Harrison L5 3HP Lathe

[Slooby]

Now, following on from my posts about the Bridgeport this is my other machine tool project and the one that I am currently focusing on to get running because I've owned it far too long without ever seeing it run...at least 15 years...

It came to me when ta friend of mine, an excellent machinist and trials motorbike whisperer, asked if I knew of anyone looking for a lathe...it was coming from the estate of motorbike engine builder who specialised in Pre-60's trials bikes who he used to do a lot of machining for. It wasn't a runner, but was being offered for its then value in scrap; £300. Naturally, being the type of project hoarder that I am, how could I refuse!

Anyway roll on a few years, marriage, a child, a divorce and the sell up of my martial home to settle the divorce, the Lathe has now found it's way back down with me to Kent and my childhood workshop to join my other metal working toys.

For years I had thought it was an L5A, but I'd never got round to measuring the swing clearance until this evening, it turns out that with the gap removed there's a throw of around 9 inches, so it must be an L5. The year is hard to pin down as it has features of both the Mk3 and Mk4. A bit like my Bridgeport it seems to have been quite a high spec machine coming with the stand, the two speed 3hp motor, 36 speed Norton gearbox, a suds system and a whole heap of additional chucks, collets, steadies etc. Anyway, pics time!

 

[Slooby]

The parts missing from the machine in my workshop are next door in my dad and brother-in-law's more woodwork orientated workshop from their now sadly defunct business (technically all mine as I bought everything from the reciever so it wouldn't be lost...):

Another curio, seen here with the gap, is a home brew toolpost grinder, comprising a small bench grinder mounted on a motorbike swingarm!

In amungst the now rather rusty tooling (a good soak in some De-ox-C required) there are the adjustable feet, I think 7 chucks, a magnetic face plate, I think a T slot face plate, collets, a drawbar, centring steadies, a tool post X-Y stage, Colchester type tool post and that cylinder was an arbour for cylinder liners.

 

[Slooby]

While I'm down in Kent this week ferrying my dad to hospital each day for a course of Chemo-Radiotherapy, I've been filling my evening giving it a good clean, and preparing to replace the motor.

Last night and this evening I set about the suds sump and removed the pump along with the main motor as it is suspect:

The old motor was an unknown quantity and it appears to be original:

The plan is to replace it with this new, old stock, ABB unit running delta from a Siemens VFD Inverter:

I'm wondering whether I can re-use the controls on the stand to run the VFD...

 

[Slooby]

Another part of the machine I need to take a look into modifying is the suds pump:

Replacing the motor with a single phase unit ideally with integral speed control...

 

[Sideways]

Do a search on here. There is a long thread on the refurb of my L5 1950 vintage, with valuable contributions by @Fergie 307 who has a nice L5A.

I've since traded up to a 20 year newer L5A myself.

You'll find a serial number stamped into the bed at the right hand end and this can be used to look up in a list of Harrison serial numbers by year to date yours to the year.

A couple of observations.
The inside of the belt cover is painted dark red. This was the practice in 1950 and had stopped by 1970.
The handwheels are solid centres. This was the practice in 1950 on an L5 but the L5A has 3 spoke handwheels.
Your motor mounts are L5 style, they were slightly improved on the L5A for greater adjustability.

I have upgraded both of my machines with the same square style ABB motors. Both 3 phase, 4 pole rather than 2 pole, 2.2kW versions. In doing this, you need to switch the motor pulley to a modern taperlock type.
A 2.2kW 4 pole motor has oodles of torque and will quite happily spin the lathe even dialled down to half speed on the VFD. There is some value in this as when facing the end of a bar, you can start the cut at half speed and twist the speed control as you cut towards the centre. This helps compensate for the reducing diameter and reduction in surface speed. The trick is a poor man's constant linear velocity function and gives a better finish on facing cuts.

Lastly, and to my shame, the L5A is the only machine I've ever dropped. They are heavy and tall with a pretty slim base. I vowed never to do that again and have copied the extended feet made of parallel flange channel you will see on Fergie's lathe for extra stability. I commend that idea to you.