Zyto lathe headstock bearings

[Jim Warren 1Participant @jimwarren1]

Hi,

I am new to lathes and this forum.
I am rebuilding an old Zyto lathe and have posted a few questions.

There is a bit of play in the headstock (about 4 thou on a dial gauge when I pull up on a bar through the middle of the headstock shaft).
I've done some research and cannot find a source of new bronze bushes.
When I take it apart and remove the bushes I assume I need dimensions for the shaft diameter, the bush outer diameter and the bush lengths. I would then have to get some made.
Is this right and where is a good place to get these made up ?

Also, the bushes clamp into the housing with a pinch bolt on one side only.
How does this work ?
If I overtighten is there not a chance of distorting the bushes ?

Thanks,

Jim

[Jim Warren 1Participant @jimwarren1]

Too much play in headstock

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

If I overtighten is there not a chance of distorting the bushes ?

There's more chance of cracking the headstock housing on the opposite side if you overtighten

Cast iron is good at compression (squishing) cast iron is bad at tensioning (bending)

So never make it "tight", just nip it up

You have the simplest system, the squish-it-down system

Sounds like you need to source new headstock bearings

Zyto lathes

Edited By Ady1 on 05/11/2018 10:34:20

[Jim Warren 1Participant @jimwarren1]

Thanks for the update about overtightening. makes sense.

The problem I think is going to be sourcing new bearings. I have spent ages looking for Zyto bearings but no luck. Maybe I'll find more when I take them out and get the actual sizes. I am assuming I might have to search in imperial rather than metric ?

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