- Joined
- Dec 29, 2013
- Messages
- 631
Glad to see Your presence here, Richard. I have seen the videos from Abom, Keith Rucker and the others and have learned much from them. I would like to attend a class in the future, just cannot do one now.
Here is the first question, I am asking here to make this part of the public record as it may help Someone else.
I am having a problem with a 15"x50" Clausing Colchester that I bought 2 years ago. The history is unknown. The problem I am having is when I first got it it was turning a taper of .010-.012 in 2 inches. I have done all the tuning and adjusting that I can think of and the taper is now down to .002-.003 in 1 inch. If I use the tailstock and turn a shaft down with the two collar method I can get a taper of .0005 in 12 inches telling Me the machine is aligned with the tailstock reasonably well.
If I try and move the headstock to take the taper out, the taper remains constant. I measured and moved the headstock a total of .022 and the taper remains constant, and the tailstock then does not align up anymore. I used a straight shaft and put the headstock back into alignment with the bed and tailstock. I suspect the bearing in the front of the spindle is loose and cannot seem to find anything with a dial indicator to support this. I had the spindle apart and the bearing looks like new with no wear apparent. Colchester uses a spring setup on the outboard end of the spindle to account for heat expansion, I have plenty of adjustment left and the way it's made I can take a prybar and move the spindle out toward the tailstock about 1/4".
How do I proceed? My next step seems to buy another bearing at Ebay cost of $800 or from Clausing for $3000. Trying to not make a big expensive mistake.
Here is the first question, I am asking here to make this part of the public record as it may help Someone else.
I am having a problem with a 15"x50" Clausing Colchester that I bought 2 years ago. The history is unknown. The problem I am having is when I first got it it was turning a taper of .010-.012 in 2 inches. I have done all the tuning and adjusting that I can think of and the taper is now down to .002-.003 in 1 inch. If I use the tailstock and turn a shaft down with the two collar method I can get a taper of .0005 in 12 inches telling Me the machine is aligned with the tailstock reasonably well.
If I try and move the headstock to take the taper out, the taper remains constant. I measured and moved the headstock a total of .022 and the taper remains constant, and the tailstock then does not align up anymore. I used a straight shaft and put the headstock back into alignment with the bed and tailstock. I suspect the bearing in the front of the spindle is loose and cannot seem to find anything with a dial indicator to support this. I had the spindle apart and the bearing looks like new with no wear apparent. Colchester uses a spring setup on the outboard end of the spindle to account for heat expansion, I have plenty of adjustment left and the way it's made I can take a prybar and move the spindle out toward the tailstock about 1/4".
How do I proceed? My next step seems to buy another bearing at Ebay cost of $800 or from Clausing for $3000. Trying to not make a big expensive mistake.