Del's Lathe Refurb' pt 3

Make sure that the shear pin is changed for a mild steel bolt, just to make sure.

<...clatter and clank a bit...>

An oft-used solution for small-scale models with noisy gearing is to clean off all the oil, put a dab of toothpaste (any opaque one will do) on the meshed gears, and let rip under power for half an hour or so. After the dirty toothpaste has been cleaned off the gears, the walls, the ceiling and the carpet, add a dab of heavy grease and they're usually ready to rock-'n'-roll.

Very inspiring, this, Del. Thanks!

I was thinking a similar thing but to use wet modeling clay or valve lapping compound.

Those gear teeth would lap themselves to a perfect fit in no time!

I had wondered about the lapping trick, but I vaguely recalled a prog about the big wooden gears in windmills where the teeth are individual wooden pegs and they said if one peg was out or shape .. rather than 'running in' bedding it down... the whole lot ended up being ruined.

Maybe I'll give it a short burst with some fine grinding paste... I could always put one of the spare gears of the shaft as a sort of sacrificial lapping tool?
Del
PS. Have you worked out how I got 42 steps from those gears yet?

Er, it may have something to do with the 30-gear and the 35-gear <scribbles, scratches head, rubs out, scribbles, scratches head, rubs out...>. Hmmmmm...

According to the "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" that would be 6x9 or some multiple of it. I calculated that you would need at least another 8 gears to produce anything like the 43 required.

50,60,35 would give the right ratio x10 or is that x0.1. It is late here. Good night.

Yup, gold star for you.
35 to index on the teeth and 60/50 is 1.2

1.2 x 35 = 42 woo hoo
Del

Pretty sure wood and metal are not the same.

Some years ago I had to replace some bad bearings in the rear end of one of our tractors which after that required reshimming the differential to the correct gear spacing.

Man that thing howled terrible in road gear for about a month until the gear teeth relapped themselves to the new fit.

Now it's nice and quiet again. The point is metal gears will wear fit themselves if given a little time and load on them. Initially using a little lapping compound will only make it go faster!

Back in the 1970's, where I worked, we had an old 1950's Atlas lathe that looked much like yours. It was easy to use. Exposed belts and things that would give OSHA apoplexy today.

I liked it just as much as the Hardinge we got later.

I am impressed by your talent and craftsmanship.

Cheers.

Yeah I'm a bit ambivalent about bothering about covers for the gears and belts. After all If someone using a lathe which has a big roundy roundy thing anyway can't stay away from the other roundy roundies they prob should go sit at a desk.

It's a bit like saying I can't use an pencil in the process of making my bows and arrows 'cos it's sharp and pointy
Del

What! You used a file and not a 3D printer how retro!

Hand cut gears. Even Rolls Royce don't do it. Very painstaking job. Congrats.

I just did some fidding and fettling with the back gear slidey layshaft to get it engaging the gears better.
I lapped 'em in with fine grinding paste too.
Unfortunately the phone went when it was running and I forgot... I got back and the gears had worn right away

Just kidding.

It's much smoother and quieter now.

Del

Fine old school craftsmanship Cat man. This is the stuff that just can't be taught in books. Sure the math and concepts can be, but the actual skill to do it comes from the individual as well as the attitude and tenacity for the project to even start it. My hat is off to you on a job well done. You are a rare breed sir.

Cheers, aw shucks, made me blush
Del