I got the lathe setup and running. I ended up building a cart for it, so I could move it around the shop. Its a bit rough, after getting it setup, its pretty clear that this tool needs some TLC. I’ve started a list of things that I’m going to try and do to this lathe.
- Clean and degreased – I’m planning on scraping off almost 80 years of grease and grim that’s completely coving this tool.
- Paint – If I’m going to clean it, I might as well paint it.
- Motor – Not sure whats going on with the motor, but when I switch it on, it just hums. So I have to spin the fly wheel by hand to get it started. Once its going, it runs fine. But its a little sketchy putting my hand that close to moving parts.
- Drive belt slips – Any type of roughing cut stalls the spindle. The belt is leather, and looks like its original.
- Change gear – I’ve got some gears, I need to dive into them and see what I’m missing and find replacements
- Powerfeed – Only works in reverse, which is nice for me, since I’m left handed. But forward would be nice as well.
It sounds like the starting windings are working. On many motors the is a centrifugal switch to close contacts when the rpm is low (motor off), but then open them up when the motor gets up to speed. iIf the contacts have a piece of dirt or dust in the way, they don’t make contact. They also might just be pitted or slightly corroded. I had one motor that you could even see the contacts in one end bell. Good luck!
Sorry, that should have been AREN’T working.
Thanks Andy! I know nothing about electric motors. But it sounds like if I open it up and clean it out, it might be all it takes.