Clarke CWL 12D woodworking lathe

[Hodd11]

Can anyone help me I have just got a Clarke 37” lathe but the main shaft is slightly out so won’t centre I have looked but can’t find a replacement any ideas

 

[flh801978]

Do you mean its bent? Or wont align with the tailstock centre?

 

[Hodd11]

It won’t align but when it runs it’s crocked I attached a video

 

[pryere]

That does not look good, the shaft needs replacing and that is not an easy job.

It could possibly be that the faceplate is bent, have you run it with this removed?

 

[Hodd11]

It is the spindle what do I do now

 

[flh801978]

Are you capable of removing it?

 

[Fergie 307]

If you are definite it's the spindle then I should think the cheapest option would be to get a new one, assuming the part is available. Changing it out should be pretty straightforward. Make sure you replace the bearings as well. I would have a very good look at the casting as well. Heck of a force needed to bend the spindle, so you want to be sure nothing else is damaged. Trying to repair the spindle is a specialist job, and would almost certainly cost more than a new one. Have to say in the video the large nut on the shaft looks to be running true, although very hard to tell. Have you used a dti or similar to measure it.

 

[okeydokey]

Well to me it looks as if the faceplate is distorted, what does the spindle look like when its running without the faceplate? Any chance of another video without faceplate please?
Ive just looked at the spares page and the spindle assembly looks easy to remove but............................................... As Fergie 307 said the nut and the part of the faceplate that screws onto the spindle appear to be running true so not the spindle imo

 

[Droogs]

Looks like it is a bent shaft. Need to check with a dial indicator to be sure but if it is then a new shaft from machine mart will be needed.


Sorry I did write this reply about 10 mins after you posted but must have forgotten to upload it

 

[Hodd11]

Thank you all I will take another video without the faceplate

 

[Fergie 307]

Have you tried putting the plate face down on a flat surface to see if it is actually flat? Not sure another video will help, it's really difficult to see well enough. In the first video it looked to me like the shaft was running true, but as I say very hard to see properly. Some kind of indicator will tell you definitely if it's the spindle.