Myford ML8 Mounting Bolts

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Tinbasher

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Hi All

I have got to the stage where I can mount the lathe on the new bench but I have no idea what size / thread the mounting bolts that screw into the castings are. Except I assume that they are NOT metric :)

I have looked on the lathes site but can't see any mention.

Thanks

Tin

Edited to say I found the info on the MYford website :)
 
Hi, These bolts are 3/8 Whitworth, go easy when you fit the bolts into the castings as the female threads in the casting are often bruised and you need to get two or three threads engaged before using any force, a bit of candle wax on the threads helps , steel and aluminium are not ideal thread partners. I use 3/8 whit studding, cut to length which you can get along with nuts and washers from most decent hard ware shops. Good luck with your new lathe which is a good piece of kit. :D
 
Thanks Parvum I did wonder about stud. MYFORD do sell 1 1/4 x 3/8 bolts for £1.11 each but I am mounting on a double layer of 18mm MDF so they would be too short.

I also read the mounting instructions on the MYFORD site and found them less than clear!

"MOUNTING THE LATHE ON A BENCH
Remove the rear turning attachment if this is fitted.
Position the lathe on the bench, allowing sufficient bench length for screwing down the swivel arm support bracket (76).
Mark out with pencil or scriber the headstock and ea d support (29) outlines.
Paste paper templates to bench top. Cut bench for belt clearance and drill bolt holes.
Mount the motor pulley on to the motor shaft with the small step innermost. If the belt drive guard is to be fitted, the face of the pulley must be 3/8 to 1/2 clear of the retaining plate for the resilient mounting bush on the motor. If the guard is not to be fitted, the face of the pulley should be only 1/16 to 1/8 clear of the plate.

Place the motorizing unit on the bench top, upside down and with the wing nut at the back and to the right.

Place the motor centrally on the motor base (pulley to the left) and secure with the motor clamping bolts.

A. Position the motorizing unit so that the centre line through the right hand holes in the swing bracket (54) matches the centre line through the right hand holes in the bench top (the holes are offset and will therefore not match up.).
A. Position the motor on its base so that the distances on either side of the pulley to the edges of the slot cut in the bench top are equal.
A. Finally tighten the bolts to secure the motor to its base.
B. Position- the complete unit on the bench so that the pulley is centralized in both directions with the slot cut in the bench top.. (The swing bracket should not overlap the limit line shown on the headstock template).

B. Mark round the square side and ends of the swing bracket with pencil or scriber.
B. Paste the swing bracket template to the bench top, to match lines and drill for fixing bolts.

When bolting lathe to bench, check for uneven surface and pack where necessary. Releasing the hexagon head screw (31) for the end foot, whilst tightening lathe securing bolts and retightening afterwards, will prevent distortion.
N.B. Holes in base of headstock and tailstock end support are tapped 3/8” B.S.W.
When mounting the rear turning attachment, the swivel arm support. bracket (76) should be secured to the bench by means of two No 10 x 1 1/2" wood screws. (When the machine is mounted on the cabinet stand, two 2 B.A. x 7/8”countersunk head screws are used). "


Tin
 
Hi all

I finally got some 2 1/2 inch 3/8 BSW Allen head setscrews from t'bay, 10 for 4.49 postsage paid. I had no joy locally at our proper old fashioned ironmonger who had a bag of nuts but no bolts. Some of the specialist suppliers online were frankly taking the P, with one wanting 9 quid just for postage of 8 bolts at neary two quid each.

As the question of mounting the ML8 has come up a few times would it be helpful if I did a sort of "how I did it" with photos?

Tom
 
Hi Tom, I am now in the position to mount the motor to my ML8 on a 1inch thick worktop, a detailed plan and video would be an amazing help to many I am sure.
Thanks, Robin.
 
I had a Myford ML8 some years ago, sold it. It was old then, and the previous owner had bolted it to a plank of wood, under size bold that loosely fitted through the treaded holes with washers and nuts.
 
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