Thread Chasing Dial

[19brendan81]

Hi All, the thread chasing dial on my lathe is crap. According to the manual the top of it should have 1,2,3,4 stamped on it at 12, 3,6 an 9 oclock. All mine has on top is a deep scratch where someone has tried to mark it.

If I want to improve this, is it just a matter of accurately scribing lines on it at 90 degree intervals and then stamping them 1,2,3 and 4? There is a marking pin on the body of the chasing dial, would I use this as the reference point?

Cheers.

Brendan

[Dave J]

Mine has 1 2 3 4 and also marks half way between them, they are divided equally. Also my lathe has an 8tpi leadscrew.
Dave

[mardtrp]

What brand of lathe is it ?

Is the chuck attached to the spindle by threads or lock pins ?

Is your lathe capable of threading with both METRIC and MONGREL ?

Does the lathe have a forward - reverse switch fitted ?

Mark

[pipeclay]

Hi All, the thread chasing dial on my lathe is crap. According to the manual the top of it should have 1,2,3,4 stamped on it at 12, 3,6 an 9 oclock. All mine has on top is a deep scratch where someone has tried to mark it.

If I want to improve this, is it just a matter of accurately scribing lines on it at 90 degree intervals and then stamping them 1,2,3 and 4? There is a marking pin on the body of the chasing dial, would I use this as the reference point?

Cheers.

Brendan

Yes with marking the dial,read up on thread Chasing dials,you will probably find that you will be able to mark additional lines on the face to accomadate other tpi threads.

[19brendan81]

Mark -

Its a 20 year old Kirloskar lathe 10 x 24 inch.

Chuck is attached to spindle by threads

Can thread metric and mongrel through quick change gearbox

re forward reverse switch - are you referring to an elec one? If so then no, I dont have this. It would be real convenient if I had a switch such as this. I think Ill just have to lash out and buy one. I need a rotating drum switch or something dont I?

Pipeclay -

Note - my thread dial currently has no visible markings on it whatsoever. Im not fussed about adding lines for additional TPI, but I wouldnt mind adding the stock 4 lines that should be there according to the manual.

[pipeclay]

The Drum switch would be your best option i think.

[.RC.]

Metric or imperial leadscrew??

What is the pitch of the leadscrew??

[19brendan81]

Metric leadscrew with 3mm pitch.

Can I simply pull the thread chasing dial off, scribe in 4 new lines and then reinstall or is there a procedure to it?

[pipeclay]

You shouldnt have to remove the Leadscrew,your marks should be equally spaced.
If you can mount the Dial and body in your chuck you should be able to scribe your lines accurately,use a gear in your train divisable by 4 and rotate 90 degrees and mark with a sharp tool.

[19brendan81]

Ill have to edit that post. I meant to say thread chasing dial instead of leadscrew.

Ill give your method a go, and see what happens. It cant be any worse than it currently is now.

Brendan

[franco]

Brendan,

If your leadscrew is metric, do you have a couple of extra gears with different tooth numbers for the thread dial to engage the leadscrew? If not, the thread dial will not work for the full range of metric threads, only for some pitches.

Frank.

[19brendan81]

Yeah I have three gears enabling me to cover a range of pitches.