BAZMAK-Diary of a Myford ML7 lathe restoration

[bazmak]

Last 3 photos

 

[goldstar31]

G'Morning Baz!
The so called adapter plug that fit the Myford stuff onto the Sieg is rather complicated.

The obvious answer is that it is cheap.
However, when the Sieg was bought- for washers, it only came with a three jaw with internal jaws rather than more expansive external ones. OK, in the scheme of things, I bought a 4 jaw independent and a faceplate from Sieg sources along with a fixed steady. However, I was sort of duplicating things on the 3 jaw thing and my suppliers- none in the UK, could supply a set of external jaws. So I bit the bullet- and bought a 4 jaw SC chuck from Sieg agents.

So moving on, I have several Myford 3 jaws, one with the almost obligatory ring of locating holes which with minimum outlay of a an adapter - could be put on the Sieg. But I also have a small independent 4 jaw ex my Myford ML10 and plain undrilled Myford faceplate but also two catchplates.

Are you still with me? So I have a Thomas home made dividing head which has a Myford nose but so has my Vertex one- which can do duty on the mill drill as well. So ignoring the mention of collets which go onto the 2Morse tapers of both Myfords, I have open sleeves for the 3MT spindle on the Sieg!

But it isn't quite answered completely because I have Quorn t&C with Myford attachments but I can transfer the better spindle onto the Stent T&C but also onto the little Kennet and it can all go onto the Clarkson tool and cutter grinder which has two magnetic tables to act as a surface grinder.

But, but-- I also have acquired a oddly assorted 'swoppable' tooling.

Possibly, I have an odd but expansive mind.

Oh yes!! I have one of those bodies which is not only only affected by eyesight but cold. The Sieg and I live in my warm indoor study.

Clearer?

cheers

Norm

 

[bazmak]

Clear as mud Norm,but your probably like me,and enjoy making these things but dont use them much to actually make other things
Wonder who will benefit from all these engineering wonders when we leave this world.Would like to think they will well used
At the moment Myford no2 is still up for sale and i am awaiting some thrust brgs to mod the compound and cross slide to Myford 3
Which is the best of the bunch and i may keep.Would like to get a super 7 with gearbox for a stripdown and refurb before i get too old
Regards barry

 

[goldstar31]

Apologies for a tardy reply but with the arrival of my new driving licence and a better allowance of a whopping 3000 miles on my car insurance , I took the opportunity to visit my old friend with- about every conceivable extra for his much modified Myford ML7-R with a gear box and clutch with Cleeve tailstock-- and well, a vast amount more.
Like me, he has planned his tooling to 'interchange ' bits onto his 10mm Pultra- which I also had.
Clearly he was interested in my Sieg and was mentally comparing and contrasting with our lathes. I was offered another Myford 'stub nose' but declined. It was Tom Walshaw writing as Tubal Cain from the delightful flesh pots of mystical Darlington in County Durham. Hummmm?

So Myfords in Oz are slow to sell. Frankly, I think that the problem is also in County Durham and my experiences as an auditor and nefarious other activities in charity, I can well believe you. Suffice to say that my family are not the least bit interested in mechanical things as a hobby. My son will pull his Lotus to bits because few has more expertise. My daughter will bend wire but for rather more than others with less sophisticated pliers. I've got a boxful too!

As far as a sound investment for the future, I find it somewhat bizarre to even think of a workshop as such. When I retired- far too late in my life- at the extreme old age of 55, I never had a lathe in my expectations.

Of course, my dear old father threatened knee capping should I want to eke out a meagre living with something like 'engineering'

My view- whatever it is through a more or less blind eye and a rather indifferent other one

Norm

 

[bazmak]

Well i have sold Myford no2 and have recouped my total outlay on all 3 myfords and i have myford no 3 for free.
Myford no 3 is the best of the bunch and i have just finish the mods previously started and mentioned
Th thrust brgs arrived from China today. For both the cross slide and compound i made a new lock nut to
house both the brg and the brass micrometer dial as previously posted. No changes to the lathe so it can
be returned to its original design.Once i get the lathe up and running i can check everything out,but it does look and feel good
Also fitted thrust brgs to the leadscrew. The brgs are only cheap skate brgs at nom 50c each but do make a big difference
Refering to your previous post Norm,it seems a never ending job but i have to make another adaptor plt.I dont have a spare
3 jaw to sell with Myford 3 so have to fit my sieg 3 jaw. Photos show the concept

 

[goldstar31]

Good Moaning, Barry!
I'm glad to learn that you have managed to sell a Myford.

Pity that we are not on each other's doorsteps but you would have got a the longer cross slide and a feedscew and a thread cutting dial at the tailstock end.

I certainly agreed with the addition of bearings etc and the ability to zero the dials. The old Mazak ones are a pain in the '***' and when my ML10 arrived someone had 'done all that'.

I'm now in worse state as my Sieg literally jammed. After literally taking the whole lot to bits( Yuk). it was traced to the Screwcutting clamp being completely seized and the gib screws were actually 2 in each hole. Ah well.

Again, no one had actually removed much of the preservative grease and this- in the years since manufacture- went completely solid. A judicious use of a half pound hammer had to be used.

So work has had to stop for a few days as I am having more and more hearing and sight problems.

Nice to hear that you are making some progress. Keep in touch

Norman

 

[goldstar31]

Apologies all
I’m in France enfamille
Cheers

N

 

[bazmak]

Still working on Myford ML7s lost count of the no so far.I have 2 with the original single tool post so I made a couple of 4 way
with ball locking arms and washers. Lot of work but interesting and satisfying.
I also bought as new a fixed steady,as I said first one I have ever owned.First thing was to cover the horrible hammerite green
with Myford grey.Also got a brand new 9" faceplate.A T slotted one first time I have seen one.Very nice item. Also just waiting
for delivery of a 4" 4 jaw self centering chuck.I have a 5" one I use all the time,making the 4 way toolposts etc

 

[goldstar31]

Hi Barry!
Whilst I have several sizes of Myford faceplates, I have never seen a Tee slotted one.
However, I had a similar one by Tom Senior of Yorkshire and have read up how to add tee slots following 'Martin Cleeves' write ups in bygone Model Engineers.Pr obably in the 1950's or 60's!.
The interesting thing for others is that Cleeve used the idea as he never had a mill ing machine and made his tools using what was really half a ML7 as he hadn't much money - well, he could afford to patent his swing tool holder and made fabricated fixed steadies etc which came from his earlier ML3 or 4. I recall that he cut gears with single lathe tool using both ends ! In addition, he made a separate gear box for his ML7. I had one years ago. Somewhere, I have a Morse Taper sweep face thing with 3 slots for lathe tools instead of using milling cutters .

However he used TWO motors and fast and loose pulleys and re-cycled hydraulic oil.

Incidentally, he fabricated a 4 way tool post and rear tool post using home made bolts. I still have the rear one00 somewhere- and a swing tool holder.

Keep posting

Norm

 

[bazmak]

I have an original Myford 9" faceplate but there is insufficient meat to mill T slots
I also have a heavy duty faceplt for the sieg which I did mill T slots
This one I think is from RDG and screwed for the Myford nose
All nice to look at but don't get much use

 

[goldstar31]

I do appreciate just how little meat there is on the original Myford one but 'Cleeve' added 4 metal plates to make his tee slots

For myself, I have Vertex BSO dividing head which accepts a No2 MT and also a Myford Type faceplate. The whole lot, of course can tilt through 90 degrees to make a rotary table too. When it came, it also had a plain undrilled cast iron faceplate which, incidentally makes a rather nice lapping/tool honing plate using diamond pastes. So I can swop everything over from the Myford to the mill/drill to the Clarkson tool and cutter grinder. Devillish clever stuff.

Meanwhile, my flagging memory has woken up to wonder whether the little Cleeve gear box affair might conceivably go on my little Myford ML10. Which all reminds me to have a natter with my ancient old mate who has the Cleeve drawings for a tee slotted work holder out of Engineering in Miniature and that is in the Blackgates Engineering catalogue.

Keep well

Norm

 

[bazmak]

Hi Norm and everybody,still here and now solely working on Myfords.I advertised to buy/swap and restore Myfords
I have just finished one for a lad who lives local in the Adelaide hills. I have also sold the super 7 and an ML7 so
I bought another.Well into double figures now but ever one is interesting and different.The next one I bought
sight unseen online,very,very cheap and described as with no motor a broken cross slide feed screw. While waiting

I decided
to make a stand on the lines of the Myford original but lighter and manouverable to suit my needs.Here is my progress
meanwhile the lathe has arrived and will make a very interesting tale

 

[goldstar31]

Hi Barry.
As you say another interesting tale. Your new stand has me wondering because my experiences suggest a balance problem caused by the motor being too far back- and the whole thing tips. Consequently, I wonder about the wheels which are fitted to your stand.
Maybe they are there temporarily to move things about.

Whatever, I read your next gripping instalment about things Myford.
Me??? Nothing much. A week getting inebriated in the Dordogne in France followed by a terrific cold and the threats of yet another eyeball injection on Thursday. a twice weekly series of exercises for sagging lungs and to rather exciting trips to London and then Oban for a couple of 'jollies' with 'the lads'
So workshop activities are almost nil. I've smashed/worn out yet another saw blade on my 6 x 4 whilst cutting a huge and heavy chunk of Meehanite.

Best wishes

Norm

 

[bazmak]

Your right again Norm,the stand is mainly for build up and sales etc and for moving around in my
limited workspace. I would not use it the wheels but design some adjustable feet or have it
fixed down whilst using the lathe

 

[bazmak]

Lathe arrived as described without motor and a broken cross slide feedscrew.A quick strip down revealed everything clagged up with dried grease
Looked as though it hadn't been used for a long time,no bad thing. First pleasant surprise was it was a very late model serial no 99408 circa 1971
I thought I would start on the 2 chucks which were badly locked up, but a stripdown,clean etc revealed in almost new condition
A 6" myford ind. screw body slimline lightweight chuck and a 4" self centering with 2 sets of jaws both by Burnard. So that's half the value
I paid for the lathe already

.Quick check of the bed no more than 1 thou wear at the worst spot.Looks like I have scored a gem.Will keep you posted

 

[goldstar31]

As Barry says, Burnerd chucks are great and were standard issue for Myfords.
To the next gripping instalment?

Norm

 

[bazmak]

Full strip down and almost fully reassembled. The headstock brgs were as new
As was the bed and carriage.No wear at all to speak of just take apart and put back together
I fixed the cross slide feedscrew by drilling and tapping M3 and then screwing together
with a HT stud.Prepped and silver soldered the joint before machining the OD and thread
Then fitted a pair of roller thrust brgs.Very little backlash and smooth as silk.Tailstock and topslide next
I now need to think of a new motor and with my limited knowledge would ask advise from anybody
1/2 or 3/4 hp. Foot mounted or cradle resilient mount. CW or reversible. 240v 4 pole 1425 rpm ish
I have replaced one in the distant past but the top mounted capacitor cover clashed. Whats involved with a variable speed drive ?
Very limited here in Australia but have seen a few on ebay some local.Would also need a starter switch and 2 1/2 to 3" pulley
Anyone here in OZ know of any second hand ones available Meanwhile I plod on

 

[bazmak]

Well this ml7 is now finished.As well as being the cheapest it is now the best of the bunch as regards min wear and looking as new
I bought a new 1/2 hp motor with f/rev switch all prewired and fitted new pulley and belts all for $400ish
Runs well on my new stand.I made an adaptor plt and fitted a new 4jaw s/c chuck and almost finished a new 4 way toolpost
and a boring bar toolpost Really pleased with this one I like the drawer to the stand fits in well

 

[goldstar31]

So now I expect that you will be looking for more gears and a long cross slide.
Pity we are so far apart as I have a spare one

Out of action following a wasp bite just under my left eye- and I'm allergic to such things.

 

[bazmak]

eye eye What would be the postage Norm