Thread: Disturbing noises on my 9x 20

G'Day Tiger,
I am by no means an expert on lathes, let alone mechanics but a first guess would be a bearing starting to disintegrate. Is it making a low grumbling sound with an intermittent crunch/grinding sound?.....if so it sure sounds like a mechanical failure of some description!....

Hi Tiger
You are right to stop and correct the problem as running the lathe will not improve things and most likely make it worse.

It is very difficult with your description to tell what the problem is so you will need to work through it systematically.

Isolate the problem to either the spindle or the drive and then look deeper into the problem.

The loose pulley would be a very likely source of noise so fix that first. It is very unlikely a loose belt will cause a grinding noise.

Before you do all this just check that a piece of swarf is not rubbing on somethign causing the noise. Simple I know but you might get lucky.
Join the Yahoo 9x20 lathe group and there is a rebuild manual for these lathes. Heaps of photos and text to help you completely tear down and rebuild your lathe. You might also like to post on that group to see if anyone has had a similar problem and can point you in the right direction.

Good luck

Hi Tiger,
I have a brand new lathe sitting in the garage not rigged up and in all honesty its not a thing that any of us want to encounter.

Some things to do, that come to mind ?

If the lathe is still in warranty? Let Hafco know about the problem quickly and ask for a reply with some guidance as how to proceed?

Are all the oil windows showing adequate levels?

It may be wise to get a sample of the oil analsyed to as certain bearing failure. Some of the bearing houses provide this service.
Or even just draining it and filtering it to see if there is any residue there. If not put it back in the box.

Just my thoughts.

I am now going out in the garage to drain the oils an run a magnet the the sump of the gearboxes on my beastie.

Grahame

Something else you could try is to pop the V belt(s) off and run the lathe. This will eliminate the motor as the problem.Next you could spin the pulleys by hand and see if you can isolate the problem.
In regards to the belt tension problem, there is a 'rule of thumb' and it's something like you should have no more than 25 mm deflection of the belt if you push against the belt with your finger, but it might pay to google it to confirm. At any rate, both belts should have the same tension.
Let us know how you go.

Grahame

These lathes do not have an oil bath spindle and the gearbox is an external open Norton style. I think the problem is more likely to be in the clutch or one of the gear clusters in the headstock.

Without any additional information it is really hard to pinpoint.
Once persons grinding/clicking is onother person scraping/slapping noise.

Run some flushing oil through your headstock and it should help. I would do the magnet trick after a few weeks of running the lathe as there is likely to be a few bits floating around while it wears in.

Originally Posted by rodm

Once persons grinding/clicking is onother person scraping/slapping noise.

Very true!...I can only relate to the sound of automotive wheel bearings on the way out, and only personal experience at that.

I do not know the model you refer to, although it like the same problem I have with a chinese lathe. check the back gear odds on the bushes are worn

Thanks guys for your responses. The lathe is out of warranty but I haven't used it all that much. What I need is a systematic way of testing so that I can rule out various components.

Rod, I was hoping you'd answer as I know you've had the same lathe or something similar. I am a member of the Yahoo group but my post has not been getting through probably as a result of my provider not allowing Yahoo. I will follow your advice on the flushing oil, what type of oil and do I take the chuck off, do I run the lathe while I do this.

There are no instructions on how to take off this pulley that may be the problem, belt allows for about a 20 mm deflection, so I guess it can't be that.

Hi Tiger

I should have been clearer in my response as I was recommending the oil flush to Grahame for his new lathe so sorry about that.

Your posts to the 9x20 group have been going through and they are also saying it is likely to be the clutch. Perhaps if you log onto the Yahoo group direct then you can read the responses from the more experienced blokes there. A couple have made some suggestiones worth reading and they have pointed you to the rebuild documents.

By the way I had problems for a while with my ISP for Yahoo group emails and they fixed it. Has something to do with Yahoo being on a Spam database so they just reject all emails from Yahoo. A control measure gone mad if you ask me.

Thanks, Rod. Got through to Yahoo and they suggest the clutch. Have you had much experience with this. I know there are a few photos on their sites but I'm still a little worried about taking the lathe apart and putting it back so that it will run properly.

Hi Tiger,

It isn't going to fix itself so have a go. Read the Rebuild manual first as it is an excellent reference for this lathe. Lay out a towel on a bench and place the bits in sequence as you remove them. It makes it easier to re-assemble that way.

I'm sure you will be able to pull it down and idenfify the problem then fix it. The parts you will be removing do not affect the allignment of the lathe so there is no way you can ruin your lathe. The 9x20 group are very helpful and I still am seing a few posts with a response to your first email for help.

My 9x20 rarely gets used as I also have a AL330A. I will be converting the AL50G to CNC later this year. I have already done a conversion for a mate and it is quite easy.

Thanks, Rod. Ill give it a go. Rang Hare and Forbes and they referred me to a sub-contractor who charges about $75 an hour including travelling time. He estimated about 2 hours to take it apart to find the problem and then more costs as the parts came in. He reckoned about $400 as he concluded it was a bearing

Tiger, after some investigation the lathe I have is refered to as the 9x20, if it is the back gear which incororates the clutch it is very simple once you unbolt the gear as said above lay it out in sequence, if it is the problem before you put it back with the new bushs (if you can get them) make sure the shaft it came off is runing true, mine is not and from what I have found I am not alone with this