Thread: Why is my lathe so noisy?

Probably a bearing by the sound of it.

Thanks, , if it's the bearing why doesn't it affect the lower speeds.

If it is the bearing is there any test I can use to confirm that and how difficult is to change the bearing on these type of lathe?

Maybe bearings, the noise kicks in a particular rpm and or harmonics. Also over tightening the belts can produce noise ie clicking from the bearings, you should be able to deflect the belts around 12mm or 1/2" with reasonable pressure.

Try running the motor with the belt off or at least not turning the spindle. If it still makes the noise it could be the motor bearings or or something else in the motor.

Has the noise always been there or has it just started?

Try it with nothing on the spindle - chucks can rattle.

I think it's a Hafco WL-18- they are quite simple to remove the shaft.
remove the cover, then the belt,

then the ciclip on the end of the shaft. - you need opening circlip plyers

loosen the grubscrew and slide the pulley off - you will need to unhook the Reeves pulley lever

There is another circlip before the bearing (the same as the first one) Mine then had 2 shims on it - watch they dont drop in the circlip groove and catch

then the shaft comes out towards the tailstock and one bearing will probably stay in the housing - it can now be knocked out.

Not that difficult for someone with mechanical aptitude.

Good luck

Cheers

Thanks for your input guys.

Have checked it without belt, definitely not the motor bearings, anyway the motor is almost brand new.

Belt is not tight, enough deflection there. Not the chuck, noise happens irrespective of whether chuck is attached or not.

Did notice that the 2nd pulley on the motor spindle seems to be running out of true. If that is the problem, how do you fix that? I have tightened the setscrews on it as far as they can go.

Calm, I didn't see any shims there, does it need shims?

It sounds like a spindle bearing that may be dry. They start out making
a noise at one speed and get worse.

I would pull the spindle in order not to damage the shaft if the bearing should
freeze!

I suggest that a "knocking" sound is quite unlikely to be caused by a bearing. I would expect a bearing to create a growling sound and should not be speed dependent. I would suspect the belt. the belt could have a small bad spot on it and this results in it "slapping" at certain speeds. Belts can be out of balance just like a wheel and the frequency of the sound can be related to the rotational speed of the belt. IMHO
Good luck.

My Reeves drive on Old Griz did that. It was a fast knock and didn't sound like a bearing, to me. I finally discovered it was coming from the Reeves drive, and after a very good cleaning and lube, it stopped. I took the set screws that I could get to out, put lock tite on them, and put 'em back in.
Don't know exactly what it was, but it stopped.
Just a suggestion.

Ask DJ if a bearing knocks.

With my MC1100 the knocking sound only occurs at full speed and it is the spring at very top of the headstock hitting on the cast iron casing. I jammed a piece of foam rubber in there and it solved the problem

Cheers
Shorty

Originally Posted by

Ask DJ if a bearing knocks.

Hmm that reminds me, still haven't put the new bearings in yet

And to answer the question, yes bearings do make a knocking noise, particularly in the higher RPM range

One secondhand lathe I bought knocked at higher speeds.

It was the belt that was too long (knocking against the housing) and there was not enough adjustment left to tension it further.

I assumed that the belt had stretched with prior use so replaced it with a new one of the identified size. The problem persisted.

Turned out that the belt on the lathe when I acquired it had been incorrectly fitted with too long a belt all along.

Unlikely to be a problem for others, but mentioned just in case.

Neil

And to answer the question, yes bearings do make a knocking noise, particularly in the higher RPM range

After 50+ years of tinkering and buying used stuff, I have learned that bearings are like
women, they can do about anything they want and we have to listen to it or replace
them, and sooner or later the new ones will start it all over again!