Change gears for a newbie on a 7x10 HF lathe, metal or plastic?

Grizzly has change gears listed in both the G8688 (SIEG) and G0765 (Real Bull) parts lists -- and an online order link.
 
I've had all metal gears in my HF 7x for years, and never had an issue. Change gears, as well as transmission gears. Yes, they're louder, and yes, they require lubrication... But I prefer the peace of mind that I'll likely never need to replace them. Any they'll stand up to pretty much any horsepower increase that's feasible on this tiny machine.
 
For 7x lathes with the two-speed headstock, I whole heartedly agree with steel transmission gears. That should have been part of the factory design. And a must do when upgrading spindle bearings simply because the headstock is already apart.

I have always used a bit of white grease on the plastic gears, which is safe for the plastic. IIRC, that was a recommendation by CW at LMS - about 20 years ago. 8^)
 
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