Wobbly lead screw

[Tottejarl]

Just acquired an Atlas TH48 lathe.
The lead screw wobbles about 1/8”. Works fine, just annoying. You can sometimes feel it when moving the carriage manually. Can it be straightened, and if so, how, or should I try to find a new one?

 

[Canus]

You should be able to straighten it. Check out Keith Fenners videos as he is a master at straightening shafts.

 

[wa5cab]

To remove the lead screw, crank the carriage down towards the tailstock, engage the half nuts, and remove the two bolts attaching the right lead screw bearing to the bed. Use the carriage handwheel to extract the leadscrew from the FWD-OFF-REV Gearbox. Then open the half nuts and slide the lead screw on out.

But before removing it, put the Gearbox in gear and rotate the spindle to bring the keyway to BDC, While you have the lead screw out, you should remove and inspect the FWD-OFF-REV Gearbox parts for wear. Likewise the half nuts. And don't try to remove it, but look through the apron while the half nuts are out and check the condition of the key in the internally keyed bevel gear that the lead screw fits through.