Sheraton Model C lathe

Hi - I'm new to the whole forum.
I obtained this C model Sheraton lathe a few weeks back. Was stored for 20 years apparently; under the layers of Tectyl & grime it doesn't look too bad, with little wear immediately evident, though most moving parts were a bit stuck. There is some light rust here & there:- - not unexpected in FNQ. I have already dismantled it into large lumps as a restoration project to keep me busy in the shed. I have already found that the chuck (or its backplate) is most unwilling to unscrew from the headstock shaft. I will work on that soon enough. Currently working on cleaning up, checking & re-painting the bed & both mounting castings.

I also have an H&F AL300 lathe & a HM46 mill that hopefully won't be needed for anything too serious on this task.

Welcome aboard.
I assume you would have read about the dangers of locking the back-gear to hold the spindle when trying to remove a stuck chuck but just in case you haven't, don't do it!
I am currently helping a friend repair a Rexman that had the PO attempt the locked back-gear approach and have 4 broken gear teeth on the bull gear and back gear and a bent back-gear mounting shaft to try and repair as a result.
This chuck backplate was very tight but responded well to a large nut clamped in the 3-jaw and a few hits with the pneumatic rattle gun in reverse - something of a relief I have to say.
Good luck with the rest of restoration - it can be very satisfying to get these old machines running again.

Welcome.

Interesting colour. Sort of a light dry powdery rust colour !!!

Hello Ray S:- Yes, I understand about the back gear/chuck removal issue. I chucked some 16mm hex bar & hit it with the rattle gun + heat a few days ago:- no deal. So it's soaking in acetone & ATF atm. Will possibly make a split clamp for the l/h end of the mainshaft if req'd.

Nigel:- I think the predominant colour could be army surplus 'desert sand' or similar.... It scrapes & sands off fairly readily. It's going to be replaced with something boring; 'machinery grey' being the hot choice.

Here is an interesting thing. The rack has a gentle 15mm bend once removed. It's quite springy actually; locked-in machining stresses from 6o years+ ago? Gave it a good clean yesterday - it's in good condition. As is the rest of the machine so far.


Attachment 387420

By the way, I'm not putting those smiley things in there....

Hi Halifax614,

Welcome to the forums :)

By gum that is some bend in that rack !

I wouldn't worry too much about the red face smilies, some phone software does things like that !

Well, a week or so ago, I managed to remove the chuck backplate that was stuck fast & would not loosen with a rattle gun previously applied when the chuck was still attached.

Taking the idea from the American South Bend web site I made a split clamp for the l/h end of the headstock shaft from 20mm alloy stock & used a piece of steel plate suitably drilled to secure the r/h (backplate) end. Two 400 - 500mm lengths of 25mm rhs for leverage & pull hard... when that didn't work, pull VERY HARD. I was looking for an extension bar when... Man, that was a TIGHT bugger...

I was interested to see that the thinners/atf oil mix that I had applied a week earlier had migrated right down the threads; but of course it was the friction of the rear surface of the backplate against the corresponding shoulder of the headstock spindle that was the real problem. No damage evident on the male or female threads.
Pictures as below...

Attachment 387737Attachment 387736Attachment 387738

I have the headstock all in pieces now for inspection.
The stand & lathe bed are all finished & re-attached to one another. More photos to come.

Hi Halifax614,

Make sure that you clean and lubricate the register and threads ! Any swarf or grit in there will cause the threads to bind.

I digress, any relationship to the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron ?