Hi Andy.
I
just couldn't be without my mini dro. It's one of those widgets which you make as a novelty...... Then realise it's true worth!

Just had another 10 mins making random swarf. It's a
much better feed arrangement than the two modes which I've used over the last 8 years!

I've now removed the 80t drive gear........

Hi Mike.
Hovis accent? Hmmm.......

I'm a little further south, than De Dar Land........
Happy memories of Tony Capstick. Now, no longer with us......

Right then. On with the next one.....
Back in springtime,
someone mentioned, using a plastic spacer to position taper roller bearings, was not
right.........
Makes sense!

So, a swift text, to the long suffering Dave, who still works where I used to...... And 24 hrs later, a nice sized piece of EN something, roughed out bar, arrived.
Thanks Mate! Yer a
gem.....

Topped it to same dia as the inner race.
Then reduced the rest of the dia to clear the 32 tooth, oversize belt pulley.......

Bored, to give a nice sliding fit on spindle........

Then sawed off.........

Set up as true as..... And faced to finish oal.
Keyway clearance.......

Looks a little better, I think.......

Just, enough room for the belt.......

A definite improvement.

When setting up the bearing preload. I wind in the locknuts, until any bearing movement has gone. (Checking with 5/8" bar held in chuck jaws),
I then lock the two nuts against each other. Which usually gives a little clearance.
If there's
no movement. I assume the adjustment to be too tight, (whether it is, or not)......
Slacken back, using
only the inner nut. Until movement is felt.
Then tighten, as little as possible at a time, using
only the outer (l/h) nut.
I find, on a cold m/c, when set correctly. There is some spindle bearing drag, when hand rotated, in the neutral position.
But, after a few seconds of motor rotation, the spindle will rotate freely, by hand. With no bearing movement, even when warm. (It never gets
hot)......
The offcut?

That was made into another spacer, and sent up to Scotland......

David D