Owners survey: How is your G0766 doing so far?

Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast
  1. Roger Chandler
    Roger Chandler
    Okay, time to get a read from owners of the G0766 on how your lathe is performing to date. Tell us about your usage [example: heavy, medium, light? Any big wood, or mostly small stuff at this point?]. Any problems with your lathe [what type?]. And did Grizzly resolve it for you? We are a good six months into usage of the 0766, and we can get a collective read on it from owners. Maybe even silence the nay-sayers !

    Okay, I will go first. Due to the hectic schedule I have had in recent months, I would call my usage to be medium/moderate level. I have turned some big heavy pieces and the 0766 handled them well. I am VERY PLEASED with the lathe's performance and power. Zero problems, and I can say I feel that I got a superb value in a fin performing unit.

    What is your experience with your G0766?
  2. Steve Drinkut
    Steve Drinkut
    I have had mine since September. I guess I am a medium to heavy user. I made bowls, lidded boxes, pens, tops, screwdriver handles, and a chess set for Christmas presents for the wife, 3 daughters and their husbands, and 5 grandchildren. Since Christmas, I have been turning more bowls and screwdriver handles per requests from one daughter's in-laws. I haven't had any problems with the lathe other than some chipped paint on top of the tail stock and the lack of inexpensive tool rests. I did buy the six inch rest from Robust and gerry rigged some extensions out of heavy electrical conduit for the Rockler tool rest with the 5/8 inch posts.
  3. Brice Rogers
    Brice Rogers
    Many of the initial problems are behind me:
    1. Banjo too small - - they replaced it.
    2. Tool rest too high - - I reduced the stem by about 3/4 inch. The new banjo improved it, but I personally thought that the tool rest was still too high.
    3. Spindle thread undersize (at least according to Machinist handbook) and really "ugly" looking threads - - supposedly I'm going to be sent a new spindle in Feb.
    4. Erratic speed control. The speed potentiometer was intermittent. Grizzly sent me a new $2.50 part. I spent around an hour to replace.
    5. Rubbed off paint on legs - I've accepted that
  4. Brice Rogers
    Brice Rogers
    Part 2:
    6. Shoulder of 1.250 spindle was 1.260 or oversize. That made several aftermarket faceplaces and spindles from seating correctly. I fixed that myself with a file and 10 minutes of work.
    7. Can't read the markings on the tailstock ram. I put magic market lines on it.
    8. The banjo washer was manufactured to dimensions that allowed it to become jambed and made the banjo inoperative. Grizzly replaced it. It seems to work.
    9. The tool rest post is slightly unique - - 25 mm. That increases the cost of buying lower-priced 1" tool rests. I drilled mine out.
    10. When I received my lathe, the bolts holding the motor to the motor plate were all loose and half had fallen out. The motor was literally hanging by a couple of threads. The lathe was therefore inoperative when I got it. I put a drop of Loctite on each of the bolts and retightened.
  5. Brice Rogers
    Brice Rogers
    Part 3:


    If I had paid $3Kor more for this I would have been more disappointed. But I paid a whole lot less. So I got a lot of functionality for the price. I think that a new buyer is probably going to get a more stable machine with a high ratio of performance to cost, because several early problems have been corrected. So I'm reasonably happy with it. I'm just a little surprised that Grizzly didn't pay attention to the little details. If they did, and if I had not experienced these very avoidable problems, I would consider the lathe to be about $1K under priced.

    I like the fact that it is has a pretty big capacity, and has a good variable speed control, plus a reverse (which works good for sanding but less so for turning).
  6. Darryl Schilling
    Darryl Schilling
    Moderate user. Havent gotten into really big wood yet.. No problems at all except the banjo. Love the machine.
  7. Roger Chandler
    Roger Chandler
    Brice.....I think the unit you got must have been an anomaly........most of what I have heard from the majority of turners who got the 0766 has been very positive. I am glad you are keeping contact with Grizzly about your spindle. This lathe has super potential.....I think your unit must have gotten past QC or some newbie did the machining on the spindle. My threads are just fine on mine, as well as everything else....hoping for your unit to be put in top notch order and performance.
  8. Brice Rogers
    Brice Rogers
    Roger, I agree that my lathe was perhaps an anomaly. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably buy a G0766 again.
  9. Mark Greenbaum
    Mark Greenbaum
    I ordered mine in May, with instructions for them to hold until I got into the new house. They complied beautifully. It arrived virtually undamaged (a little paint scuff on legs). I took a month to unpack and setup - in September I started to turn, and have been a moderate use turner. Largest item was about 20 lbs, and smallest was 2 oz. Rock steady performer, and I love that Grizzly has sent new banjo and support washer, just wish it would've been a completed banjo assembly, but oh well. I have not taxed it beyond its capacity, yet, but I'll try harder in Spring. I'd recommend it to others, no problem. I am 5'-10" tall and will need to make a platform for me to stand on - spindle center a bit too high.
  10. John Wright
    John Wright
    I haven't had much luck with my 766. I received it in November, but since this was a Christmas present from my wife, I wasn't able to turn on it till after Christmas. The following is the problems I have had so far with my 766.

    1. The tailstock did not line up with the bed. The headstock and the tailstock points come together, but when you move the tailstock to the end of the lathe, it does not line up. It is apparent that they machined the tailstock at an angle because it does not line up when you put a straight edge on the quill it is about 3/8 off when you get to the headstock.
Results 1 to 10 of 43
Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast