Thread: Noisy Spindle - Hercus Model O

Thanks Bruce. What you say makes sense. I will let you know how things go with the spindle mod.

Greg

Hello Greg,

While some people swear by linked belts, I don't. They stretch making adjustment, an awkward, frequent chore on the No. O. They are noisy. They are great for establishing the length of a belt i.e. I installed a set of high speed pulleys on my ARL and having a linked belt enabled me to fool around with the positioning of the motor etc. before I purchased the appropriate sized vee belt.

I did try a linked belt on the same lathe, running between the countershaft and spindle. It rubbed on the quill gear guard when in the highest speed position. I removed the spindle and installed a Gates vee belt.

Bob.

Bob,

Thanks for telling me your experience with link belts. Doesn't sound like a good one! Your comment is interesting about using a Gates belt. The machine has a Gates Hi Power II V30 belt on it now. If it was there from oringinal, I guess it has done pretty well. Given your experience and Bruce's comment earlier, I will go for another Gates belt.

Greg

Greg
All of the communication about Hercus mills,has inspired me to get using mine.
Late yesterday I started machining a cast iron micrometer saddle stop for my Hercus 260 lathe.The cast iron was kindly given to me by Pipeclay with thanks to him.
Anyway I checked the Vee belt on the Hercus mill & it is a "Dunlop Maxpower" A790.
Belt length may vary with later models but I thought I would pass this on to you.
Bruce

Hello Bruce,

Some photos of your millwork will be of interest.

It has been a while since I used my No.O. I opened the cupboard door the other day to double check something before I made an earlier comment. They are so simple in their construction. With correct lubrication there's nothing much that can go wrong.

I should set it up for sawing. It will accommodate a 6 inch blade, 1/2'' greater capacity than my other mill.

I should also paint the thing.

BT

Bruce,

Thanks for your advice about the v belt. I actually took Bob's advice prior to seeing your reply where he mentioned a Gates belt. As stated in an earlier post, I took a Gates belt off the machine. Using your logic regarding the time that your mill has run on the same belt (50+ years), I figure I won't ever have to take this new Gates belt off anyway so there is no benefit in putting a link belt on to avoid taking the spindle out again!

I have had a change of heart about turning down the shaft to 40mm. It was all getting too hard! I could not find a Timken TSF roller bearing to replace the back bearing. It needed replacing because the ID would be 0.275 mm less but the same OD as previously. Additionally the new bearing would cost around $150 and I would need a new lock nut. And there were a couple of things I would need to address. I could perhaps have found some other bearing from some other manufactuer but I have been thinking that I should reconsider using what I have already got. The bad actor in all of this of course is the spindle. I am going to take a gamble on polishing the spindle that had been damaged by the cone pulley. I noted that Bob had mentioned cleaning up the spindle on his machine some time ago and this also prompted me to give this approach some more serious thought. The machinist who is putting a bushing into the pulley said that, in his opinion, the combination of the bushed pulley and the polished spindle will be OK. So, as I said, I am having a change of plans.

Greg

Was your spindle damaged over the full length of where the Vee pulley sits.
Are they going to cut some oil grooves in the bronze bushings.
If the damage does not polish out have you considered metal spraying.

Hi Pipeclay,

Yes the spindle was damaged over the full length that the spindle operates over. He will cut the same type of grooves in the bronze bushings that are in the standard pulley.

I discussed the option of metal spraying with the machinist today and he thinks the damage is not so bad to have to go down this path. He also indicates that it tends to be quite expensive.

Greg

Greg
I read where you had a change of plan in your rebuilding job & I think this is a good move.
I recall reading that your spindle had about .002" ( two thousands ) wear,
The idea of polishing the spindle & having the cast iron cone pulley, (which has most of the wear ), remachined & bushed with bronze bearings would be the procedure I would pursue.
I think it best not to change the original design dimensions with different bearings sizes & locknuts etc.
Once again all the best.
Bruce

Bruce,

I started to wonder whether I would be chasing my tail by going down the modification path, so I am hoping that putting a refurbished cone pulley onto the existing spindle will work out. As you say, the cone pulley is well worn where the spindle has negligible wear. So fixing the cone pulley will addrress the major part of the play betwen the spindle and the cone pulley.

Enclosed is a photo of the part of the spindle on which the cone pulley is mounted.

Greg

Makes me wonder how many Hercus lathe owners remove the the filler hole screw in their spindle cone pulleys and top up the oil along with oiling the back gear shaft.

My spindle didn't have the extensive wear evident on your's Greg, but when it seized I nearly wept. Most of my troubles were due to the difficulty in removing the bullgear across the raised sections caused by the galling on the spindle. Your spindle looks like it has suffered from running dry over a long period. Makes you wonder doesn't it.

BT

Bob,

There are two entry points for lubricant on the cone pulley I have. There is an oil nipple on the bull gear end and there is a threaded hole in the middle of the cone pulley. On my machine the threaded hole in the middle of the cone pulley had nothing in it. What is the purpose of this hole? Is this meant to have a screw in it to retain the oil in the cone pulley?

Greg

Sadly Greg,

The missing screw was the plug that retained the oil. It closes off the oilway used on the lathes to fill the concave recess in the pulley with oil.

Bob.

Bob & Greg
I agree.
The small screw on Hercus Lathe & Hercus mill cast iron cone pulleys, I bet would be overlooked when it comes to lubrication.
Yet a few drops of oil in that hole & replacing the screw, will work wonders & ensure longevity.
Keep up the good oil !
Bruce