This came with Myford ML7 – anyone tell me about it?

[Paul GanderParticipant @paulgander74599]

Afternoon All, I was very kindly given an ML7 (of 1946 vintage) and have been restoring it back to full health. With it came a gearbox, though I cannot find details of it on the web as all the gears/mechanism are fine and I would like to connect it and use it if suitable – can anyone tell me more?

Hopefully if you visit this link and scroll down you can see a picture

http://www.go-faster.com/MyfordML7Lathe.html

Best regards

Paul
Midhurst, UK.

[Paul GanderParticipant @paulgander74599]

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

It looks like a Laurence Sparey cast gearbox for the ML7. Should be some info on the web. Dave.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Lucky man!

The Sparey gearbox was later copied for home construction by David Machin, whose version was described in ME in 3919 to 3935 (odd numbers only). You can get the Sparey manual from lathes.co.uk or you can get the construction article from Hemingway kits, both about £30.

Neil

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Paul

The original Sparey gearbox was described in 2 issues of Model Mechanic, of which Mr Sparey was the Editor, in 1950.

There used to be a contributor to this forum called "Paul" who I recall had copies of the articles, but haven't seen him for ages. Perhaps a Mod can track him down.

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

I've built the Hemingway version and fitted it to my ML7. You will want to get the articles as mentioned above, but briefly what is involved is as follow. I've got the Machin articles here somewhere.

The mounting face of the box should match the mounting face on the lathe. In particular the leadscrew needs to end up at exactly the same location as it was. (Vertical and horizontal) The lathe needs to have two (I think, a few anyway) holes drilled and tapped in the mounting face for the gear box to mount to. The leadscrew needs to be cut short. The output shaft on the box links to the leadscrew with a sleeve with grubscrews. This needs to be done well, flats on both parts for the grubscrews to bear on are a good idea. Then you just set up the correct train on the input end and away you go.

Obviously attacking the lathe with a drill and the leadscrew with a hacksaw is a bit scary, but the results are well worth it. Some years back when I checked, the price of a genuine Myford box was pretty close to the price of a lathe, and you will find it is really handy since you can quickly go from fine feed to screwcutting and back again.

John

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello John,

I don't like to disagree with you, but in this case the gearbox was not equipped with the Fine Feed refinement that David Machin included in his version, so swapping about as you say is not possible.

​In other respects, the gearboxes are the same

Regards
Brian

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

I think it look something like the control from G H Wells Time Machine

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Posted by petro1head on 22/04/2017 12:33:25:

I think it look something like the control from G H Wells Time Machine

Ahhhhh, you've got the same lathe as me, wonderful bit of kit, I started a 6" scale traction engine next week and finished it 3 years ago. Dave

[egaParticipant @ega]

Robbo:

I have just turned up the two issues of The Model Mechanic in which Sparey described his gearbox.

Paul is welcome to contact me if he is interested in seeing these.

[Paul GanderParticipant @paulgander74599]

Hi Robbo – very kind of you to find these for me and I would very much like to see them.

If they are emailable then I am on [email protected] or if not then let me know how best to progress,

Best regards Paul.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

3985 also has a small article

[egaParticipant @ega]

Paul Gander:

I will scan the two articles and email them to you. It looks from Ady 1's post and yours that at least two of these were made.

I had forgotten that LHS edited The Model Mechanic and wonder what, if any, was the relationship with other like publications of the 1950s.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

According to one article there were a few hundred of them

In the post war period they would have been quite popular

[egaParticipant @ega]

Ady1:

Thank you for this encouraging information; I had in mind the "urban myth" that few, if any, Quorn tool and cutter grinders were ever actually constructed!

Interesting that many modern hobby lathes are marketed without gearboxes (I realize that affordable CNC makes this unnecessary).

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Do you suppose it woiuld be possible to make one of these gearboxes from scratch, but using Delrin for the gears instead of steel or CI, just to cut down on the machining time and cutter wear? Would the Delrin wear well enough to be a permanent solution?

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

If you're going to go "soft" I would go T6 aluminium

My M series small cog on the backgear has held up for years so far

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Ady1 on 26/04/2017 10:29:47:

If you're going to go "soft" I would go T6 aluminium

My M series small cog on the backgear has held up for years so far

That's interesting. Lot more strain on a backgear than change wheels.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Hopper on 26/04/2017 10:08:52:

Do you suppose it woiuld be possible to make one of these gearboxes from scratch, but using Delrin for the gears instead of steel or CI, just to cut down on the machining time and cutter wear? Would the Delrin wear well enough to be a permanent solution?

As you probably know, the Sparey design envisaged the use of standard Myford gears oil-lubricated, most if not all only 5/16" wide. I am no expert but if using plastics feel that a wider gear would be both stronger and wear better. I have successfully cut and used gears in Nylatron.

Presumably, the case casting is no longer available and it would have to be fabricated.

Ady1:

Would T6 gears run well together? I assume your ali gear is working with a CI gear.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

You'd need to try it out, I'm still building an aluminium gearset gizmo so no experience to date

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

I've just found these pics of a Sparey gearbox on an ML7 in one of my "hidden" folders.

Oh the joys of old age.

They may be of interest.

Edited By Robbo on 05/05/2017 21:21:51

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