"asdfasdf" wrote in message
...
I have a 10" South Bend lathe (serial RKL) that I'm
having a problem with. I've used it to turn small
pieces until now. I was making a shaft about 5.25"
long and .75 diameter. I kept checking the diameter
and was satisfied at the tailstock end but found that
headstock end was about .008" larger. I am not
using the tailstock so alignment to the tailstock
is not an issue. I have to assume that the headstock
is not aligned with the bed. Does anyone know the
correct procedure to re-align the headstock with the
bed for the given lathe?

1) Hang a piece of 1" material about 6 inches out of the chuck and then
carefully turn the last 1/2 inch or so that is closest to the tailstock down
to exactly .950 diameter.

2) Cut away all of the rest of the bar except for the last 1/2 or so that
is nearest to the chuck down to about .900 or so, for clearance.....

3) Carefully cut the last 1/2 in or so that is nearest to the chuck down to
exactly .950 diameter.

4) Finally, loosen and re-align your headstock by bumping /shimming/
scraping or otherwise adjusting until an indicator placed on the carriage
produces the same reading at both of the .900 diameters.