Stedall lathe

[Marischal EllisParticipant @marischalellis28661]

Hi Sean

Interested to see your new purchase. I wish you well with it. You will get lots of fun with it …over a longer period than you think.

I’m in the middle of rebuilding one at the moment and am at the painting stage. It looks the same. I could never find the correct name for it as I have an ‘F and J Edwards’ plate on mine and so put down to that although I suspected it was badge job as no casting reference to identify it so was looking at German lathes (for a reason) and American makes, which all look very similar but not totally. A bit age related.

A big thanks to Mark for identifying ‘Fortis’ so a match at long last. I will now do a read-up of the various connections. Weight wise I am at 140kilos and a bit to go yet. I weigh bits as I strip them down so I am working on a final bit over 200 kilos without a stand. The bed is 44.5kilos so a strong build. I have very few add-ons or changes as far as I can see although with four coats of paint it was serious fun finding grub screws and other bits hidden under the paint.

On the top bearings mine are taper-rollers (a Timkin tapered roller bearing reference) and have grease nipples. I thought they were original and standard. The last greasing was with white lithium grease but it came about in the forties so not much use for dating. The Counter shaft ball bearings are SKF .

So……………. if I can be of help please PM me. I’m not there yet but soon I hope……. .I have most in bits still. I have to get to a stage where I can get the centre of a balance and make a wooden base with a sensible motor position.

Best wishes to you. Let us know how it goes.

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Hi there , very interesting that you have the same Fortis/clausing I’m calling it . I’m not going to paint mine I rather like the piteana

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Well …had the Fortis up and running after a few teething . Straight out gate i'm going to need a couple of bearings in the counter shaft pulley side of things ,i can't feel any play by hand but they're noisey . The clutch took a bit of setting up ,micro adjustments but i'm there now .

In my vast metal turning career ….NOT!!!! . I chucked up a bit of brass rod (about 1" and gave it a blast ,i expected chattering and all sorts but is was butter smooth ,from quite big cuts to just taking a dusting off so I was very impressed at how accurate it seems to be ,might be a different story turning something harder and longer using the tailstock.

Overall i'm chuffed to bits with the lathe considering what i paid for it .

 

Sean .

Edited By sean logie on 02/10/2016 07:37:55

Edited By sean logie on 02/10/2016 07:39:14

[Marischal EllisParticipant @marischalellis28661]

The bearings may be sealed for life which is fine if they are always kept turning. Replacements are not dear when I checked a while ago but not made purchased. Good to hear it is turning well.

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Yesterday the threading gearbox made a whining noise so i've now stripped it off the lathe and it feels very notchy . Been looking for exploded views of the gearbox so i can figure out how to strip it down . Any help would be great .

Thanks

Sean

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

Thats a bonny thing. Looks a bit like a Hercus?

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Can't say I've heard of a Hercus

Sean

Edited By sean logie on 03/10/2016 08:54:17

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

Hercus was an Australian manufacturer. They made a lathe that looked just like that. I think it was a copy of a Southbend machine. Actually I think a lot of makers around that time were doing the same thing, with the same machine.

I'm no expert mind…

Carl.

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

Regarding moving lathes and other machines, a friend uses a firm known as Pallet Ways. A Colchester Bantam was moved for about £85 including VAT. The article has to be on a pallet, the driver was very helpful and the lorry has a tail lift. I think value for money. I'm not sure where Pallet Ways are, maybe Middleborough. John

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Sean,

This may be of some help hopefully

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Sean, This one may be more like yours.Forgot to say they are both clausing gearboxes but they are likely similar to Fortis.

Edited By mark smith 20 on 03/10/2016 10:57:35

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Thanks Mark that will be helpful ,where did you source these from .

Sean

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Sean, they are off vintage machinery. org , very useful when i was rebuilding my southbends. They have a great list of manufacturers with available literature to download or view for free. Not an awful lot of UK manufacturers info though.

The Clausing 100 series is probably most like the Fortis. The second gear box image i put on is in this first link at the end and its a large size, so printable.

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

Edited By mark smith 20 on 03/10/2016 12:29:48

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Thanks Mark your a star….

 

Gearbox is all stripped ,the cogs are in amazing condition ,wish the same could be said about the two bearings ,they're shot so i guess i'll need to go hunt some down . I have a photo of the bearing in my albums .

 

Do you think it possible to use a sealed bearing . 

 

Sean

Edited By sean logie on 03/10/2016 21:38:00

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

Have you looked at lathes.co.uk? Lot of information on your Fortis machine there, apparently they were also sold as Broadway. The Clausing connection is well covered. Mine of info on that site:-
http://www.lathes.co.uk/fortis

Carl.

Edited By Carl Wilson 4 on 03/10/2016 21:44:24

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Thank you Mark ,i have looked at the site . The Fortis/Clausing/broadway ,the different models can make it quite confusing tracking parts or information .

Sean .

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Been looking for the bearings , i can find the correct OD and ID but not the width …

bearing dimensions are …

OD.. 1.377" or 35mm

ID …. 0.621" or 15.85mm

W… . 0.28" or 7.2 mm

 

Sean

Edited By sean logie on 04/10/2016 08:19:10

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Are they not this size **LINK**

or a better branded version

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Koyo-Imperial-Inch-EE-KLNJ-bearings-open-shielded-or-sealed-Choose-your-size-/122157146067?var=&hash=item1c71221fd3:m:mOmDxxjWP8RBrh8MlFyzyeQ

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 09:27:22

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Check out my album mark , bearing dimensions

Sean

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

The bearing looks to be a SKF EE5 – try looking for a KLNJ5/8 which seems to be the modern equivalent – loads of "hits" in an internet search.

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Sean it is correct the one i mentioned in the links or what Keith has said , also your original bearings are SKF or formally SKEFKO bearing company of Luton . NOT BKE

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

This is a SKF modern bearing **LINK**

The slight difference in your internal measurement may be a specific clearance fit. Were they a tight fit or easily removed?

http://www.skf.com/uk/products/bearings-units-housings/roller-bearings/principles/bearing-specifics/bearing-internal-clearance/index.html

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:45:20

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:45:46

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:48:15

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:48:58

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Posted by mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:41:36:

This is a SKF modern bearing **LINK**

The slight difference in your internal measurement may be a specific clearance fit. Were they a tight fit or easily removed?

**LINK**

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:45:20

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:45:46

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:48:15

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 10:48:5

They were what I'd call a snug fit ,probably a thou press fit .

Sean

[sean logieParticipant @seanlogie69385]

Thats the buggers i'm looking for ,Thanks Mark

Sean

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

looking at your measurements you put up in the albums  ,i would just go with a CN -normal fit.

The mill i`m currently restoring had two large R &M open cage  from the 1950`s in the vertical head . I was going to change them but i think i will leave alone for now as they don`t seem too bad once cleaned thoroughly and repacked with grease. One place wanted £30 = VAT each to replace with original old stock.

Another 5 piece thrust bearing in the head had a rusted lower race and balls , same place wanted £160 with delivery for a direct replacement . I found an identical sized old stock  3 piece thrust by same maker (Hoffmann)  for £20 on ebay and used  2 parts  of it for replacements and it works great . Saved myself £130.

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 13:26:00

Edited By mark smith 20 on 04/10/2016 13:34:18

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