There are some excellent and detailed posts from other members far more experienced than me on this topic – please check them out. This is a summary of the steps I used to remove the apron, saddle and gearbox from my 260 ATM after reading these other posts.

Preparation
- - make sure power to the lathe is disconnected and the area is clear of hazards.
- - clear spots on the workbench for the removed components. (The gearbox comes off with the leadscrew attached, so leave plenty of room)

Remove Apron:
- make sure feed levers etc are disengaged
- remove tool post and tailstock
- wind saddle to the tailstock end
- place secure support under the apron
- remove saddle clamp bolt (beware, saddle clamp will now be loose behind apron)
- remove nut and collar (with internal locating slot) from end of leadscrew.
- remove small collar locating roll-pin from end of leadscrew
- remove larger roll-pin from collar to the left of the leadscrew support bearing (be careful driving it out as it will hit the bed casting behind. Final driving will be from below after rotating the leadscrew half a turn, or so)
- temporarily support the leadscrew, left of the apron
- remove the two cap screws holding the apron to the saddle
- remove the leadscrew bearing (tailstock end)
- gently ease the apron off the leadscrew

Remove Saddle
- remove the retaining slide form under the rear of the saddle (two hex bolts below)
- carefully lift the saddle clear

Remove Gearbox
- remove screw gear (and additional stored gear if required) from input shaft of gearbox (make sure woodruff key is not loose and can’t be lost)
- remove change gear banjo/quadrant bracket
- remove angled bracket from side of gearbox
- securely support gearbox (leadscrew should still be supported from saddle removal)
- remove the three cap screws from between the bed vee and headstock (I had to cut the short end of a hex/allen key even shorter to clear the headstock casting)
- carefully remove the gearbox and attached leadscrew

I made notes after I completed each section, so hopefully nothing was missed. If so, please feel free to make corrections. Sorry, if any of the terminology is wrong – I don’t have an engineering background.

Cheers, Al