Used Lathe Pinnacle PL1340C Gap Bed

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 13/05/2020 12:56:53:

Posted by Brian H on 12/05/2020 17:51:27:

Best thing would be to go and see it, and hear it. Take a knowledgeable friend if possible.

Brian

Without wanting to seem flippant, is that practical advice when the lathe is in Goole, the enquirer is in Shetland and the whole country is in lockdown?

But, if its in working condition, and not badly worn it probably is a good buy as parts will be available from other sources of a GH1440.

Can the seller send you a video of it turning bar under power feed so you can see the finish?

Neil

I can try and ask him to see if he could send me that, would also like to see and hear it running, also wouldnt mind having a look in the gearbox to be honest.

Do you think the parts for the 1440 would fit this, gears etc?

Thanks
Robert

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

My apologies Neil, I had't realised that the locations were so far apart.

Brian

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

You are attracted by the price, but seem to have reservations about the seller and the machine.

It sounds as if you are starting out in business, and need to watch the budget.

If you are looking for a fairly big lathe, for a low price, you might be better looking for a Warco BH600, (or a BH900 if you could find one ) or a Metric version such as the Chester craftsman or Engineers Toolroom BL12 -24.

These will pass 38 mm through the Headstock, should you require this for things such as propeller shafts.

Such a machine would be likely to come from a hobby machinist, and so not have done too much work in the last 20 years.

There may be such a machine available, if you looked at some of the Model Engineering dealers, or even place a "Wanted" ad on here.

Howard

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Apart from the centre hight and slightly different screwcutting gearbox controls the headstock, apron, saddle, topslide and tailstock look to be the same as the current Chinese made 1440 lathe offered by Warco and the Chester Challenger 1440, although apron controls may be left or right handed.

So it is possible that items such as some gears, feedscrews and feednuts from current 1440 machines will be usable, but only from similar 1440 lathes, but obviously there could still be small detail differences in components preventing direct replacement without some modification.

Not all new 1440 lathes are of the same design, some have different headstock, gearboxes, carriage assemblies and tailstocks.

Toolco also offer spare parts for 1440 lathes, although they haven't stocked the machines for some time.

Edited By Lathejack on 13/05/2020 13:34:23

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

I dont think it looks too bad in the photos about just what i'd expect a working machine to look like

he could have cleaned it up more perhaps

if you can get that for £1200 or so i'd go for it…its abig lathe for little money

I've had colchesters for 35 years now and never needed a part that wasnt a standard part or electrical .

lead screws i've made and nuts too

How many industrial stanfdard machine needs parts that the owner couldnt make?

Get your mate to look at it working if its good buy it

I'm not too far away if you need some eyes on it

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Ian Parkin

I've actually just heard back from my friend locally, and he is not able to go due to family health issues so he is in isolation,

If you could go for a look that would be more than helpful, infact it would be great.

I am leaning towards buying it to be honest and just hanging on in hope that i could find someone to look at it first.

Thanks

Robert

 

Edited By Robert Laurenson on 13/05/2020 14:18:31

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Yes i can go along in the morning with video camera in hand if the seller is ok to dem it

Ian

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Ian Parkin

Thankyou very much for the offer, i have just come off the phone with the owner, had a long and detailed phone call about the Lathe, he has had it around 15 years and a shop next door had it from new before that, they had moved into CNC machines so it was never used and changed hands, the lathe has been well looked after and in the past several years just been used to make some bushings and other small items. the guy was very knowledgeable and took me through every last detail of it, including last time the gearbox oil was changed and how often he greased everything etc.
He is also going to take a video of the machine running and cutting on Friday morning and will take a photo inside the top of the gearbox also, so to be honest i think i am even now before the video quite satisfied of the condition, have secured the deal for 1200 pounds with the 3 jaw, 4 jaw and steady.

I will of course wait and see the videos, oh, he also said he would clock the chuck to show there is no deflection in the bearings (which he said there isnt but just wanted to prove it to me)

He has an engineering firm where this Lathe is and it has been in business for many many years so he is a reputable guy, and as i said before very knowledgeable and technically minded so i dont think there will be any issue.

What do you all think of that?

Thanks
Robert

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Robert sounds good

i had sent you a pm with my number if you still need me

Ian

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Ian, yes i see that now, new to this forum so hadnt seen it up till now.
Thanks very much again and if i think i need someone to have a look once he sends me the videos i will get in touch then

Kind Regards
Robert Laurenson

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Robert Laurenson on 13/05/2020 16:22:34:

how often he greased everything etc.

May I intervene to wish you luck with your purchase and suggest that you check that "everything" that has been greased should not in fact have been oiled?

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Posted by ega on 13/05/2020 16:39:55:

Posted by Robert Laurenson on 13/05/2020 16:22:34:

how often he greased everything etc.

May I intervene to wish you luck with your purchase and suggest that you check that "everything" that has been greased should not in fact have been oiled?

yes i know what you mean, will have a look when i get the videos sent through.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Robert,

It would have saved you a lot of heartache had he been up front with all this right from the start.

I had the very definite impression from the ebay sale presentation and the limited contact you had from him later it all smacked of "Dunno much abart it Guv, but it's yours for a tenner along with a dirty post card—know what I mean" [nod nod, wink wink]

I hope Ian's visit confirms all that he has just imparted; at that price, for a cared for machine, you may just have found a cracker.

Sorry to be so negative to start with, I put a lot of store on gut feelings and general impressions.

I hope you get years of good service from it–best of luck too in your venture.

Kind regards Brian

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Posted by Brian Wood on 13/05/2020 18:02:32:

Robert,

It would have saved you a lot of heartache had he been up front with all this right from the start.

I had the very definite impression from the ebay sale presentation and the limited contact you had from him later it all smacked of "Dunno much abart it Guv, but it's yours for a tenner along with a dirty post card—know what I mean" [nod nod, wink wink]

I hope Ian's visit confirms all that he has just imparted; at that price, for a cared for machine, you may just have found a cracker.

Sorry to be so negative to start with, I put a lot of store on gut feelings and general impressions.

I hope you get years of good service from it–best of luck too in your venture.

Kind regards Brian

Hi Brian,

From speaking with the current owner and looking at his workmanship and what he is turning out, also from how detailed he was on the phone telling me about each and every part of it and how well cared for it was i now have no issues with the machine, he is going to send me videos tomorrow morning and will clock the spindle, chuck, slides etc to show me as he has already said that everything is running sweet as a nut.

Will let you know how i get on and thanks

Robert

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Hi All,

Here is a link to some photos and a video of the machine working,

I think it seems fine for the money, sitting waiting to push the buy button basically but thought i would check with you guys first to see what your thoughts were.

Also, i was thinking i would have to buy an inverter for this but it's only a 1.5 / 2.2kw motor, so dependant on what speed its set to run at i guess i could just replace the motor with a single phase job?

Hopefully you get back to me quite quickly so i can get the purchase made (Link to photos and videos below)

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Am8KvL3hipr4lG1G9wqvshcUG-cI?e=vlexcW

Thanks

Robert

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Robert,

I would wait for Ian Parkin's assessment, acting as your eyes and ears.

Reverse running sounded a bit rough to me but that might just be in the gear chosen for the demonstration.

If the motor is already 3 phase it will run more smoothly than a single phase replacement. I would be inclined to leave that as it is. .

Kind regards Brian

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Posted by Brian Wood on 14/05/2020 13:53:11:

Robert,

I would wait for Ian Parkin's assessment, acting as your eyes and ears.

Reverse running sounded a bit rough to me but that might just be in the gear chosen for the demonstration.

If the motor is already 3 phase it will run more smoothly than a single phase replacement. I would be inclined to leave that as it is. .

Kind regards Brian

I actually thought due to him being so honest and everything being photographed and the videos etc i wouldn't bother getting Ian to go, i thought it was a bit squealy sounding as well but its been little used for a while and probably could do with a good clean up and oiling.

Not sure what to say now?

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

It sounds ok to me ….I’d consider my lathe to be quite quiet in use but on occasion when i sent video to people it sounds loud and rough

its got a 2 speed motor on too

you will struggle with vfd if you needed to

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Robert Laurenson on 14/05/2020 14:01:23:

Posted by Brian Wood on 14/05/2020 13:53:11:

Robert,

I would wait for Ian Parkin's assessment, acting as your eyes and ears.

Reverse running sounded a bit rough to me but that might just be in the gear chosen for the demonstration.

If the motor is already 3 phase it will run more smoothly than a single phase replacement. I would be inclined to leave that as it is. .

Kind regards Brian

I actually thought due to him being so honest and everything being photographed and the videos etc i wouldn't bother getting Ian to go, i thought it was a bit squealy sounding as well but its been little used for a while and probably could do with a good clean up and oiling.

Not sure what to say now?

It's a bit noisy in reverse but mine does that in some gears too.

I found the pictures and video reassuring rather than worrying. The real danger sign is lathes that can't be demonstrated at all. Not shown screw-cutting and a bunch of other simple tests it would be good to try in person, but the seller doesn't seem to be hiding anything.

You can't hope to be anything like 100% confident from a distance. With an unproven but probably OK decision like this I'm inclined to toss a coin. If the coin says 'go', bad luck rather than my foolishness can be blamed for any subsequent bother! Not my fault guv. If the coin says 'No' and I feel relieved, absolutely best to walk away. But if the coin says 'No' and I feel strong disappointment, it shows I really want it deep down and should go for it. The coin doesn't really decide, it's just a way of getting past the emotion that cloud risky decisions once the facts are in.

Good luck

Dave

[Robert LaurensonParticipant @robertlaurenson59999]

Thanks for the info, i think i'm gonna go for it, he is being fair and honest and lets be honest 1200 for a machine like that isnt a lot of money, 2 chucks, a steady and enough tooling to get me going.

Any idea how i could go about powering this, VFD out the question due to it being a single voltage motor

Also, whats the 2 speed part about? which speed will it be running in, or is there a switch for going between low and high speed?

Thanks
Robert

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

I thought earlier you said you had 3 phase?

2 speed motors are fussy things…you can probably wire it for 240v 3 phase then put a VFD on it but then it will be single speed

or replace the motor with a single speed 3 hp motor 3 phase with vfd or single phase.

but if you have 3 phase in your workshop leave it as is then all those speeds to choose from.

you select the speed range 1 or 2 with a switch

Edited By Ian Parkin on 14/05/2020 14:51:50

[WingoParticipant @wingo]

Hi Robert,

If it is a twin speed motor think of it a two different motors in the same "Can".

Normally one of the 'Motors' is twice the speed of the other 'Motor'.

Lathe should have control gear to switch between speeds as required.

Michael

[Alistair Robertson 1Participant @alistairrobertson1]

2 Speed , 3 phase motors are basically a 4 pole motor with a switch to cut out two of the pole windings. So you can have 1440 or 2880 rpm from the motor. I have seen a motor with low, medium and high speed settings on a horizizontal borer. You were supposed to stop the motor to change the speed settings but I remember one man who switched the speed on the fly until one day there was the most awful bang and the dust shield on the end of the motor flew about 6 feet along the bed of the lathe! He never did it again!

[Anonymous]

Must be cabin fever setting in but I'm confused. Is the lathe motor single phase or 3-phase? And is it 2-speed or not? While 2-speed single phase motors are not unknown they're pretty rare.

A 2-speed 3-phase motor is N or 2N poles; it doesn't have to be 2 and 4. Poles are not switched in or out but are connected in different orders to switch number of poles. Having unconnected windings would really mess up the magnetic performance of the motor. Whether you can switch poles on the fly depends upon the motor design.

I have a 2-speed motor on my horizontal mill. It needs to be turned off to change speeds. There are two controls that need to be moved, one on the electrical cabinet and one on the column of the mill. As well as switching poles the poles are also configured as star in high speed and delta in low speed, so that low speed is not half power.

My repetition lathe also has a 2-speed motor; it operates in star for both high and low speeds. There are two coaxial electrical switches on the headstock, one for changing speed range and one for forward/reverse. These can be operated while the motor is running, either individually or together. So you can go almost instantly from high speed forward to low speed reverse.for instance. Although you do get a 'thunk' from,the motor.

Andrew

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Looking at the video & pictures. It is a lot of machine for the money. Not a hobby toy, but a industrial beast. Yes it needs a good clean & paint but would make a nice machine when done.

The motor is as said above is 2 speed. Suspect dual wound as the 4 pole config is 1400 rpm & a 2 pole is 2800. Your 3 phase supply should work fine on that motor. It is French & rating is 380volts , but should not matter.

Steve.

[Author]

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