Thread: Another hercus found

Will try to upload a picture

Welcome,

L does indeed mean long bed -- I'm sure others will have all the details on the drive.

I am marvelling at the fact my machine also came from MacKay!

I'm thinking that is a McPhersons sticker on the tail stock end "foot". They did a good trade in long bed machines up there.

I hope you get a good run out of your machine and enjoy the community here.

Thanks David, it's indeed a small world. Yes you are correct, that is a McPhersons Sticker near the tail stock. I am very happy with the lathe and am sure I will get a lot of use from it. Sure waited a long time for the right machine to come along.
Regards and Happy Turning
Terry

Hello Terry,

My ARL must be a month or two newer than yours with a serial number of 12507.

The standard large countershaft pulley was a single speed affair. The two speed pulleys were an option.

I'll have a look in my spare parts book later to see what the difference is between the high speed, 2 speed motor pulley and the slower version. If you dig through some of the older posts you will find one about my 2500 rpm set up.

Regards
Bob.

Ausboy,

The Hercus you purchased, is absolutely no good. Please deliver it to my address in exchange for a slab of beer. Two slabs if you want to haggle.

That looks like a genuine, lightly used unit, and something to be treasured. The twin pulley is a bit of a mystery. It should not be like that unless the main countershaft pulley was also twin speed.

Do yourself a favour, purchase a 3/4 HP 3-phase motor, star connection, and run it from a 240V 1-phase to 240V 3-phase VFD. These can be had for around $80, eBay.

Do you intend giving it a lick of paint, and a polish to the remaining metalwork?

I'll keep my eye out for the postie.

Ken

Hi,
What size shaft and keyway on your motor, I think there are a couple lying around somewhere. I take it for granted it's an "A" section belt. You could also consider making your own, they are fairly easy to machine up so long as you can broach the key in.
Mal

Sorry Ken, I have got some bad news for you. Just returned from the postoffice making enquiries about mailing it to you. Was advised that they cannot handle items of this size and weight. Looks like it'll have to stay here with me. Thank you none the less for your honest evaluation and generous offer of a slab or two.
My guess is this lathe was purchased as a 16 speed and that the motor drive twin pulley was changed to a single pulley for some unknown reason. The paint on the twin countershaft pulley matches exactly with the rest of the machine. The pully on the motor has no paint at all.
If I can get the demensions of an original twin motor pulley I can turn one up.
Regarding a spruce up, I think I'll hold off on that. I kinda like to keep things as original as possible. Granted it would look nice if was all nice and shiny but then it will look like any other restored lathe.
Regards
Terry

Hi Mal, thank you for your reply. Yes your are correct it is an A section belt and the shaft size is 5/8"
Many thanks
Terry

Terry ,

The spart parts manual does not list a non high speed motor pulley for the ball bearing countershaft lathe. I would imagine that the 2 speed M30 motor pulley, shown on the first page below is standard for both plain and bearing equipped lathes. If you can determine the speed the lathe is running at, you should be able to calculate the motor pulley diameters.

Bob.

Many thanks for that info Bob
Terry

Terry,

There is a pair of 2 speed pulleys on Ebay. The seller did not respond to a question I asked about a lathe tool he had for auction. You might be lucky and he might let you know the size of the motor pulley.

Bob.

HERCUS LATHE MODEL 9 2 SPEED LATHE PULLEY - eBay (item 110615330967 end time Mar-23-11 02:14:21 PDT)

I don't know if you are missing your belt guard or if it's just off while you are mucking around with the pulleys. If you need one -

hercus 9" motor belt cover

Wow, for 40 bucks I would be over that like a fat kid on a smartie if mine were missing, it looks to be in excellent condition. Mine had damage where kids (ex-school lathe), had pushed the cover back into the pulley, cracking the fibreglass completely around that area. I cut the section out, and reglassed it, but I reckon 2-3 full days work went into taking my cover from what it was, to repaired, bogged, sanded, and final paint.

Thanks Bob & Pete, yes I was missing the belt cover. Not anymore, one is on it's way. Just ordered it. $40 does seem like great value.
Terry.