Hello. My name is Richard.
I have a Harrison lathe, L5 or L5a, not sure which, 9 inch. I've had it for over 20 years and despite its age (probably 60) it is a marvellous, solid piece of kit.
I use it for all sorts of tasks, but have no specific focus for my efforts. I don't make steam engines or clocks, at least not yet.
I've put up with the 3-speed screwcutting gearbox for years, and have just acquired a Norton gearbox to upgrade the lathe. I've also bought replacement shorter leadscrew and leadshaft (??).
I read that the shafts can easily be withdrawn to the right of the machine, and tried to do so with the 'donor' lathe. I found it impossible to take out the leadshaft (the plain bar with the longitudinal slot) because there is a pin sitting in the slot to retain the key at the left side. Instead I pulled it out to the left side, no problem - the gearbox was off already.
I removed my original one the same way. I have limited access to the right side, and to take it out to the right means moving half a ton of lathe.
I've tried to put the replacement into my lathe from the left side, and it goes partway into the carriage before meeting some sort of obstruction. I don't want to use brute force, and wondered if anyone can tell me what I need to do? I've rotated it to try to engage whatever sits in the slot, but so far no luck.
Looking forward to further discussions in this forum
I have a Harrison lathe, L5 or L5a, not sure which, 9 inch. I've had it for over 20 years and despite its age (probably 60) it is a marvellous, solid piece of kit.
I use it for all sorts of tasks, but have no specific focus for my efforts. I don't make steam engines or clocks, at least not yet.
I've put up with the 3-speed screwcutting gearbox for years, and have just acquired a Norton gearbox to upgrade the lathe. I've also bought replacement shorter leadscrew and leadshaft (??).
I read that the shafts can easily be withdrawn to the right of the machine, and tried to do so with the 'donor' lathe. I found it impossible to take out the leadshaft (the plain bar with the longitudinal slot) because there is a pin sitting in the slot to retain the key at the left side. Instead I pulled it out to the left side, no problem - the gearbox was off already.
I removed my original one the same way. I have limited access to the right side, and to take it out to the right means moving half a ton of lathe.
I've tried to put the replacement into my lathe from the left side, and it goes partway into the carriage before meeting some sort of obstruction. I don't want to use brute force, and wondered if anyone can tell me what I need to do? I've rotated it to try to engage whatever sits in the slot, but so far no luck.
Looking forward to further discussions in this forum
