I watched a video online and saw how to check for play in the spindle of my SB 9C lathe. I put a bar in the chuck end and got over 4 thou of movement. I put a wrench on the the single bolt on the chuck side to remove it and pull the shims as instructed. The bolt was not very tight so I first torqued it down snugly and checked it again and the play closed to 2 thou but the spindle had a little resistance when turned by hand. I backed it off a tad and it spins by hand. But not free wheeling. I moved to the tail which runs a lot of oil and I found that bolt as not snugged down hard. I took a reading of over 4 thou and snugged it down and it binds on a high spot like the shaft is egg shaped backed it off and it spins free. I have ordered a needle bearing and two hard washers as recommended to replace the fiber bearing. This should cut down on the oil leaking.
I know it is more than likely the headstock opening that is egg shaped and not the spindle but the fact remains it only binds on a small area as the spindle is turned by hand. So I backed off both front and back bolts till the spindle spins freely with a bit of overtravel when spun by home. When the needle bearing comes in it may hopefully remedy the oil leakage. I do not work in high tolerances (yet) so it is what it is.
I know it is more than likely the headstock opening that is egg shaped and not the spindle but the fact remains it only binds on a small area as the spindle is turned by hand. So I backed off both front and back bolts till the spindle spins freely with a bit of overtravel when spun by home. When the needle bearing comes in it may hopefully remedy the oil leakage. I do not work in high tolerances (yet) so it is what it is.