I have an Atlas metal lathe w/ 10" swing -- quick change gearing --
48" bed, etc. Timken bearings are installed.

PROBLEM: The chuck and shaft can be lifted some small fraction of an
inch (many hundreds of an inch..). Does anybody know if the bearings
can be tightened? Is this adjustable or fixable? Do the bearings and
or shaft need to be replaced?

TIA

Teddy

Probably the adjustment on the taper bearings has backed off. Pull off some
covers and see if you can tighten the nut on the shaft a bit and see if it
reduces the play. The shaft MAY have turned in the bearings but it is
unlikely. make sure that you don't overtighten it as too much preload will
damage the bearings.

Tom
"Theodore Roosevelt" wrote in message
...
I have an Atlas metal lathe w/ 10" swing -- quick change gearing --
48" bed, etc. Timken bearings are installed.

PROBLEM: The chuck and shaft can be lifted some small fraction of an
inch (many hundreds of an inch..). Does anybody know if the bearings
can be tightened? Is this adjustable or fixable? Do the bearings and
or shaft need to be replaced?

TIA

Teddy

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 14:19:12 +1000, "Tom Miller"
wrote:


Probably the adjustment on the taper bearings has backed off. Pull off some
covers and see if you can tighten the nut on the shaft a bit and see if it
reduces the play. The shaft MAY have turned in the bearings but it is
unlikely. make sure that you don't overtighten it as too much preload will
damage the bearings.
Also, as you are tightening be sure to rotate the shaft full turns in
both directions to align the rollers - otherwise they can be skewed
and loosen once they begin to run.

Good point! I should have mentioned that.


Tom Miller


"Tom" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 14:19:12 +1000, "Tom Miller"
wrote:


Probably the adjustment on the taper bearings has backed off. Pull off
some
covers and see if you can tighten the nut on the shaft a bit and see if
it
reduces the play. The shaft MAY have turned in the bearings but it is
unlikely. make sure that you don't overtighten it as too much preload
will
damage the bearings.
Also, as you are tightening be sure to rotate the shaft full turns in
both directions to align the rollers - otherwise they can be skewed
and loosen once they begin to run.

I have the official book here that came with a Craftsman lathe. The
procedure is " run the lathe for 30 minutes to and hour to bring up to temp.
Loosen the set screw on the Thrust nut located on the very left end of the
spindle. Turn to where there is no play detected in the spindle. Advance
the nut 1/16 turn past this point, this is equal to 2 teeth on the spindle
gear, to provide the correct preload. Tighten the setscrew." The book is
the 1973 printing.
lg
no neat sig line

"Theodore Roosevelt" wrote in message
...
I have an Atlas metal lathe w/ 10" swing -- quick change gearing --
48" bed, etc. Timken bearings are installed.

PROBLEM: The chuck and shaft can be lifted some small fraction of an
inch (many hundreds of an inch..). Does anybody know if the bearings
can be tightened? Is this adjustable or fixable? Do the bearings and
or shaft need to be replaced?

TIA

Teddy