I managed to get out into the workshop today, and spend the morning there. The two bushes for the left hand or gear end of the leadscrew were turned, bored and parted off to size with little drama.

When looking for material to make the shaft that fits the left hand side of the leadscrew, I could only find a piece that I had set aside for my boring bar! I will have to order some more stock for the boring bar as finishing the Myford refurbishment is my highest priority at the moment.

After setting the bar to run true in the four jaw chuck, with just enough showing to allow the DTI to sit on, it was faced off then centre drilled to allow the revolving centre to be used for turning. The 4 jaw was then opened enough to take the bar far enough out to turn the outside diameter to size over its length. With the live centre in place, the 4 jaw chuck was then tightened and set to run true again with the DTI.

Once the shaft was running true I started to make the first cut but couldn’t get the speed and feed to run without chatter. So I did the same as when turning the contra shaft, and ran the lathe very slowly at 90 rpm and the leadscrew at its finest setting. The length to be cut means that this is a slow job. Fortunately there isn’t a lot to take off and I do get a good finish using this method.

Whilst the Turner lathe was doing its bit I spent some time tidying up some of the outstanding jobs on the Myford, such as replacing oil nipples and removing the belt tensioning shaft, so it can be drilled and a new roller pin fitted. I did take the opportunity to also clean the parts and then apply metal adhesive, so it won’t need to rely on the roller pin to take the strain.

The gears that came with the lathe were checked against the sizes for turning the leadscrew at its finest feed (0.0018 from memory) and sorted the gears out ready to attach when the leadscrew is complete. I seem to have some additional sizes, 2 x 80 teeth and a 127 tooth gear! I am however missing a 75 tooth gear so will have to seek one out.

The gear guide was placed into the gear cover and secured and one or two other small jobs done reducing the work left after the leadscrew shaft is completed. I am hoping to complete the complete refurbishment by the end of next week subject as always to health issues. It will be nice to get back to building the seal engine and I am looking forward to making the camshaft using Steve Huck’s method and cutting chart.  Look back and see how I am getting on.

Only managed an hour or so in the workshop over the last few days but felt well enough to go out today and finish the last task on the new leadscrew. That of cutting the threads on the end of the right hans side of the lathe. Both ends have now been machined. The brass collet I made worked well and protected the threads fine. Next time I would part off another 1/4" long piece just for the dial indicator to rest on as the overlapping slots cut on the main collet did disrupt the centreing process. However it was nice to see that when cutting the threads down, that they all disappeared at the same time. Showing the leadscrew was running true. No real drama occured and this was more than likely down to the 'fear' factor of cutting the new leadscrew. It turned very well and a clean finish was achieved without too much problem. One interesting aside was the effect that turning a thread had on me. The way the thread looked to be moving toward the cutter started to make me feel a little sick! I had to turn away until nearing the end of the cut. The effect was soon reduced though as the thread was cut down. Once the bar was turned to size (using the half method) the thread run out indentation was cut using the parting off tool, and then the threads were cut on the end using a die. The new tailstock die holder is proving valuable and I would recommend them to you if you don't have one. They should be easy enough to make but its the time I am short of and they are not dear.

The front or left hand side of the leadscrew was then turned to size and the leadscrew removed from the 4 jaw with much relief. A start has been made on the new bushes required for the gear end of the leadscrew and hopefully if I feel up to it, they should be finished tomorrow. Hope to make a start on the shaft that fits between the leadscrew and gear end tomorrow as well.

On Tuesday the 3^rd February I had something of a mixed morning in the workshop. The anticipation of work that could be finished was far in excess of what was finished!

Not feeling my best, I thought I would test out how machine able the leadscrew was and what damage, if any the leadscrew would sustain in the chuck. First action though was to test it in by putting it through the half nuts on the saddle. Whist the Myford thread is perhaps a little more square at the top than the replacement It seemed to work fine and the half nuts closed with little problem.

 Happy that it would fit I placed the threaded leadscrew in the chuck, and with very little showing, faced it off. I am pleased to say it cut very well and no impression could be seen on the screw from the chuck jaws. However, because the area tested would be turned down later it didn’t matter if any damage was sustained I will still protect the shaft by either shim stock or make a thin brass collet.

The next task was to have a cup of tea and make drawings up with dimensions, for the jobs I had to do. This involved four drawings in all. Sounds grand, but just pencil on a ring bound note pad. Nevertheless by drawing up the job to do allowed me to check if I had all the required tools and stock material. Because this is such an important part of the lathe (and I didn’t want to buy another length of leadscrew) I wanted everything in place.

Just then our post lady arrived with the bronze material for the bearings, so one step forward. Looking to see what reamers I required I found that I didn’t have two of them, and since I only need two, that was a step backwards. I also searched out for a couple of split pins to suit and again I had none. So it started to look like it would not be full steam ahead quite yet. Not deterred too much I looked to see what I could actually make and the only item I found was the joining piece between the leadscrew and the gear change end of the lathe.

This was a relatively easy task, and after getting the nearest size stock I could, turned and parted off to dimensions. I didn’t bore out either of the two holes as I had not yet changed the 3 jaw for the 4 jaw chuck and those pesky reamers needed to be sourced. So after measuring the angle of the chamfer on the existing part I cut the chamfer on the new joining piece and since I wasn’t at my best, decided to call it a day and go in and order all the parts required and chase up the revolving live centre still outstanding from RDG Tools.

Wednesday wasn’t much better for me health wise and since parts were outstanding and I couldn’t do any more on the MGA wing mirrors, I had a day of rest.

As soon as I feel up to it and hopefully this corresponds with a couple of deliveries, I will concentrate on the leadscrew. This is the only outstanding issue for the Myford ML7 rebuild ass all other parts are to complete the build. The digital readouts will be delayed for a little while as funds need to be restored…..Luckily the chess set I made as a retirement present for my brother Stephen, has been accepted for an article to be published in the next couple of Model Engineer magazines starting with the issue on sale from the 13^th February. This will bring in some monies to go toward the DRO’s (after I have kept a bit back for the tax man!)

Whilst the rest of the country is buried under a lot of snow here in Brixham, sunny Devon we have just had a little flurry on one day but the rest of the time it has been raining. So Thursday we are attempting to go fishing for the first time in over 3 weeks (our longest spell other that holidays). If you want to follow our fishing exploits have a look at http://www.dartmouthfishing.co.uk

The Myford refurbishment has come on a little with the backplate and sideplates of the bench done as well as the raised blocks. Work has started on reassembly on the lathe starting with the motor bracket, after making a new pin.

The oilite bushes for one side (I didn't order enough....) were drifted out and new ones pressed in. Then because of the missing two bushes, the making of the new countershaft has to be put on one side.

So after a phone call to the suppliers of the inverter/motor package (who have been very helpful) a start has been made on the wiring. There is more on the main website if you are interested.

This time last Sunday I was anticipating a fishing trip plus the start, and hopefully, completion of the camshaft for the Seal engine. Instead of that I have seen the Myford ML7, bought last year, moved into the main workshop and my beloved ML10 sold to George in nearby Dawlish Warren! I certainly didn't see that coming!

When attempting to sell the ML10 on eBay (as well as listed on my main website)I was very surprised my answer to a question raised by one bidder, has raised quite a few comments. All of which I am pleased to say have been supportive. Basically one of the potential bidders asked if I would "lash" the lathe to a pallet and send it by courier. My response was I wouldn't lash my lathe to anything! I also suggested that the person not bid on my item at all! Why we get so attached to a lump of metal I don't know, but the reason I decided to sell the ML10 to George, was solely on the fact that I thought he would look after her. We (or is it just I?)are a funny lot........

However, having spent the middle and end of the week a little under the weather, I eventually got around to listing the ML10. It sold after just a couple of days just going up the coast a few miles. 

Today I spent time cleaning up the ML7 and painting some of its many parts. The cast iron lathe bed has been painted in Myford green and an inspection of the main lathe parts completed, with a shopping list of spares drawn up to order from Myfords tomorrow. 

However I have changed my approach to the rebuild, whereby I am now going to replace only the obvious faulty items. Then reassemble the lathe and get it up and running, so I can discover the accuracy levels I can achieve with the lathe as it is.

I am prepared to send the lathe bed back to Myford for a regrind if it proves necessary, but since they only regrind in batches every few weeks (and of course the last one was 16th January), with the next one due in March, that will give me some time with the lathe before needing to make the decision to regrind or no.

One major advantage in having a quality British Myford lathe is the spares availability from Myford, which are considerable. Tomorrow should see me phoning a couple of companies advertising converters/inverters and new electric motors, because I will definitely be buying a new 3 phase motor and variable control system. I will also be buying a digital readout system and fitting it to the ML7.

Time, as ever, will tell.