So... even though I had already leveled the bed and bench I went back to square one. I first checked the spindle for its shims in the headstock. I felt the housing and it was warm. When I rotated the spindle it was somewhat tight at a certain point while spinning by hand. When I received this lathe both headstock bolts were loose. I properly shimmed the headstock. Buying the steel assortment of shims from McMaster was a very good move.
I then checked the lineup of tailshaft to spindle by placing Mt3 dead center in spindle and a Mt2 in tailshaft. They were a good bit off. Both low by a mile and to the rear.
Sorry I don’t have many pics of this but it’s all basic stuff really.
I took my tailshaft out of other lathes tailshaft and mounted that in a 3-jaw which was mounted to spindle. Then moved this lathe’s tailshaft flush to shaft in chuck. I miced the difference in height.... about .020
WOWSERS !
Anyway I made shims and placed them between tailshaft and tailshaft base plate.
Checked again and it occurred to me that even though I had already leveled this lathe I should check it again. The lathe is in a room of raised house. The 100 y/o house is pier type construction with wood flooring.
Low and behold, it was way way out of level. And significant bed twist.
So I loosened bolts and reshimed headstock. Moved level to tailshaft end and it was now good.