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Thread: Side play in Jet Mini lathe spindle - solution?

  1. #1

    Side play in Jet Mini lathe spindle - solution?

    What are the specs on side play of a headstock spindle of a Jet mini lathe?

    I was spinning a bowl blank this evening, and couldn't get the tenon trued up. It looked fine while spinning, but then when I turned it over by hand, it was obviously not on center. I did this several times, and finally started checking things.

    Since I had the blank on a worm screw in my Nova midi chuck, I checked to make sure the blank was tight against the jaws. Seemed to be - couldn't get it any tighter. Since it was seated all the way up, I checked to make sure the jaws were tight on the worm screw. I couldn't get them any tighter either. A back and forth side pull on the bowl blank revealed a "knocking" noise I couldn't pin down though. I took the blank off and the worm screw out, and thought it was the jaws clicking at first, so I took that chuck off and put another on. Same problem. REally curious (and aggravated) now, I took the chuck all the way off and checked the end play of the spindle. Not finding any play there, I pulled hard sideways on the threaded end of the spindle. Bingo! It made the clicking noise.

    Now I was concerned. I loosened the belt tension, and checked again on the handwheel end. Yup. Definitely feeling motion in the spindle, I loosened the set screws in the hand wheel and tightened the hand wheel on the spindle as much as possible and re-tightened the set screws. A side pull still made the clicking noise. Durn!
    I loosened the set screws in the hand wheel and the pulley and slid the spindle out. (yeah. it's that easy to change a belt!)

    Close inspection revealed that the smaller bearing on the handwheel side had been "fretting" a little because the telltale rust marks were on the spindle and inner race. Still it doesn't seem that there's an appreciable amount of wear on the spindle. The bearing slides equally well on down the shaft as well as in the "wear" spot. The large bearing on the inboard end is tight on the spindle and will have to be pressed off if removed.

    Subsequent measurements reveal the spindle to be about .001" smaller than the inside race of the bearing, and the bearing seems to be about .002" smaller than the hole in the headstock casting.

    I don't have a dial indicator, so I can't tell you how much the side play is when it's all assembled, but I may check that tomorrow. I'll have to borrow the shops indicator and bring it home.

    What are the allowable limits, and what should I do to fix this problem?

  2. #2
    Dang...

    Y'all got nothin? Funny thing is I figured I'd get more response here than anywhere. But I got lots of responses on two other forums already.

    Just to keep you posted (in case you're interested) I did measure the radial play on the spindle this evening.. It is indeed right at .003-.004" on the handwheel side, which confirms my clearance measurements.

    I called Jet today too. Tomorrow I'll provide them with the purchase date and serial number to see if they'll warranty anything...

    I'll keep you posted on any further developments.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    carmel ny.
    Posts
    77

    Smile side play in Jet mini lathe

    Try this web site there is a person with the same problem that you have.
    www.woodturner.org:)
    Start square and you will finish square

  4. #4
    Huh... That's funny, he even has the same name as I do...

  5. #5
    Just got off the phone with the Jet Technician.

    They're sending me a new headstock and bearings under warranty.

    I didn't realize these things had a two year warranty.

    I'll let you know if it fixes the problem.

  6. #6
    Installed new parts on Tuesday, and all is back to new tight lathe goodness!

    Unfortunately the manual is a bit vague on how tight the handwheel should be to take up endplay.

    Anyone have any tips?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    15
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Underwood View Post
    Installed new parts on Tuesday, and all is back to new tight lathe goodness!

    Unfortunately the manual is a bit vague on how tight the handwheel should be to take up endplay.

    Anyone have any tips?
    Jim,
    I would run the lathe until the headstock is getting warm and then check for end play on the spindle. Snug without play and it should be just fine. Too tight will cause pre-mature wear. A periodic check would also be in order.

    Jim Milne

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Orange County, CA
    Posts
    274
    About a year ago I asked that question and WHM tech said to tighten the handwheel until the wave washer is fully compressed. I have since looked at several and it appears to be the way the factory sets them.

    In theory, with increasing temperature, the steel spindle should expand at a greater rate (lengthen) than the cast iron housing and the wave washer would take up any clearance.

    Joe

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