Lathe repair advice needed

[treefall]

Hi. New to forum. Looks like an interesting place and I hope to spend more time here, but I have a problem with my lathe.
Some pictures should be attached.
Basically when I turn the spindle, the object on the stock, by hand there is a significant point in the cycle where it grinds. If I use the supporting stock/end piece I can cut along quite long pieces nice and cleanly, but as soon as I have to remove the end support, in this instance to cut into a goblet, there is a lot of movement off the centre - which makes it pointless and dangerous to use.
Is this likely to be an easy fix? I haven't taken the stock spindle or gears apart ever, but if I am given some general guidance I can do most things.
I don't have the manufacturer's name to hand although it says Delta in big writing on it. I think it is German manufactured. It is a simple lathe that a school wasn't allowed to use any more because Health and Safety regulations changed. However, I've loved using it. I imagine designs are pretty similar.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NickWelford]

Sounds like a bearing problem to me. Sorry, don't know how much of a job it is to change them, but should be possible. I expect someone on here has done it.

 

[woodpig]

Provided the workpiece is securely mounted then it does indeed sound like a bearing might need replacement.

First job is to identify the make and model of the Lathe and download a manual for it.

Edit:

Is it this one?

http://www.mikestools.com/download/Delt ... 46-460.pdf

There are other manuals here:

http://www.mikestools.com/Delta-Lathe-O ... nuals.aspx

Looking at a couple of the manuals it looks easy to get to the bearing but you may need to find a way to either gently press the bearing out of the head or off the shaft. It looks like a straightforward job but let's see some pics if you get stuck.

 

[SVB]

With the wood removed but with a faceplate / chuck attached, can you feel any play in the headstock bearings if you grab the (stationary!) faceplate / chuck and try to move it either axialy or raidially?

S

 

[Paul Hannaby]

First some terminology! The end with the motor is the headstock, the opposite end is the tailstock.

Is the play between the faceplate and spindle? If not, check the pulleys inside the headstock aren't rubbing against the casing at any point and that the motor and spindle rotate freely independent of each other when the drive belt is slackened. If you have eliminated all these as potential causes, then look at the possibility of play in the bearings.

 

[Wildman]

are you sure the tailstock is in alignment. If you turn the spindle by hand does the goblet stay true or run out, if it runs out the tailstock could be pulling it out of true. If it runs true by hand (use a dial indicator or sticky pin) then it is the headstock bearings or chuck alignment.
However the amount of overhang is rather large, had you turned the base first and held the wood by it then the length could almost be halved.

Looking closely at the end it is definitely elliptical, the second cut that is with an equal offset either side that is different to up and down. to me that points to a plain bearing that is worn on one side rather than a roller bearing that would be the same all around.

 

[treefall]

Thank you so much for those amazingly fast responses, and thanks for reminding me of headstock/tailstock - the words just weren't there.
Thanks Woodpig - the manuals seem to have it pegged as the most basic model. LA200.
Without wood attached, the faceplate doesn't seem to move either radially or axially.
I admit that the overhang is large - I hoped to get away with it, save a bit of wood and use what was left on the machine to do a small jewellery pot, lid n all.

I think that the tailstock is slightly out, but from what everyone has described I think I need to get this thing out and really strip it down so I understand it better as much as anything. Thanks, I probably wouldn't have had the confidence to do so without the pointers. Thank you all. And I'll let you know how I get on.