Question about a missing part

[BadlySpelledBuoy]

Hi all. I'm new here and new to the world of turning.
My father has found himself the proud new owner of a Myford ML8 lathe. A little dusty and woodchip choked but other than that in working order. It's been stripped down, thoroughly cleaned and tarted up with a coat of paint, however, before this can be used it needs a missing part.

Anyone have any advice on a pulley for the motor?

I've seen pics online of the same lathe with a 4 step pulley but also with a 1 step.

Desperately need advice as I'm chomping at the bit for a go on this one, especially as he has a stack of oak just crying out to be turned into to shavings!

Thanks in advance.

BSB

 

[graduate_owner]

My ML8 came with no motor, mounting plate, drive belt or pulley. As a starting point I used a 2 plywood boards hinged together, one with the motor bolted on and the other bolted to the underside of the lathe stand. I had a 1/4 HP washing machine induction motor and bought a 4 step pulley to fit the shaft. The drive belt was (still is) a plastic link belt which was quite expensive, but got me going. I have upgraded the motor to a 3/4 HP 3 phase motor connected to an inverter giving me variable speed, but the motor mounting plate really needs sorting.

The ML8 is a nice lathe although now quite dated with no bells and whistles, but well built and solid.

I wouldn't want to part with mine.

K

 

[BadlySpelledBuoy]

Hi K and thanks for the reply.

Any idea where I could buy a suitable pulley?
Everything else is there and it's ready to go other than this one missing piece. Grrrrr!

BSB

 

[parvum]

Hello there, I mess about with old lathes including ML8s Try R G Wylie ltd for pulleys They are in Southend on sea.(google them) They have a huge range and are very helpful, They will need to know the diameter of the motor shaft and whether or not there is a keyway. To get the best from your lathe a four step pulley 2,3,4,5,inches will allow four speeds on the spindle, big on motor to small on spindle equals higher speed, the pulleys should bre aligned as close as you can so the belt does not scrub causing excess wear and power loss. The motor mounting plate has slots to allow for adjustment an d the pulley position on the motor spindle can be tweaked for fine tuning, but avoid too much outboard adjustment on the motor spindle to reduce the stress on the motor bearing.
regards Paul

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

ML8 bits show up on evilbay regularly.
One of the things I found really useful when I first stared, due to my ham fistedness.

 

[graduate_owner]

Hi again,
I have just re-read my reply to your question. It wasn't very helpful, just a load of 'what I did' comments. However this may help. There are currently 4 step aluminium pulleys on ebay with BIN prices of £15.50 to £17.50 plus £3.72 postage. As has been said, check the motor shaft diameter to ensure it will fit. There may be a groove and loose key on the shaft, or possibly just a flat on the motor shaft and a grub screw on the pulley. This web site offers both keyway and plain in metric and imperial diameters. If you need a plain one you might have to drill and tap the pulley for a grub screw.

K

 

[BadlySpelledBuoy]

Hi gents. Thank you all very much for the help. I shall get on the phone to R G Wylie and keep an eye on fleabay. None of the ones currently on there seem to fit the bill as I need one for a 16mm motor shaft. The shaft does have a keyway and I'm hoping this wont be too difficult a pulley to find.

All that oak isn't gonna turn itself!

Thanks again. I'm sure I'll be back with lots of questions soon.

BSB