Help Needed with this old Lathe

[TheMonk]

So I got me a bargain lathe and well I love the thing certainly one of the things I enjoy using the most, its got plenty issues though, I don't think the bed is quite flat, I can never use the quick release leavers and always need to tighten the nuts underneath. You will have to forgive my terminology I am a newbie and not all that clued up on the technical terms...

My main ones are currently the pointy bit now likes to come out with the work piece and seems to sit further in than it used to what am I missing, how do I get this locked in again so it sits a little further out?


Then I really would like to have a decent sized chuck that can handle a 2-3inch work piece that is simple to setup and swap over when I need as when I am getting to the end of what I am making I can't really get the ends how Id like them


And finally, it says it is reversible but I can't see a control to spin the other way, or does that just refer to being able to use the other side?

 

[Dr.Al]

I can't answer most of those questions, but the first one looks to me to be a bit like what Axminster call "ring centres". I've never used them, but I thought it might help you figure out what's going on:

Axminster Woodturning Matched Pair of Ring Centres

Using a Ring Friction Drive in conjunction with a Ring & Centre Point Live Centre allows you to swap your work end for an end. The business ends of both centres match exactly, preserving concentricity. This will give you better access to your work in a...

www.axminstertools.com

I'd guess the reversible head thing means you can turn the entire headstock around and turn big things hanging off the bed, but "guess" is the operative word in that sentence.

I'm not a woodturner and, apart from a 1-day course, the only lathe I've ever used is one I made myself!

 

[Cabinetman]

The r/h centre coming out, all I can think is the taper can’t fully engage in the tail stock as it’s wound too far back — undone with the wheel in other words

 

[Lurker]

Clarke stuff is usually a bit rubbish, but I think that’s quite an old machine.
The same product was badged by lots of companies.
It looks the same as my Delta which I bought new 21 years ago and has served me well.
Assuming you have not looked, remove the housing where the gearing is and lubricate the shaft that the reeves drive runs on. I use a dry silicone spray.

Welcome by the way

 

[TheMonk]

The r/h centre coming out, all I can think is the taper can’t fully engage in the tail stock as it’s wound too far back — undone with the wheel in other words

That would make sense there has been a few times I have wound the handle round that much the taper has gone all the way back then started to push back out loose. So whats the trick to getting back in right?

Clarke stuff is usually a bit rubbish, but I think that’s quite an old machine.
The same product was badged by lots of companies.
It looks the same as my Delta which I bought new 21 years ago and has served me well.
Assuming you have not looked, remove the housing where the gearing is and lubricate the shaft that the reeves drive runs on. I use a dry silicone spray.

Welcome by the way

Yeah I am on a teeny tiny budget so when it popped up on gumtree for £60 I had to go and get it, well I had the bloke deliver it. I've had some pretty big logs on it mind and its spun it all just fine but then its also my first one so I don't really have anything to compare it to. Will be giving it some TLC though so i will try and get the cover off and have a look inside.

My main issue atm is getting the right chuck that will fit the machine at a reasonable price. I even bought another used Clarke machine that was smaller because it came with all the plates and a chuck thinking they would go on the larger one but sadly no such luck and the smaller one isn't half as good so it tends to just live under my bench atm.

 

[Lurker]

Assuming it’s the same as mine the thread is 1” 8tpi
Is the thread on the other lathe smaller or larger ( I would guess the former).

Someone like Chronos might have a suitable adapter.

 

[Cabinetman]

No trick to it, just wind the handle forward and push the taper in the hole, it can be given a light tap if you want.