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'Living with an old Synchro' and other tales from my shed.

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DavidA:
JohnC,

sorry for not responding here. I've been away for a while.

But, as you know, I did get your PMs via my Email.

Dave.

JohnC:
 :thumbup:

DavidA:
Well, finally got up off my bum and went out into the cold, cold shed. Need to make progress on the loco.

But first need to get my band saw going. I didn't notice when I bought it that there was a bit missing.

Got to be done. The replacement blade adjuster for the Clarke band saw will not make itself. I did try to buy a replacement but they are discontinued.

Got the stove going and wiped off some surface rust from the lathe; nothing serious. Changed the chucks to my four jaw and chucked up the lump of cast iron ready to square everything off.

Now, suitably psyched up, started to cut metal.

It lasted about five minutes and I was called away to collect offspring from the supermarket.

Back in shed; nice and toasty in here now.

Switch on three phase converter.

Away we go.

The lathe motor stopped.

Backed out tool. pressed go. Nothing.  Pressed reverse, works.

It seems that the forward contactor isn't working. or, if I'm lucky, it's just sticky.

Much deflated. Gone back to watching YouTube re runs of people who's lathes don't fail on them.

I'll investigate tomorrow.

Just can't catch a break.

Dave. :bang:

DavidA:
Something that may be of interest to others who are coming out of hibernation,

I took the control panel off the Synchro to find the fault with the forward contactor. and the whole box was saturated with condensation. This had caused the contactor to fail.

Stands to reason really. The electrics are all inside a steel box. and the shed was very cold and damp.

So, before firing up your machines for the spring it may be an idea to open the control panel and blow out the wet.

Three phase contactors with 415 Volt coils are not cheap.

Dave.

DavidA:
Just an update. Something to show I'm still alive.

I was making a chuck back-plate to fit a new four jaw to my old red lathe.  a simple enough job (or so it should have been), It is to be a two part plate. So first make the bit that screws to the spindle.
Bored out the hole, (1 1/8" dia) started to cut the 8 t.p.i thread.
Didn't seem to be making much progress. so checked the tool geometry. Good, no rubbing anywhere. Very sharp.
Eventually, after much rotating of the spindle by hand (crank on the end of spindle) and no progress, I put a dial guage against the beck of the tool. Even with 0.010" cuts it was deflecting the tool a tremendous amount.
So basically the tool is so flexible it is almost useless.

Anyway, I managed, by dint of very many very small  (0.005") cuts, to finish the job.

I then decided that my old lathe, much as I love it, is just too awkward to use practically. I have listed it's short comings elsewhere. so I am going to spend time making a section of my big shed, the one that houses the Denford Synchro, properly damp proof and usable in winter. At the moment things are going rusty in there.

I shall polish the old lathe and admire it occasionally.

Any way, that's me up to date.

Wishing you all the very best Seasons Greeting and hoping Santa brings you whatever it is you wished for.

Dave.  :)

 

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