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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Toowoomba
    Posts
    6

    Default New Hercus Owner with questions

    G'Day all,

    I have just recently purchased a 1952 A model Hercus.
    It came with cast legs but no chip tray.
    Question is how were the legs originally attached, the ones on mine have only 1 bolt per leg (see pic)
    All the parts on the lathe seem to have been there many many years
    It unfortunately has a few broken bits, possibly from a fall, and found out tonight the back gear is missing a tooth.
    Any assistance or advice it more than welcome as I am new to the world of lathes, previous project was a 1950 Land Rover.
    Look forward to getting into the project.

    Regards,

    Brendan
    IMG20190524111846.jpgIMG20190531155607.jpgIMG20190601200221.jpgIMG20190601200205.jpgIMG20190524111806.jpgIMG20190602173547.jpg

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

    Default

    Hi Brendan.
    Just a guess, maybe the legs were supplied without holes, to be fitted to the lathe as required.
    Then the owner only drilled one hole in each instead of two, for whatever reason.
    It should be straightforward to add more holes for bolts, shimming as required between lathe feet and the legs.
    Missing teeth on back gears is a common fault, due to rough handling by owners not knowing how to remove chucks safely. I'd look for a good used replacement.
    The platform at the back under the motor is something I've never seen before.
    A tray could be folded up and welded. They usually have angled walls, and in the case of A models, often with extra shaping to clear the gearbox levers.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Hello Brendan,

    Welcome to the Forum. I have a '58 lathe with cast legs. The lathe bed feet are fastened to the legs with a pair of fixings. The legs are tapped to accommodate the fixings.

    IMG_20190603_073748990.jpg IMG_20190603_073832761.jpg

    Bob.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Toowoomba
    Posts
    6

    Default

    Thankyou for the quick replys,
    Just wondering Bob if the legs on yours has spreaders?
    The feet on the lathe seem to be a little wide so guessing who ever purchased it had to do a bit of DIY assembly
    I will have to try and find some full and detaild pictures of the legs and tray to get an idea of rough size etc.
    Thanks again

    Brendan

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    There is no spreader Brendan.

    Give me a day or so to move some stuff out of the way and I'll take some photos of the legs and swarf tray. I don't use the lathe very often.

    Bob.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Toowoomba
    Posts
    6

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post
    There is no spreader Brendan.

    Give me a day or so to move some stuff out of the way and I'll take some photos of the legs and swarf tray. I don't use the lathe very often.

    Bob.
    Thank you Bob

    It will give me something to look over, I don't think with the way work is at the moment that the lathe will be up and running until probably the end of the year.

    Regards,

    Brendan

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
    Age
    59
    Posts
    6,540

    Default

    G'day Brendan
    Some people will put a lathe in back gear and then use a sharp blow or two to unstick a tight chuck. That is usually how they get damaged.
    I guess with respect to your gear, the first question is whether or not you have an oxy set and can braze cast iron. If you can, the easiest thing may be to get a piece of cast iron, file it roughly to tooth shape, braze on and then finish file it. Failing that, you may be able to buy a spare or as a last resort, someone here may be able to cut one for you. I say last resort as it's a fair chunk of material so could cost.

    Michael

    Added bit: repaired worse damage before
    //metalworkforums.com/f309/t200...16#post1923916 (see second picture down)
    //metalworkforums.com/f65/t1210...44#post1924744

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Toowoomba
    Posts
    6

    Default

    Hi Michael,
    Thanks for the suggestion, Im going to get one of dads mates to have a look, he has fixed far worse over the years and then I can keep the original backgear. As you show in the link there is far worse out there.

    Hi Bob,
    Thank you very much for the detailed pictures, they will assist me very much so, I think looking at the legs on yours mine might be a different type as on yours the feet face out and on mine the feet face inwards.
    If I take my time and do it right I think I will finish up with a very nice and usable lathe.

    Regards,

    Brendan

    IMG20190601200213.jpgIMG20190524111830.jpg

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

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    Failing that, you may be able to buy a spare...
    They are available if repairing doesn't work out: https://australianmetalworkinghobbyi...product_id=192
    Chris

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