Found a spring near my headstock; cant figure out where it came from.

[twooldvolvos]

I found a spring near my headstock this morning and can't figure out where it came from.

This is a picture of the spring.



This is a picture of my lathe. It is a South Bend 10K built around 1974.



And this is about where I found it behind the headstock on the lathe table top.



I have recently been doing light small work in my 3 jaw and 4 jaw chucks, holding the tools in my Aloris QCTP. I have taken a good look around the lathe head stock and have examined both my chucks for any obviously missing springs but so far I haven't a clue where this spring belongs. I also took a good look at the head stock cover interlocking system but came up empty. Everything seems to still be working and I hear no strange noises yet. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[RJSakowski]

With me, its losing springs. Perhaps you have an opening to a wormhole near your lathe and one of the springs I lost came through.

 

[Aukai]

Looks a little heavy for a detent spring.

 

[Skierdude]

Many years ago a friend was completely overhauling his motor bike. When it was all reassembled he had one large bolt remaining. Drove him nuts trying to figure out what he had missed. Turned out his father had added a bolt to his pile of parts.
Any pranksters in your household?

 

[RandyWilson]

That's a common mean prank on new transmission builders. Toss a few checkballs, and maybe a spring or two, into the parts washing basket.

 

[Firstram]

Many years ago a friend was completely overhauling his motor bike. When it was all reassembled he had one large bolt remaining. Drove him nuts trying to figure out what he had missed. Turned out his father had added a bolt to his pile of parts.
Any pranksters in your household?

I stopped by to post the exact same thing, I love doing that!

 

[FOMOGO]

Looks to be from the Doppler engagement lever tensioning spring, from the hyper drive override assembly. Probably some Wookie with a sense of humor. Mike

 

[mmcmdl]

I think that's the spring I lost a few years back . I'll forward shipping expenses if you return it . TIA . As far as dropping extra parts at the jobsite with newer mechanics , I swear I'm innocent . Almost . Nice looking SB ! Coincidence or not , my lost spring was for my SB that I sold .

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/lathe-nla-south-bend-heavy-10-rkr-400-selling-for-parts-sold.76393/

 

[SLK001]

What makes you think that it is from your lathe? Just close proximity?

Also, are you sure that your lathe is from 1974? By 1974, SB was not using the start clutch anymore and was using exclusively the level clutch.

 

[twooldvolvos]

What makes you think that it is from your lathe? Just close proximity?

Also, are you sure that your lathe is from 1974? By 1974, SB was not using the start clutch anymore and was using exclusively the level clutch.

Yes, close proximity. Plus I don't recall seeing a spring of that size any where else in my shop.

My serial number is 31625 KKR. I found a database of South Bend laths on line. Below is the part of the database I used to make my assumption. Looks like I misspoke by a year. According to this data my lath is about 1973.

1000K

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​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31053K

​

1973​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31100K

​

​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31200K

​

​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31250KAR

​

1973​

​

notes​

10​

4.5​

R​

10K V-belt​

CL770-R 16spd​

V-HMD​

FFA​

QCG​

31300K

​

​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31400K

​

​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31500K

​

​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31527KAR

​

1973​

​

​

10​

3.5​

Z​

10K​

CL670-Z 12 spd​

HMD​

FFA​

QCG​

31600K

​

1973​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31700K

​

1973​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​

31709KAX

11/27/1973​

1973​

card​

​

​

10​

4.5​

R​

10K gap bed​

CL770-RG 16spd​

V-HMD​

FFA​

QCG​

31783K

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

31800K

​

​

​

​

10​

​

​

10K​

​

​

​

​