I am considering putting a handwheel on the tailstock end of the leadscrew - like Myford Super 7's have, but not much of the leadscrew protrudes from the bearing, and it is 1/2" in diameter.

First thought is to remove the leadscrew, and drill and ream it to take an extension shaft then thread and glue /transverse pin / grub screw / weld the extension into the leadscrew.

Alternatively, move the bearing towards the headstock to give / expose the end of the leadscrew so the handwheel can be mounted onto it. To do this, re-using the mounting screw hole in the bed - closest to the headstock, and drilling a new leadscrew bearing mounting hole in the bed closer to the headstock. This would limit the carriage movement a little more than one inch. It would mean machining some of the leadscrew thread off to accommodate the bearings move towards the headstock.

I can't find anything on the web for South Bend or Hercus lathes, and I can't believe that no-one has done this before.

All suggestions are most welcome.


Read the full thread at metalworkforums.com...