Author Topic: Colchester student 1800  (Read 4116 times)

Offline cozy

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Colchester student 1800
« on: September 07, 2021, 06:09:25 PM »
I've been working on my "new" lathe.
It's a Colchester student 1800.

The front levers were all jammed up, so I dismantled it all, and found rusty porridge inside the gearbox! It's all cleaned up and free now though.
I've fitted it with a 240v 1ph motor, and also a 2 axis DRO.

Offline WeldingRod

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2021, 07:51:38 PM »
Yuck!  Oily porridge, one might hope?

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Offline cozy

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2021, 12:37:20 AM »
Yuck!  Oily porridge, one might hope?

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... well, it may have started life as oil, it's hard to tell!
Took a long time to clean all the parts, but now it's all reassembled, new gasket, new sight glass etc and fresh oil.

Head stock is "full" of good clean oil, but will be draining and replacing for good measure. Besides, there is a knock on one of the gears, so I need to fix that anyway.

Offline cozy

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2021, 01:00:30 AM »
More  nasty gearbox internals...


Offline cozy

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2021, 01:05:33 AM »
240v electrics conversion.
I left/abandoned all the original 415v wiring and contactors etc, in place. I then added a new box on the back with the wiring/contactors etc - it's easily accessible, and the machine could easily be put back to 415v in the future etc.
« Last Edit: September 08, 2021, 09:09:15 PM by cozy »

Offline cozy

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2021, 01:09:13 AM »
Nice 2 axis DRO. I have the same type 3 axis on my mill, and it has worked faultlessly for last 10 years.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2021, 02:29:56 AM by cozy »

Offline awemawson

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2021, 02:24:55 AM »
Sad to see a very nice lathe neglected like that, and good to see it coming back to life.

It will serve you well in the future as a reward I’m sure.
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline mtf70

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2021, 04:05:38 PM »
Great machine and good to see it being brought back into use.

I have one of those still in the workshop at my parent's, bought it twenty or so years ago but never had room for it since I moved away.
Suppose I should spend some time on cleaning it up and think about moving it on as I don't foresee having room for it anytime soon and my parents aren't getting any younger.

Offline vintageandclassicrepairs

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2021, 06:02:41 PM »
Hi Cozy,
You had better get prepared to face the same mess in the carriage gearbox   :bang:
Coolant gets into the gearboxes easily on these lathes and displaces the oil
This caused a lot of damage on my larger model Triumph 2000  :(
I have been meaning to post a thread on the rebuild, Is there any interest in a thread on this?

John

Offline cozy

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Re: Colchester student 1800
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2021, 09:15:13 PM »
Hi Cozy,
You had better get prepared to face the same mess in the carriage gearbox   :bang:
Coolant gets into the gearboxes easily on these lathes and displaces the oil
This caused a lot of damage on my larger model Triumph 2000  :(
I have been meaning to post a thread on the rebuild, Is there any interest in a thread on this?

John

Of course! - we all like  good resto thread!