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  1. #1
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    Default Do I need more gears on 260ATM?

    For the first time today I decided to explore thread cutting on my new (old) lathe. I attempted to cut M12 x 1.5, but the pitch spacing seemed way too close together? Can I kindly ask for advice here please? According to the front plate, (I think I'm reading it right) the right gear lever should be on "B", and the Left lever should be on "6". But the thread was way too close together! Please correct me If I am doing something wrong please! Then I thought maybe I don't have the correct gearing?
    IMG_1293.jpgIMG_1294.jpg

    Which one is a stud gear (should be 45 tooth according to the plate)? and which one is the screw gear (should be 60 tooth according to the plate!
    Any help would really be appreciated

    with thanks

  2. #2
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    Default

    Your set up is correct, have you checked by measurement or with thread gauages?

  3. #3
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    Default thanks Pipeclay

    Quote Originally Posted by pipeclay View Post
    Your set up is correct, have you checked by measurement or with thread gauages?
    Hi Pipeclay, thanks for your help I had to wait 15mins to login (it turned out being 30mins and new password, he he!).

    No I just visually observed that it was way too small, at a guess it looked to be less than 0.5mm, perhaps 0.4mm between scratchings. Being my first attempt I slowed the machine and had the back gears engaged, I wonder, would this stuff up the pitch sizing?

  4. #4
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    Default

    Hopefully this pic adds some clarity. Can't help with the pitch issue though.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Chris

  5. #5
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    Default

    You could try as the above photo shows with the 18 on the stud and levers on A/4 to see if that gives a different result.

  6. #6
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    Talking Thanks Jack620 and Pipeclay

    Quote Originally Posted by jack620 View Post
    Hopefully this pic adds some clarity. Can't help with the pitch issue though.
    Thanks Jack620, there are definitely some differences there! I'll have to get some more gears and try this setup! Hopefully Mal will have them!

    Thanks to all for your advice on this, it really helps

  7. #7
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    Default

    Are you engaging the half nuts or are you winding the clutch in to engage the apron to move ?
    To do thread cutting you need to engage the half nuts.
    The apron has a inbuilt safety device so you can't use the clutch and the halfnuts at the same time.
    When I use the halfnuts I leave them engaged all the time and use reverse on the motor to get the apron back to the starting point.
    The alternative is to use a thread dial indicator.
    Also do you know how to engage the back gears to make the lathe run slower?

  8. #8
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by christh View Post
    I'll have to get some more gears and try this setup! Hopefully Mal will have them!
    No I think you already have them. You just swap the 18 and the 45 depending on what thread pitch you are cutting. In my picture the 18 & 45 are reversed compared to in your picture.
    Chris

  9. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by christh View Post
    Thanks Jack620, there are definitely some differences there! I'll have to get some more gears and try this setup! Hopefully Mal will have them!

    Thanks to all for your advice on this, it really helps

    You already have all the gears there, where the 45 tooth gear is now is the stud gear, that is to be swapped over with the 18 tooth gear that is on the gearbox when you use the lower chart on the gearbox plate, the link may help you out, it gives you the gear configurations for the lathes.

    Standard gear configuration for Hercus 9" and 260 lathes

    I put this together a while ago and I know it is not what you need but it may help you grasp changing gears, it shows changing the stud and screw gears although you only need to change the screw gear for imperial threads.

    Compound gear configurations on 9" model A lathes

    Hope that helps in some way.

  10. #10
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    Default Thanks for the information

    Hi all just a quick note to say thanks for all the information, Late last night finally success! It was operator error (and lack of Lathe knowledge and no training). I wasn't engaging the apron nut . What I was doing was engaging the 3 position apron lever (not sure what that is called, someone please tell me!) and not the actual apron nut lever. so my pitch spacing went from photo 1 to photo 2. I was quite chuffed when it started to work! Admitidly rough as dogs balls but it is a step in the right direction

    Thanks again everyone

    IMG_1307.jpg IMG_1405.jpg

  11. #11
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  12. #12
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    Default Thanks for the pic

    Quote Originally Posted by Somedayplumbing View Post

    There you go, Feed engaging lever!

  13. #13
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    Default

    Seeing that you don't have a lot of experience, can I suggest if you have other problems or issues in the future that you try and explain in as much detail as possible what you are doing or did or what you were using, this would of made providing a solution to your threading issues much quicker.
    Its always easier if the poster of a question always provides as much detailed information as possible, it saves all the backwards and forewords replies, a lot of times people just assume when replying to questions that there is some perceived knowledge.

  14. #14
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    Thumbs up Definitely will Pipeclay

    Yes I will do that in future posts

    thanks again.

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