Today's project: Fix the compound slide on my Victor 1640 lathe.
Yesterday when Neil & I were making the motorcycle parts, the compound seized on me, tighter than a bug's ass. When I got the the shop I pulled out the machine manual and reviewed the assembly. Clear as mud but better than nothing. What a PITA to tear it down! Because the threads were seized and you have to unscrew the 3/4-8 Acme screw to get it apart, lots of solvents and lubricants were required but I did get it done. Here it is all disassembled:
![[Image: IMG_2103-r_zpsd2887022.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_2103-r_zpsd2887022.jpg)
Well it seems something about the bronze nut was to blame, and upon taking it apart it became clear that I wasn't the first to get into it and rip it apart. I put copper in the jaws of my "manly" bench vise and clamped it firmly. The screw itself is still in great shape, but the split bronze nut is distorted. How it got that way I have no clue. I tried all sort of bending it open and clamping it closed to find the loosest position, but there's no means to keep it open mechanically. A set screw will close it though, when fully assembled. Here's a somewhat blurry photo of the screw and nut.
![[Image: IMG_2102-r_zpsc58b863e.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_2102-r_zpsc58b863e.jpg)
Finding no position of free and easy engagement and having no 3/4-8 Acme tap on hand, I resorted to making the tip of the screw act as a tap of sorts. A few minutes with a 1/8" cutter in a Dremel, and this is what the result looked like. It worked "OK", just a little cutting action. That's good because I'm in no position to be buying a new replacement nut and I can't make one with no functioning compound slide on the machine.
![[Image: IMG_2100-r_zpsbe2d5136.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_2100-r_zpsbe2d5136.jpg)
With the screw now free enough to actually move in the nut with one hand (still quite snug though), I began reassembly. I cleaned everything "surgically clean" and gooped it all up with Mobil Vactra 2 way lube as I put it back together.
![[Image: IMG_2104-r_zps7c4543c8.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_2104-r_zps7c4543c8.jpg)
It'll have to do as is for now, but at least I can use the machine to make a new piece. Stupid me, I forgot to take measurements abd make a drawing before I reassembled it, so I guess it'll be coming apart again before I can make one.
On the way home, I stopped to take a photo of these potential dinners walking around. They frequently are seen on this one backroad, as many as 15 or 16 at times. The one closest is a tom that probably weighs close to 27 pounds. The others in the photo are a little smaller, but yesterday I spotted two other toms that were easily in the 30 pound range. Much bigger than any of these.
![[Image: IMG_2097-r_zpsbaa05a04.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/kenm10759/Dads%20shop/IMG_2097-r_zpsbaa05a04.jpg)
Yesterday when Neil & I were making the motorcycle parts, the compound seized on me, tighter than a bug's ass. When I got the the shop I pulled out the machine manual and reviewed the assembly. Clear as mud but better than nothing. What a PITA to tear it down! Because the threads were seized and you have to unscrew the 3/4-8 Acme screw to get it apart, lots of solvents and lubricants were required but I did get it done. Here it is all disassembled:
Well it seems something about the bronze nut was to blame, and upon taking it apart it became clear that I wasn't the first to get into it and rip it apart. I put copper in the jaws of my "manly" bench vise and clamped it firmly. The screw itself is still in great shape, but the split bronze nut is distorted. How it got that way I have no clue. I tried all sort of bending it open and clamping it closed to find the loosest position, but there's no means to keep it open mechanically. A set screw will close it though, when fully assembled. Here's a somewhat blurry photo of the screw and nut.
Finding no position of free and easy engagement and having no 3/4-8 Acme tap on hand, I resorted to making the tip of the screw act as a tap of sorts. A few minutes with a 1/8" cutter in a Dremel, and this is what the result looked like. It worked "OK", just a little cutting action. That's good because I'm in no position to be buying a new replacement nut and I can't make one with no functioning compound slide on the machine.
With the screw now free enough to actually move in the nut with one hand (still quite snug though), I began reassembly. I cleaned everything "surgically clean" and gooped it all up with Mobil Vactra 2 way lube as I put it back together.
It'll have to do as is for now, but at least I can use the machine to make a new piece. Stupid me, I forgot to take measurements abd make a drawing before I reassembled it, so I guess it'll be coming apart again before I can make one.
On the way home, I stopped to take a photo of these potential dinners walking around. They frequently are seen on this one backroad, as many as 15 or 16 at times. The one closest is a tom that probably weighs close to 27 pounds. The others in the photo are a little smaller, but yesterday I spotted two other toms that were easily in the 30 pound range. Much bigger than any of these.