Chester 920 traverse issue

[Fergie 307]

The other issue is the worm itself. The end appears to be rounded, presumably as a result of wear. Ideally the ends want to be flat. If it is not hardened then you can simply face off each end in the lathe. Wrap a piece of aluminium, brass or copper around it to protect the worm from the chuck jaws. A piece of 22mm plumbing pipe split lengthways for example.
If hardened then you might be able to mount something like a Dremel on the toolpost to face it off using a grinding stone. You could also use a disc or belt sander, you would just need to come up with a suitable way of holding it square against the disc or belt.

 

[flintandsteel]

Turns out a friend of a friend can make a new one - in Bronze.
It'll cost a bit but then the machine will then most likely see me out.
Pic when I have it in hand.

 

[Fergie 307]

I wouldn't have thought bronze would be strong enough to be honest. Steel, even bright mild, would be much stronger.
Sorry to be a party pooper but I think if you make it in bronze the side will break off again fairly quickly. You would have to make it much chunkier to be strong enough in bronze.
Personally I would look at making it in high tensile steel, cheap as chips and very strong. Use bronze thrust washers by all means.
Really quite easy to do using the lathe itself, assuming you have a four jaw chuck and the lathe has the facility to lock the saddle to the bed. You can use the rack to move the saddle, then just lock it and use the top slide to advance the tools for accuracy. Most of the work would be using the cross slide anyway.
Much cheaper too, and you would have the satisfaction of doing it yourself

 

[flintandsteel]

Regret I'm not that technically capable with a lathe. I use it mainly for making 1 off screws and other small pieces for antique flintlock and percussion pistols.
As it turns out he made it in steel and the lathe is now very well behaved.