Myford ML3 - 21 tooth gear removal

[Bushbaby]

Boom! Thanks Alan, I shall refer to dictionary be4 posting!

I had soaked this gear/spindle in oil ages ago and forgotten about it until yesterday (thanks for the reminder Col). The gear came off in my hand with very little resistance. Looking at it again, I really should get this on up and running although it does seem to have a flat spot when rotating the spindle by hand. As you can see from the picture, the headstock has been welded because someone was too keen to overtighten the nip bolt.

Regards
   
   

[AlanBeckett]

That problem is so normal it's hardly worth mentioning. The Bearing wears, an idiot tightens the bolt down, the Bearing wears a bit more, the idiot tightens it down a bit more utill ..... It happened to my Pooles, before I got it, and Col's Myford. We made new Caps and Bearings. There's a Thread somewhere about Col's
Haven't you got two of these? That one's got a V-Belt pulley but I made a Flat-Belt one.

Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Big Al; yes I went to town on my two Myford's; I turned new Tufnol bearings and had the mandrel metal sprayed with hardened stainless then brought to original spec; it cost around £300 to have both beds reground; all in all I had well in excess of £1,000 and many hours invested in them but then thought what the heck am I doing; I've been doing this sort of thing for the last fifty years and although I always enjoy seeing an old machine fully restored decided enough was enough. I only got just over £200 for the pair of Myford's so in a way I was pleased to have called it a day before spending a lot more money and time on them.

Restoring old good quality machines is a fascinating hobby and although I decided against completing the Myford's I've since fully restored the Graduate lathe to better than new and I'm currently held up by the weather in my bandsaw project but once I can settle the bandsaw won't prove too daunting for me to sort out.

Good luck with your lathe restorations Rob but be prepared to put the time and effort in if you want to do the best job possible. I'm pleased the gear came off so easily which I expected it to do; sometimes a bit of force is needed as long as this is not taken to extreme causing further damage. I did a lot of turning using one of my Myford's with the main head-stock bearing clamped when I discovered the casting had completely broken.

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

This is the rough way to do it

   

Alan

[Alan Douglas]

Out of curiosity, since my experience is all with American tools (I have an 11" Logan from the early 1950s) what is the general age of this Myford? What was its original market?

[AlanBeckett]

http://www.lathes.co.uk/myford/page11.html

Alan

[Bushbaby]

Alan (B),
If you recall I'd stripped down my ML1 for restoration that you made the counter pulley for. You suggested that I got the ML3 up and running to ensure that it was working properly before doing anything else with it. I think this is sound advice and I shall do that very soon.

Alan(D),
I would think that my Myford ML3 is mid 30's, possibly a little newer and this were aimed at the hobby market.

Regards
Rob

[Alan Douglas]

Thanks, that page didn't work yesterday but is readable now.

I don't think hobby lathes were common here as I've never seen a Myford. I did own a hobby-grade Atlas once (for a day or so) but it had pot-metal gears and rattled like a Ford model T so I gave it back. I could do better work with my Unimat. I guess most people here bought small South Bends but I'm sure they were expensive.

[Bushbaby]

Hi Alan
I have a Unimat SL1000. It very hard to get parts for it in the UK though and what is available is very expensive.
Best Regards
Rob

[AlanBeckett]

They really are a fearsome price although they're splendid little Lathes. I've often fancied one myself.

Alan