Didn't really feel well enough to do very much today so I just fiddles with assembling the lathe and then some time on the phone sourcing materials.

I use an excellent model engineering forum HMEM and one of the replies to my post on the Myford refurbishment is shown below (copied courtesy of Peter):-

"Mike, I had to do this a few years ago when I completely rebuilt my ML7, including making a new leadscrew.
The front drive shaft for the leadscrew was unhardened EN8 as supplied from Myford. The easiest replacement - with a ground finish - is a piece of 5/8" silver steel, and will probably last another lifetime.
You do need a woodruff key cutter though, to fit the drive gear on the end.
The original bearings in that end (there are 2, with an oil gap in the middle) are Oilite. I ordered a pair from Myfords and found they were around 2mm too small on diameter, but they insisted that these were the correct part number, and were all they would supply. Boring and reaming can 'smear' and block the pores on Oilites, so I turned up a pair of bushes from LB4 leaded bronze instead. Don't be tempted to use Phosphor Bronze with an unhardened shaft though. Also turned up another leaded bronze bush for the other end of the leadscrew.http://www.kingston-engineering.co.uk/ and make a new one.
Much cheaper than Myfords too.

If your leadscrew is badly worn, as mine was, the tailstock end will give you a problem as the shaft will have worn undersize, but the thread on the end (7/16"?) is the same size as the shaft, so you cant really turn the shaft down and use a smaller bush, unless you downsize the threaded part at the same time.

For me, the easiest solution was to buy a bit of leadscrew stock from Kingston Engineering 

Good luck with the rebuild and keep us posted.

Peter"

Armed with Peters suggestion in response to a problem raised with regards to the tailstock end of my existing leadscrew, I contacted Kingston engineering and purchased a half length. This of course was after measuring the existing leadscrew and comparing it with their data sheet. I must admit they were very helpful. The only problem being the cost of shipping and packaging (to protect the screw) was nearly as much as the leadscrew!

The staff were extremely helpful so watch the postings for how I manufacture a brand new leadscrew and bushings at a fraction of the price from Myford! I may be a little nervous of the manufacture but how else do you expand you technical levels?

Watch this space as they say......