On Sat, 6 Jun 2015 06:01:33 -0700 (PDT), rangerssuck
wrote:

On Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 9:50:44 PM UTC-4, Don Foreman wrote:
My lathe is throwing oil at me from behind the chuck. I like this
lathe a lot. I've been using it for a couple of decades. I'd like to
get that oil slinging problem fixed.

There are no seals in the headstock; it uses a "labyrinth" slinger
method of oil management.

One guy I talked to asked if I ever turn plastic. (Yes, I do, fairly
often) He said he'd seen this befo fine delryn or nylon swarf
somehow gets in behind the chuck and plugs an internal drain hole.

The lathe is an Enterprise 1550 made by Mysore Kirloskar Electric in
India.

(This is probably where Larry Jaques insensitively and rudely asks
what I did to my Kirloskar to make it sore.)

It (the lathe, not my Kirloskar) looks a lot like a Clausing
Colchester, and I think that the maker had a relationship with
Colchester at one time back in the early '70s. I've been told that
this method of headstock oil management is used on some Colchesters.

I located the nuts that preload the spindle bearings, made a spanner
and got them off. The gears on the spindle in the headstock slide
freely, now that grub screws and circlips have been removed. From
looking at the drawings (I have the manual) I can see no reason why
the D1-4 camlock spindle shouldn't just slide out toward the tailstock
so I can get in there to clean out a plugged drain hole. But I can't
get the damned spindle to budge. I've pried on it and hit it a few
times with a big brass hammer.

I thought I had a professional on deck to come help me with this but
it appears that he's flaked on me.

Any informed or experienced ideas or suggestions? I really don't want
to barf up the spindle bearings.

Not meaning to be trite about this, but unless there is some other reason for dismantling the head, or unless there is a huge amount of oil being slung, why not just bend up some sheet metal (or a beer can) to catch the oil before it hits you? Life is way too short to spend it trying to make old machines perfect IMHO.

Others have expressed similar opinion, humble and otherwise. One
guy, a retired millwright, after looking at my situation asked, "How
old are you, Don?" I told him. Not quite as old as he, as it turns
out. He grinned and asked, "Don, how much oil do you think that
thing can sling in the time you have left?"

We laughed, adjourned for lunch, and then shared a very pleasant
afternoon shooting at his range.

If all else fails, I could indeed contrive an oil shield and
collector. Such a kludge might offend my delicate sensibilities for
awhile, but I agree with you that it would be a rational approach. But
I'd really like to have my lathe work like it should because it has
been such an enjoyable machine to have and use for many years. It's
been one of the "capability machines" that have enabled me to
realize what I might devise in my mind into actual physical reality in
real metal or plastic or whatever. The trash can enjoys my
misadventures as much as I do. There's always Mark II ... and Mark
III ... and so on. More time in the shop? Oh... dear!

I do NOT want a 3D printer; I spent a lot of enjoyable time teaching
myself to machine and weld, and I continue to thoroughly enjoy those
activities.

Nothing I make is nearly as important as the joy I get from making it
or another gets from having it made just for him or her.

Fortunately, being retired and finally very happily adjusted to being
a widower and movin' on with good life, I can be and do whatever and
however the hell I want -- which means that nothing says I have to be
rational in everything (or anything) I do with my days. Only thing I
must do is enjoy them. Having fun is job 1, nothing is urgent.