick

A word of caution, Arc lathes are manufactured by Sieg whilst I think Axminster lathes are by Real Bull, certainly your arm that holds the pivot and bush is a different shape to my Sieg component. As for separating the bits, some heat would help, a .blow torch if you have one.

Regards

Martin

Edited By Martin Shaw 1 on 01/04/2018 21:56:02

Edited By Martin Shaw 1 on 01/04/2018 21:56:23

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

If it was mine, I would refit the stub shaft in the arm, secure the arm in a vice with the stub pointing upwards, replace the big gear on the bush with the key in place, then soak the bush with Plus Gas and try to turn the gear back and forth. The extra leverage gained by gripping the rim of the gear could be enough to start it moving, then it's just a matter of time and perseverance . . and plenty of Plus Gas . . to get it spinning freely.

If that doesn't work first time, leave it overnight to soak and keep trying. I've freed up many old bits of machinery using similar methods. I would only use heat as a last resort.

Mike.

Other penetrating oils are available

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Axminster lathes are made by Sieg.

Jim

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Just be careful if you use the sector arm as a wrench – Its probably made of cast iron (or even aluminium) and will easily shatter.
BobH

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Martin Shaw 1 on 01/04/2018 21:54:17:

Mick

A word of caution, Arc lathes are manufactured by Sieg whilst I think Axminster lathes are by Real Bull, certainly your arm that holds the pivot and bush is a different shape to my Sieg component. As for separating the bits, some heat would help, a .blow torch if you have one.

I think Arc and Axminster are SIEG but I'm sure taht banjo is not for an (S)C2/3

[Martin Shaw 1Participant @martinshaw1]

I mistakenly assumed that it wasn't from a Sieg because as Neil has pointed out the banjo is different from that on my SC3. Apologies.

Martin

[VicParticipant @vic]

Hard to be sure from the picture but it’s looks a little like my BV20 Lathe.

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

Just a quick update.

Putting the gear back on, holding the assembly in my vice and wiggling vigorously worked after a soak in PlusGas (There is no other penetration fluid and don't say WD40) haha. Thanks Mike, good suggestion.

As you can see from the attached photo the shaft is quite scored as was the centre of the bush.

I started gentle, cleaning with a fine wet and dry. That had an effect but didn't allow the bush to run clean on the shaft. So, having cleaned the shaft of any burrs and high spots I put the bush in the lathe and using a very small boring bar I reamed out the centre by a really small amount.

That had the desired effect and everything slid back together smoothly, with the addition of some horrible think black Moly grease it all works fine.

I say fine, I still intend to purchase a new shaft and bush when they are back in stock.

Thanks for all the advice, it really helps to think these things through with others.

Mick

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

Forgot the photo's

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

I had the same problem on my Sieg a while ago. Like Mick I was able to get it all apart. After cleaning it all up I greased it all. Obviously needs to be lubricated every few hours of running, particularly if the run is fairly continuous as the bush and shaft appear to be similar metals ie steel..

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Oil is to be preferred to grease around the change wheels so that it doesn't build up the swarf into a grinding paste. Easy to wash off periodically. Since the gear on the bush will get changed relatively often a hole in the middle that encourages you to squirt oil into the middle pushing out old oil each time you change it will help.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Mick – the hole for the screw shown in your photo – does it connect to the cross drilled hole? If so maybe you could make an adapter with same size thread as the screw to go on your oil or grease gun. That way you could pull out the screw and give it a fresh shot of oil or grease periodically. It will probably never seize again if you did that.

If the holes do not connect maybe you could drill end hole through to cross hole so it does, or drill and tap the other end to do the same idea.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Now that your lathe is back up and running, why not make your own shaft and new bush?

 

Edited By John Rudd on 02/04/2018 17:16:56

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

To prevent recurrences in the future, why not remove the gear from time to time and lubricate the shaft and bore?

Any time that you are changing the gear train, for screwcutting, this provides an ideal opportunity.

If you do make a new bush, why not use brass or phosphor bronze? Running steel on steel, or any other like on like materials) is asking for a seizure.

Howard

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 02/04/2018 18:17:20:

To prevent recurrences in the future, why not remove the gear from time to time and lubricate the shaft and bore?

Or even use the hole in the end of the pillar as an oiling point so oil comes out of the cross hole in the pillar and lubricates the bush just as it was designed to do…?

Out of curiosity, what lathe is it?

Neil

[Mick Cheeseman 1Participant @mickcheeseman1]

The new shaft is £4 and the bush is £2 so not really worth making but may think about making the bush from bronze.

The hole for the screw does not go through to the oiler.

The lathe is a BV20 from Axminster. No longer sold as superceeded.

Up until now I've been a woodworker, this is my first lathe but really enjoying it. I think my skills are improving. I'm really good at making steel birds nests that seem to clog everything up. 😄

Mick

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