What did you do in your shop today?

Well, back to the drawing board... or the internet to order more parts. Got the bushing for my lathe and replaced the broken one, it fit just perfect. Everything looked good, ran smooth turning my hand, turned it on, so far so good, started on pass with the cutter engaged and it broke again. Same bushing, same break.

Said a few bad words, started taking things apart trying to find the cause. I think (hope) I finally found it in a worn gear with a few tiny chips in a couple teeth. I'm going to wait and try to talk it through with a tech rep from Grizzly and then order the replacement parts. I also downloaded the op manual for the Grizzly G4000 which is the closest thing to my Central Machine lathe and found another thing I might have done wrong when I put it back together the last time. It's possible that's what cause the bushing to fail as well but it ran a long time in that configuration so I doubt it. So I'll have to look for some other project to occupy me until I talk to the rep and get new parts. Kind of frustrating I can't run down to Harbor Freight and get the support I need for this lathe anymore.

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That's kind of odd. I wonder if there is any play in any of the other shafts in that apron assembly. I would also check the toothed rail on the bed for damage. Something is binding up to cause the failure. I'm fairly certain it's in the apron assembly somewhere. If there is any play in any of the shafts or gears that's your culprit, it could be a combination of problems. I wonder if you can get a whole apron assembly from grizzly. It might not be that expensive, dunno. :unknown:
Does that apron hold oil for lubrication?
 
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woodtickgreg said:
That's kind of odd. I wonder if there is any play in any of the other shafts in that apron assembly. I would also check the toothed rail on the bed for damage. Something is binding up to cause the failure. I'm fairly certain it's in the apron assembly somewhere. If there is any play in any of the shafts or gears that's your culprit, it could be a combination of problems. I wonder if you can get a whole apron assembly from grizzly. It might not be that expensive, dunno. :unknown:
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Thanks Greg, I was hoping you would chime in. Being a Chinese made machine, the metallurgy and machining isn't exact, and it is over 20 years old. The lube is through oil ports in the shafts that hold the gears, etc and I probably haven't been conscientious enough about that either. The toothed rail that is mounted below the bed is fine. But I also first thought about the threaded shaft that the apron runs on but can't find any worn or damaged threads. The gear I drew the arrow to in the photos is the main one and it does show quite a bit of wear and has some "sharp" teeth and some worn down. It turns okay by hand but once in awhile I can feel a catch and pretty sure that's where it's coming from. Whether that's enough to break that bushing that broke the first time I don't know. When it's running at speed there's a lot of momentum and more pressure within the gears so... Everything else looks good to my eye.

That little threaded bushing that is still on the threaded rod that the apron runs on had my suspicions but it's only engaged when you're making threads and I don't use that. I'd remove it just to be sure but to do that I have to dismantle the threaded rod and I don't feel like doing that (because it means taking apart the speed control, etc). So once I get parts I'll just put it back together and go from there.

I'll ask what complete new apron costs, thanks for that suggestion. Might save a lot of angst, trial and error.
 
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DLJeffs said:
Thanks Greg, I was hoping you would chime in. Being a Chinese made machine, the metallurgy and machining isn't exact, and it is over 20 years old. The lube is through oil ports in the shafts that hold the gears, etc and I probably haven't been conscientious enough about that either. The toothed rail that is mounted below the bed is fine. But I also first thought about the threaded shaft that the apron runs on but can't find any worn or damaged threads. The gear I drew the arrow to in the photos is the main one and it does show quite a bit of wear and has some "sharp" teeth and some worn down. It turns okay by hand but once in awhile I can feel a catch and pretty sure that's where it's coming from. Whether that's enough to break that bushing that broke the first time I don't know. When it's running at speed there's a lot of momentum and more pressure within the gears so... Everything else looks good to my eye.

That little threaded bushing that is still on the threaded rod that the apron runs on had my suspicions but it's only engaged when you're making threads and I don't use that. I'd remove it just to be sure but to do that I have to dismantle the threaded rod and I don't feel like doing that (because it means taking apart the speed control, etc). So once I get parts I'll just put it back together and go from there.

I'll ask what complete new apron costs, thanks for that suggestion. Might save a lot of angst, trial and error.
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Doug, bring those reel seat blanks, a few fly rods, and I will get you going out here.
 
Gdurfey said:
Doug, bring those reel seat blanks, a few fly rods, and I will get you going out here.
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I might just mail the stabilized ones to you if I can't get this lathe working and you can take over the business. Oh wait, there is no business, you'll have to make one.
 
Been processing some Curly Maple (posted some 3x3 and 4x4 recently). Had a bigger chunk so made a 15” x 4” round and then cored out an 11” blank. Rough turned and will let them dry for a while.

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For the first time in quite a while got a little time turning. Had a small walnut crotch piece that decided it wanted to be a tulip blossom with a natural edge mouth. Still plenty wet, but got the outside shaped/sanded and started drilling. A little over 6" wide by 7.5" tall. Should easily be ready for Easter decorations if I get it hollowed this week.

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Today was working on finishing up a couple turnings ( 2 bowls and a hollow form) for my sister and nieces/nephews. Came from box elder tree root burl my sister lost to a fire about 5 years ago. Long overdue. Will be making some pens from the piece as well.

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For a dozen years, i've used an extension cord with my table saw to reach the 240v outlet on the wall. With the new PM66 in the same spot, i decided to bite the bullet--replaced the 6' 10/3 power cord with an 18' 10/3 cord. Could have gotten by with 14' or so, but added a cushion. Got done, tested fine. Went back out a few hours later, needed to rip a board--one plug & cord and i was cutting. Should have done that years ago with my old saw!!
 
TimR said:
Clever! :lol2:
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To be honest....it was posted on another forum as a joke. I thought folks here would find it pretty damn clever! Hell....can let drill bits right in the drill and they would be protected.
Hard to beat the price too!
 
barry richardson said:
Buffing day, had quite a few in the queue that I have turned over the last couple of months, so I devoted today to rubbing them out and buffing, and it took most of the day! Most are gnarly pieces as you can see, kinda my shtick now as most buyers want the "character" stuff IME. Mostly olive, some mesquite and random other woods... range from 4 to 15 inches tall
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Holy cow Barry. I won’t get this done in my lifetime. Spectacular.
 
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