9 inch South Bend lathe help needed

Chris Jones · Feb 16, 2015

My neighbor inherited one and has just started using it a bit. It's a model A catalog number 444-7. Now the head stock is starting to seize up. He wants to remove and inspect the headstock shaft. We can't figure out is how to remove it. It would appear to have bearing caps bolted down on top like an engine has them holding the crankshaft in, but those caps are not a separate piece there's only one bolt that just closes the hole a bit to clinch the bearings or bushing in. It appears the shaft has to be removed by pulling it out to the right but it would have to pull out through all the pulley's too. We don't know if it's splined or got a key-way or ???? Can anyone give us any advise on how to remove it? Thanks.
This is what the lathe look like from internet

greenmech · Feb 16, 2015

If I remember The shaft is removed by loosening the screw in the center of the pulley. The gears will just slide off when the shaft is removed. I believe the shaft has a hole that centers the locking screw. Ron Mn.

Bob · Feb 16, 2015

I had it's identical twin 'til a shop fire back in 1983. I think I still have the toasted headstock around somewhere.

The stepped pulley is free of the shaft, because they have to rotate at different speeds when the "backgearing" is engaged.

IIRC, the gear is keyed to the shaft. I can't remember if there's a setscrew hidden in the gear, or POSSIBLY a setscrew in the pulley that engages a groove, but one thing for sure, the PULLEY is NOT splined, keyed, or pegged to a hole in the shaft with a setscrew.

The gear MAY be a light press fit on it's step of the spindle and woodruff key with NO setscrew.

greenmech · Feb 16, 2015

Bob, you are right about the pulley. Thanks. Ron Mn.

greenmech · Feb 17, 2015

Google removing spindle on 9" South Bend Lathe. You will find how to get it done. Ron Mn.

ObsoElitist · Feb 17, 2015

I'm not familiar with that model, but you may find some useful info here

http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html

Geo-TH,In · Feb 17, 2015

I have a 10 inch atlas, 1949 vintage. Yours may be older because it has flat belts. Mine looks similar. There are two bolts on mine holding the bearing caps. Remove the two bolts. Mine has shims under bearing caps to remove to make tighter. Remove bearing caps, clean and oil. Mine will tighten up if I don't keep it oiled. I use synthetic motor oil on mine. There are oil caps in the center of bearing caps.

GarryinNC · Feb 17, 2015

South Bend makes a special spindle oil for their lathes. They say use nothing else on the headstock spindles. I took them at their word. A one pint can will last most of us a life time. They also have other grade oils for different parts of the lathe, including bed way lubricant. I learned a lot of this from a nice fellow at Schwartz Machinery, in South Bend, IN.
They were dealers for South Bend. I don't know if they are still in business or not.

I have a 9 inch and a 10 inch toolroom South Bend.

Garry

Chris Jones · Feb 18, 2015

We got it. The gear was just press fitted with a key on the shaft. No set screws anywhere. Thanks everyone!

Joe(TX) · Feb 23, 2015

He most likely has the bearings too tight. That lathe has babbit bearings. They have to be adjusted as the lathe is run, as well as well oiled. They do not use shims. Do not just torque the caps down. If it still turns when the caps are tightened down, the bearings are worn out.

9 inch South Bend lathe help needed

Chris Jones

Member

greenmech

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

greenmech

Well-known Member

greenmech

Well-known Member

ObsoElitist

Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

GarryinNC

Well-known Member

Chris Jones

Member

Joe(TX)

Well-known Member

Similar threads