Adding QC gear box to SB 9 Workshop Model

I finally got the itch to have QC gears on my SB 9 and bought a gear box off eBay. It came from a Model A 9" and looks in pretty good shape except for the terrible black paint job. Gears look OK so far.
I know most of the things that have to be changed ( leadscrew, headstock some gearing another mounting hole in the bed) but I want to hear about the things that I may run into................ the things that I don't even know that I don't know about.
I would like to take the gearbox apart and clean and inspect it and see if any gears need to be changed.
What about it guys? Too big a job for a newbie?
Please let me hear from you.
bob

These are my pics of the gearbox to show you a little of what to expect. If everything looks and works OK, I would just use it after a good cleaning. The gearbox gave me the most problems with my complete rebuild. Watch out for taper pins, pinned gears and keyed gears, thay are a pain to line up at assembly.
Good luck,
Paul

I am changing the crossslide saddle and apron to a type A. I think by the time I am finished the only original parts wil be the motor, tailstock and bed. Hopefully it will turn out OK. I am retired so I have plenty of time. Forums like this really are a great source of information and help.
Thanks for the information. I'll look at that right away.

Thanks Paul for the pictures. I'm hoping to get a disassembly procedure so I don't have to re-invent the wheel. It's always much easier if one knows what step to take first. Like which pins to remove first. I did a complete restoration on the lathe. It is a 1934 Workshop model. I guess you could call it a model C ...sort of. It has a left-hand threaded lead screw, no lead screw reverse or idle. To reverse the lead screw you have plug in an idler gear to the head stock. Years ago I had a great 10K sb with every attachment. Aah but that was long ago. I've got the lathe running nicely, but not having the qc began to nag at me. You know what that means ------------- get your wallet out. Thanks for the info.

Thanks Jim this is the kind of info that I need! I have a set of right hand half-nuts that I can always (maybe) put in the apron for the RH lead screw. I don't really know if the A/B apron will hang on the old workshop saddle. If I have a problem with the new A type saddle I was planning to give up power crossfeed --as much as I hate that idea. I shall see in the comming weeks. Wish me luck!
Bob

Yep thats what I have a 405. I'm in South Florida. Can't find many SB's down here. I've been collecting SB parts for awhile. I knew about the headstock without reversing gears. I figure if the parts that I have accumulated don't work for the proposed conversion, I'll just sell them off. At least the spindle that is on the 405 is not the original with the 1-3/8 -10 threads. The apron casting on the 405 is some what thicker that the apron on the A&B.
I found a decent headstock casting that I'm hoping to use to solve the lack of a reversing gear.

As to finding a Model A for $500.00 -- not around here.

Here are pics of what the my 405 looks like.

THAT C MODEL LOOKS WAY TO NICE TO CHOP UP. I did see some 9a's in Florida a while back, just have to check CL or E-BAY for them as they will show up from time to time.
Paul

Jim B.
I remember him calling it a "c", that's why I called it that. I do see the top oilers now that you said it. I also thought he called it a 1947 model, but going back I could not find it. It must be getting late here in PA, not thinking straight.
Paul

I think that what both of you say has much merit. Running a lathe is like any other precision operation. You must learn the basics. I was also fortunate to work with some great machinists when I was very young and just out of school. There is a great pleasure derived in doing good craftmanship just for the sake of doing it.
However, the world has changed very rapidly. A CNC machining center can produce work of extremly high quality and faster than any manual operator. For me, a real old-timer I get pleasure out of working on machinery and electronics. I still want get my hands dirty.
I really appreciate your inputs. I will post reports on my progress (or lack of) with the 405 conversion.
thanks, Bob

Hello All,
Well I'm still slogging along with the addition of a QC gearbox to a SB 405 3' lathe. It has been quite a project, but lots of fun. Got a very nice QC box that is nice and tight. The QC box came with the 80T idler and the 56T and 40T gears and banjo. It came off of a 644 SB. Found a good saddle and a so-so apron. So far every thing fits. Had to take off a few thous of the bottom of the bed flange that was rubbing the apron clutch sump cover, but is OK now. Have to drill and counterbore a hole in the bed for the 3rd QC mounting screw. After I mount the new headstock it should be good to go.
Don't know if I would do this update again, but as I said its been fun.
Bob