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Problems to look for used 2530 C

M

Mike Novak

Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
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343
Location
Belchertown, MA
Hi

There’s a used 2530 C for sale near me at a good price. When I go to see it I wonder if there’s anything I should be checking in particular. The ad says it’s in like new condition and the picture looks really good. Thanks for any advice.
 
I assume you are referring to a Powermatic 3520C. Mine will be 5 years old in a few months, and I have only had one problem with it. The stop/go buttons on the pendant quit working after about 2 years ... at first, it was intermittent then complete failure. The problem was dust ... I called Powermatic's tech support and the tech advised me to hit it with an air hose (which worked) so I could get back to turning while they shipped me a replacement switch. It took me about 15 or 20 minutes to swap out the switch and things have been good since then. The PM 3520C is a great lathe, and if the price is right, jump on it!
 
Those stop start buttons on the 3520 (all models) are definitely a weak spot, but easy to fix. They get loose and you have to tighten the nut inside the headstock, need to be blown out when they get fussy, and periodically just wear out. They're cheap and easy to find online, and easy to replace, though.

The one deal breaker for any iron bed lathe is a cracked bed. There's no fix for it. I can't imagine a lathe as new as a 3520C would have one, but it's possible somebody dropped it off a truck.
 
Dean Center said:
Those stop start buttons on the 3520 (all models) are definitely a weak spot, but easy to fix. They get loose and you have to tighten the nut inside the headstock, need to be blown out when they get fussy, and periodically just wear out. They're cheap and easy to find online, and easy to replace, though.

The one deal breaker for any iron bed lathe is a cracked bed. There's no fix for it. I can't imagine a lathe as new as a 3520C would have one, but it's possible somebody dropped it off a truck.
Click to expand...
There is no nut to tighten inside the headstock on the 3520C ... the operating controls for the lathe are all contained in the pendant.
 
I have a taiwanomatic 3520B that has one red button switch: push it in, the lathe is off. Pull it out, the lathe is on. Looks to me like they improved this feature in the 3520C by requiring the turner to push three buttons (one an emergency stop), to do what was once done with one button. I could be wrong, as I have only seen photo's.
 
Oops. I've been inside 2 A's and 2 B's, but not a C and I had forgotten the change in controls. Is the red button the same? It's been a while since I even turned on a C.
 
Dean Center said:
Is the red button the same?
Click to expand...
No ... the red button on the C's pendant is Stop only. The C does not have the big red plunger that was used in the earlier 3520 models.
 
Mike Novak said:
I did not jump fast enough. Gone already. Guess I’ll keep looking
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It was not gone. I just could not find the post. I went out Sunday with two of my son in laws and picked it up. Hauled it out of her cellar in pieces and into mine. Not nearly as hard as I expected. About an hour to disassemble and load, and another hour to unload and assemble it.

It’s only had 3 years use and looks almost new. Seems to work fine. My Wife’s only condition was that I sell my 12/16 :(

Can’t wait to put a bowl on it!
 
Mike Novak said:
It was not gone. I just could not find the post. I went out Sunday with two of my son in laws and picked it up. Hauled it out of her cellar in pieces and into mine. Not nearly as hard as I expected. About an hour to disassemble and load, and another hour to unload and assemble it.

It’s only had 3 years use and looks almost new. Seems to work fine. My Wife’s only condition was that I sell my 12/16 :(

Can’t wait to put a bowl on it!
Click to expand...
Score!

And great you had the SILs to help.
 
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