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Lathe Help

Jerry Maske

Jerry Maske

Joined
Nov 8, 2013
Messages
48
Likes
57
Location
Sullivan, Maine
Jet 1642, yeah, an older one. The Spindle coming out of the power head has ruined threads such that face plates and chucks will not turn onto it far enough. They result in a wobbly rotation. I looked up the process for replacing the spindle and realized there's a good bit to it. Jet agrees. They no longer make that power head and do not have that spindle in stock.

That leaves me with buying a new lathe, buying a different power head that will fit my base or turning the lathe into a boat anchor.

Does anyone online have a power head they'd sell? Or any other suggestions. Really like the lathe, except . . .

Thanks,
Jerry
 
Jerry, I can't help you with parts, but... would it make sense, financially or otherwise, to have a machine shop make a new spindle for you? They'd use the original as a pattern.

There's a second generation machine shop owner who does a lot of demo work on youtube. I've seen a couple projects where a viewer hired him to make a replacement part, then he shows the process in the videos. No idea of his shop rates. Here he is, lots of fun videos to watch.
youtube.com

Abom79

Hello, my name is Adam Booth. In the machining world, I’m best known as Abom79. Welcome to our channel dedicated to all thing’s machining. Focused on showcasing the intricate world of metalworking through the lens of a third-generation family owned machine shop and 28 years of job shop...
youtube.com youtube.com

His lathes and mills make the best wood lathes look like kids toys.
 
Jerry, I assume you are talking about the headstock as the power head. Can you clean up the threads with a small triangular or wedge shaped file, or possibly a die of the proper size? Before creating a boat anchor, might be worth a try. Check out these video's showing bearing replacement on 1642. If you need to replace the spindle (when it is available) you should replace the bearings at the same time. 1642 bearing video 1 1642 bearing video 2
 
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I've already watched the videos and could do the replacement, but I don't have a new one. I have a cousin who is a professional metal worker and he told me that spindle would be a real challenge to reproduce. I did some work with a file this morning and may have solved enough of the problem that the rest isn't worth chasing. I'd really like to replace the spindle and bearings, but don't know where to get them.
 
Jerry Maske said:
I've already watched the videos and could do the replacement, but I don't have a new one. I have a cousin who is a professional metal worker and he told me that spindle would be a real challenge to reproduce. I did some work with a file this morning and may have solved enough of the problem that the rest isn't worth chasing. I'd really like to replace the spindle and bearings, but don't know where to get them.
Click to expand...
Did you try searching the part number online or ereplacementparts.com
 
Yeah, I called Jet and talked with the guy that seems to understand all that stuff. He's the one that told me that power head isn't available anymore and I'd need to buy a new one with a less powerful motor. I'll keep working at it and hope someone comes up with a suggestion I can make work. My son is a mechanical engineer and between us we could get a new spindle on. The problem is finding the new spindle.
 
What is the year, model number, and serial number for your machine?
 
Jerry Maske said:
Yeah, I called Jet and talked with the guy that seems to understand all that stuff. He's the one that told me that power head isn't available anymore and I'd need to buy a new one with a less powerful motor. I'll keep working at it and hope someone comes up with a suggestion I can make work. My son is a mechanical engineer and between us we could get a new spindle on. The problem is finding the new spindle.
Click to expand...
Jerry, do you have any vo-tech schools in your area? They'd have machinest training programs, and could possibly set you up with an advanced student who could make a new spindle for some reasonable fee.
 
The die may be the easiest answer. I doubt if Home Depot would carry them but we do have the wonderful Harbor Freight. Sometimes the quality of tools there isn't the best but I'd only need it for one process. More later.
 
I've never (fortunately) had to use a tap or die for such a repair. But my thinking is- doesn't the device more remove damaged steel vs. re-shaping the steel back to near-original? And the next thought would be, if removed, how comfortable should one be with the now-compromised threads? "It's never been a problem before" works, right up until it doesn't. A problem with 4 to 8 pounds of steel and several-to-a-lot of pounds of wood attached to it. While spinning really fast.

I'm not overthinking this, rather trying to put perspective on Plan A- repair, vs. Plan B- replace. I think plan A is worth exploring, but should also be quickly dismissed as needed for plan B if things just don't seem to be going as planned. And we haven't seen a photo of the damage to see the conditions being told about. Yeah, it's all relative...
 
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Since the spindle is not available, what if you clean up the threads with a file or die (amazon is where I got mine) and then put a spindle extender on and then you will have new threads. If it gets buggered up, you can just replace the extender. Like these: spindle extender (others available)
 
I have heard that "industry" standard for threads is 1 1/2 by 7 tpi. Just about every lathe that I know of for 1 1/2 or 1 1/4 diameters are 1 by 8 tpi. Why we went different is unknown to me. You might be able to find a thread chaser for it, but you would probably have to special order it.

robo hippy
 
Repairing the threads is a viable option. However it’s best to not use standard files or dies as they cut away any moved steel.
Thread files which massage the steel back, or thread repair dies (thread chasers) that do the same massaging are readily available. Some, not all thread files and kits include 8 tpi. 1 1/4 x 8 thread chasing (repairing) dies are available from McMaster-Carr, ships today.
 
Jerry Maske said:
I've already watched the videos and could do the replacement, but I don't have a new one. I have a cousin who is a professional metal worker and he told me that spindle would be a real challenge to reproduce. I did some work with a file this morning and may have solved enough of the problem that the rest isn't worth chasing. I'd really like to replace the spindle and bearings, but don't know where to get them.
Click to expand...
I think you're on the right track. Jerry, I have done this before on a brand new 1640 at The artisans guild where I teach lathe work. We got two brand new 1640s and within a week somebody tried to take the chuck off without loosening the set screw enough and messed up the threads. A small 3 corner file and slowly worked my way around and just kept cleaning it up until it fit good again.
 
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