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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    12

    Default Restoration of a Hercus 9A (No. 6625)

    Hi All,

    I'm just wishing to share a few details and photos of a 1958 Hercus 9A lathe I picked a few short weeks back.

    I picked it up from a gumtree ad for $700. The owner was moving house and just wanted a quick sale. It came with a few cutting tools, a three and four jaw chuck, but unfortunately there were no steadies or face plate.

    The previous owner informed me that he bought it twenty years earlier and in all that time he had never used the power feed or lead screw! It doesn't appear to have had much in the way of heavy work or abuse and in general I suspect it wont require much in the way of replacement parts to get it restored.

    The lathe came with a 'Cadet' 3 phase motor which I will replace with a secondhand 'Cadet' single phase due to the power source in my garage.

    I will be adding a few more photos in due course as I get some of the sub-assemblies stripped, cleaned up, painted and oiled.

    Apologies if the photos are not so good on quality.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Southern Highlands NSW
    Posts
    1,894

    Default

    Those legs sure give it a vintage look.
    There's much to admire about South Bend - Hercus etc lathes.
    Spares availability is good too, notwithstanding yours is nearly 60 years old.

    Jordan

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Hi Vince60
    Very nice pick up. I have the same one which I picked up 30 years ago. Still runs good...
    Jim P

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    12

    Default

    Thanks for the messages guys. It's not hard to see why you guys are passionate about the South Bend/Hercus lathes. While dismantling the lathe I can really appreciate the work that has gone in to making these.

    A quick question while I'm online, I presume not all headstocks have the small hole to push in the wire to hold the spring wick down when reinstalling the spindle? My 9A doesn't appear to have them. I will be getting close to replacing the wicks in the coming week but I believe I can use still go through the hole for the brass oil points. Is this correct?

    Vince

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    Yes.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    12

    Default

    HI Pipeclay, Thanks for the confirmation.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    12

    Default

    Hi again,

    Just reporting back on some progress on the restoration after working on the 9A every night after work and several hours each weekend (I cant get enough of it at the moment). I have cleaned and painted the major components now and I have reassembled the tailstock, quick change gearbox, saddle and the tailstock. I have included some photos of the progress of these latter items.

    I have a feeling that the friction clutch hasn't gone back together correctly as the action of full clockwise to full anti-clockwise doesn't appear to be travelling as far as it used to before I dismantled the apron. I will removed the parts, check it and try again but I may seek some advice it if doesn't go well again.

    When cleaning out the apron I found that instead of felt wicks there appeared to be paraffin lamp wicks in a couple of the holes! were these used instead of felt back in the late 50's or is it likely that someone has replaced them with the next best thing they had available?

    Saddle and small components.jpgTailstock quick change gear box and apron.jpg

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    12

    Default

    Hi All,

    I have almost completed the restoration of my model A (photos coming soon) and whilst testing the lathe out I came across a small issue and thought I would pose a question; when I engage the longitudinal feed the saddle moves from right to left, however when I drop the drive selector to the lower position the cross slide feeds from the centre outwards! I have watched a youtube video ('South Bend Model 9A Metal Lathe walk through') and noticed theirs was the same. So, after taking a longitudinal cut towards the chuck and you wish to face the work off, you have to stop the chuck, change the reversing lever, restart the chuck then make the facing cut. For curiosity is this the same on all Hercus lathes?

    Regards Vince

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    I don't know about Hercus, but this is normal for most lathes in my limited experience. My lathe works this way I noticed the opposite occur on a YouTube video so both are used. I also posed this question on here years ago. A lot of people on YouTube tend to face from the centre out. Maybe to save changing the feed direction.

    Dean

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
    Posts
    3,228

    Default

    It confused me so much I drew arrows on my headstock and saddle with a marker.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    One benefit is that if you engage the cross slide feed by mistake when you are part way down a shaft then it will not dig in and ruin the work. Likewise when part way across the face. I don't recall any problems remembering which way, I just have a problem remembering to change direction before starting the lathe and having to stop again to do so. My lathe has an excellent foot brake so it is only a minor annoyance.

    Dean

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    melbourne australia
    Posts
    3,228

    Default Restoration of a Hercus 9A (No. 6625)

    I've never considered putting a foot brake on my 260. It would be dead easy to do with the VFD. What are the advantages? Do you ever find yourself tripping it accidentally?

    Edit: or does your lathe have a mechanical brake?
    Chris

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    No it is in a good position so it doesn't get in the way or accidentally tripped, but not too far to reach easily. It is the full length of the gap between the headstock and tailstock sections. The shaft passes into the headstock casting and actvates a band which wraps around the motor pulley on a flat section designed for this.

    It would be easy to do with a VFD. Use a heating element for a resistor.

    If I put my weight on the brake it stops very fast.

    Dean

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    1,105

    Default

    Only problem with a foot brake on a lathe with a screw on chuck is the chuck could unscrew itself with a sudden stop.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quite true. I don't think a foot brake would be suited to such a lathe. Just asking for trouble. It may be possible to fit a locking grub screw tho? It would need a flat spot to lock to. That is if you want to do this to your lathe spindle thread.

    Dean

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