Thread: Oops! May have damaged something!

Not sure what you have done in regards to the reverse tumblers,normally the only reason they wont mesh is the teeth have striped of the gears,the selector lever is in neutral.
Cant be sure but I think there is a key on the leadscrew,think there should also be a nut which holds the gear on that is attached to the leadscrew.

1 undo the leadscrew carrier on the right side of the bed and slide lead screw to the right from the gear box there is a very small half moon key that engages the lead screw to the gear box
try looking there first
2 is the banjo that holds the gear train to tumbler gears come loose and disengaged
ps i leave that nut loose on the leadscrew and just let the machine take up the free play pipe clay may have some thoughts on this
john

Hi Pipeclay,

I should of said, none of the teeth seem to be stripped. Its like I've pushed the banjo down somehow. The teeth are just touching.

I think I've knocked the key out of the lead screw. If I get the chance today I'll pull the lead screw off and have a look.

Ben

Are you talking about the Banjo bracket that the change gears attach too or are you talking about the reverse tumbler bracket?
If it is the reverse tumbler it only has 3 positions For/Rev/Neut.
If its the banjo bracket then the square headed screw may be slightly loose.

Originally Posted by bwal74

Hi Pipeclay,

Its like I've pushed the banjo down somehow. The teeth are just touching.

That is what usually happens when you overload the drive train.... The banjo slips down out of mesh..... So you just loosen the square nut and remesh it..

Originally Posted by .RC.

That is what usually happens when you overload the drive train.... The banjo slips down out of mesh..... So you just loosen the square nut and remesh it..

I'm pretty sure that's what I've done. I don't know what I was thinking trying to tighten the leadscrew the way I did - I've taken the leadscrew off before (the correct way).

I took a photo this arvo. Its the stud and idler gears not meshing.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I will fix her up when I can (the baby didn't come last night, but we did spend half the night in the maternity ward).

Cheers Ben

Hi,

Finally got around to fixing my lathe.

"That is what usually happens when you overload the drive train.... The banjo slips down out of mesh..... So you just loosen the square nut and remesh it.."

That's what happened. Just loosened the square nut, so I meshed the gears and tightened the nut and hey presto problem solved.

I do however still have the original problem of the lead screw being slightly loose in its housing, about 2mm. I'm not sure how to remove the washer to take up the clearance. There's a small slot/hole which I thought may of held a hex bolt but doesn't. Any ideas? The 3rd photo shows what i mean. The 1st photo shows the clearance i want to take up with a brass washer.

Cheers Ben

Have you tried holding the leadscrew in a vice.
If you havent got soft jaws just grab the leadscrew as close to the end as possable in the vice apart from a few marks on it,it wont be to bad not much work performed up there if any.
If you are not having trouble removing the washer which shouldnt be tapped but cant get the leadscrew through the bearing housing you may need to grip the housing in the vice and knock or push the leadscrew through it,there may just be a slight bur stopping the washer from coming off.

I wouldnt go holding your leadscrew in a vice. Its a precision thread and could be damaged by a vice pretty easily.

Originally Posted by pipeclay

If you are not having trouble removing the washer which shouldnt be tapped but cant get the leadscrew through the bearing housing you may need to grip the housing in the vice and knock or push the leadscrew through it,there may just be a slight bur stopping the washer from coming off.

Hi Pipeclay,
Had to go up to the coast for family duties. The washer is on tight, so tight that I was thinking there might of been a grub screw in that hole. I don't think there is, so maybe a punch to get it moving? Just don't wont to do any damage to the lead screw. I'll have a look at it tomorrow.

Cheers Ben

Originally Posted by bwal74

Hi Pipeclay,
Had to go up to the coast for family duties. The washer is on tight, so tight that I was thinking there might of been a grub screw in that hole. I don't think there is, so maybe a punch to get it moving? Just don't wont to do any damage to the lead screw. I'll have a look at it tomorrow.

Cheers Ben

You wont do too much damage.
Try and hold the leadscrew and screw the washer off,you may need stillsons or vice grips.
If you have to press/knock the leadscrew through the bearing bracket make sure you support it well.