Thread: Help needed.

Hi Fellas,

Please excuse my stupidity, but I cannot get my powered feeds going on my Hercus 260ATM. I've selected a direction, engaged either longitudinal or crossfeed and engaged the clutch.
But no joy. I feel like a idiot, this happened when I first got my Hercus and it was some thing really simple but the for the life of me I cannot remember. I've watched the hercus dvd and consulted the TOT to no avail.
Any help would be grateful.
Cheers Ben
ps please don't laugh to hard.

Is the Leadscrew turning?

Leadscrew is turning.

Does the clutch nut turn when running

The clutch nut doesn't engage when a feed is selected. But does turn when a feed isn't selected.

From what I understand the star wheel will rotate in the opposite direction to the feed engaged.
If no feed is engaged the star wheel will remain stationary unless the carriage is moved.
If you star wheel is rotating when no feed is engaged it would appear to be incorrect.
Others with more knowledge of the 260 or with the correct book/s should be able to assist.

Originally Posted by bwal74

The clutch nut doesn't engage when a feed is selected. But does turn when a feed isn't selected.

So the clutch is slipping then as something is jammed?

The clutch is not very strong... Mine will slip if the cut is too heavy...

try the half nut lever i think if this is engaged the clutch is locked out
john

If you star wheel is rotating when no feed is engaged it would appear to be incorrect.

I meant to say that the star wheel rotates when feed drive selector is in neutral position (middle).

The threading half nut lever is definately disengaged, so that shouldn't be causing problems.

The feed reversing lever is engaged.

I'm beat. I wasn't taking a cut and haven't used the lathe for a week due to the holidays. I had finally got around to levelling (as best as I could) the lathe and wanted to do a quick test cut. The lathe was working well before this, so I hoped this was just a little thing I forgot to do.

I'll ring Mal from AMW and get his advice before pulling the apron apart.

Cheers for the help.

Ben

Ben I will make a video today for you...

just went and checked how mine works
lead screw not turning
screwcutting feed lever off ( down)

selector lever up star wheel turns opposite direction to hand wheel when carriage is moved along

selector lever in centre position
nothing turns when carriage is moved
this is for power screw feed

selector lever down
for power cross feed

star wheel (clutch) is turned anticlockwise to disengage

maybe theres some swarf jammed in the clutch ive never had mine apart so i dont know if that can happen or maybe the key has moved on the leadscrew drive
hope this is of some help
john

maybe theres some swarf jammed in the clutch ive never had mine apart so i dont know if that can happen or maybe the key has moved on the leadscrew drive

Hi Fellas,

I had a play around with the lathe before calling Mal, I was pretty sure I was doing everything right but this time I pulled out on the Clutch Star Wheel a little bit (I also held onto the star - to stop it turning and maybe turn it back into position - whilst in was in the neutral position before putting it into a drive position). And hey presto the feed engaged. Must of had swarf jammed in the clutch or maybe there's something worse that I'll have to fix.

I've got the Southbend Renovating guide so I guess I'll pull apart the apron this week (wife has given me this week to myself before I go back to work) and hopefully I will get the QCT post from AMW as well.

Thanks for all your help. Hopefully soon I'll be making more than just swarf.

Cheers Ben.