greybeard
Established Member
I've been a 'guest' reader several times recently, and have been both educated and entertained! I had just about decided to join, but then the fickle hand of whatever gave a firm push! So hi to all from the puddle once known as Hertfordshire.
I should add that I've searched for related info on this forum, and whilst I've identified a few 'close matches' I couldn't find anything quite similar - apologies if my search technique was lacking, and of course any hints/tips/suggestions would be very gratefully received.
I've had a CL3 for about 18 months and would put myself firmly in the occasional user category. I noticed a day or so ago that the previously fairly quiet running drive seemed louder. Closer inspection revealed that the rubber tread on the belt was jolly fatigued, in fact it was almost non-existent, which was allowing the belt to slide and rub against the pulley side thus making more noise, and also damaging the side of the belt.
(On reading through this it's just occurred to me that maybe belts shouldn't slide like that anyhow? Hey ho, one challenge at a time).
So I thought a quick 'replace the belt' exercise would be a good thing.
And then the fun started.
The manual advises that, once various locking nuts/screws/etc are released/removed, the bearing can be removed 'by pulling to the right'.
(the bearing has to be removed so the spindle can be moved sideways so the old/new belt can be removed/inserted)
But not in my case. The bearing - what am I supposed to pull on? (not an engineering background as you've probably guessed!) - was not about to be pulled anywhere. Or pushed. Or indulge in any other kind of simple sliding movement.
So, I began the process of easing it out using the outer locking ring (turning that 'in' to 'pull' the bearing through, inner locking ring having been already removed). The bearing was reluctant to move to begin with and that did not improve as time passed. But it has moved, slowly.
As the 'inner' part of the bearing disappeared from view inside the main housing I also realised that I was now committed to the removal since I had no means of 'pulling' it back through the other way!
Anyhow, the situation now is that the bearing has very ungraciously condescended to be moved approx half an inch, may be a smidgeon more.
The problem I know for sure that I have now is that the locking ring drift 'contact' points are almost certainly too 'rounded' (serious resistance had to be overcome!) for practical future use - but I have a few other questions that I'd really appreciate some insights on (if only perhaps to confirm my own gloomier suspicions).
Should the resistance have continued as I slowly drew the bearing out? This is another way of saying that 'the resistance continued...' (does this imply unwanted foreign bodies in the remaining bearing/spindle interface?).
There is no damage that I can see to the bearing outer thread now exposed - does this support my thinking that the continuing resistance is down to the bearing/spindle interface?
Will my 'persuading' the locking ring (brass drift etc) have potentially distorted that anyhow?
Realistically - wincing already - does this sound like new bearing and spindle territory? (and does anybody have a handle on the costs? I've tried a couple of dealer websites but couldn't find any prices)
And then the real 64,000 dollar wossname, do these bearings really slide in? And out of course!
I should add that in all other respects the lathe appeared to be functioning happily/properly.
I've already posted an email to Record, they've been helpful to me in the past on a couple of occasions, but this is rather more complicated than my previous little 'challenges'! I think I'll be needing all the help I can find!
thanks in anticipation
I should add that I've searched for related info on this forum, and whilst I've identified a few 'close matches' I couldn't find anything quite similar - apologies if my search technique was lacking, and of course any hints/tips/suggestions would be very gratefully received.
I've had a CL3 for about 18 months and would put myself firmly in the occasional user category. I noticed a day or so ago that the previously fairly quiet running drive seemed louder. Closer inspection revealed that the rubber tread on the belt was jolly fatigued, in fact it was almost non-existent, which was allowing the belt to slide and rub against the pulley side thus making more noise, and also damaging the side of the belt.
(On reading through this it's just occurred to me that maybe belts shouldn't slide like that anyhow? Hey ho, one challenge at a time).
So I thought a quick 'replace the belt' exercise would be a good thing.
And then the fun started.
The manual advises that, once various locking nuts/screws/etc are released/removed, the bearing can be removed 'by pulling to the right'.
(the bearing has to be removed so the spindle can be moved sideways so the old/new belt can be removed/inserted)
But not in my case. The bearing - what am I supposed to pull on? (not an engineering background as you've probably guessed!) - was not about to be pulled anywhere. Or pushed. Or indulge in any other kind of simple sliding movement.
So, I began the process of easing it out using the outer locking ring (turning that 'in' to 'pull' the bearing through, inner locking ring having been already removed). The bearing was reluctant to move to begin with and that did not improve as time passed. But it has moved, slowly.
As the 'inner' part of the bearing disappeared from view inside the main housing I also realised that I was now committed to the removal since I had no means of 'pulling' it back through the other way!
Anyhow, the situation now is that the bearing has very ungraciously condescended to be moved approx half an inch, may be a smidgeon more.
The problem I know for sure that I have now is that the locking ring drift 'contact' points are almost certainly too 'rounded' (serious resistance had to be overcome!) for practical future use - but I have a few other questions that I'd really appreciate some insights on (if only perhaps to confirm my own gloomier suspicions).
Should the resistance have continued as I slowly drew the bearing out? This is another way of saying that 'the resistance continued...' (does this imply unwanted foreign bodies in the remaining bearing/spindle interface?).
There is no damage that I can see to the bearing outer thread now exposed - does this support my thinking that the continuing resistance is down to the bearing/spindle interface?
Will my 'persuading' the locking ring (brass drift etc) have potentially distorted that anyhow?
Realistically - wincing already - does this sound like new bearing and spindle territory? (and does anybody have a handle on the costs? I've tried a couple of dealer websites but couldn't find any prices)
And then the real 64,000 dollar wossname, do these bearings really slide in? And out of course!
I should add that in all other respects the lathe appeared to be functioning happily/properly.
I've already posted an email to Record, they've been helpful to me in the past on a couple of occasions, but this is rather more complicated than my previous little 'challenges'! I think I'll be needing all the help I can find!
thanks in anticipation