Logan 14" turret lathe

model 6510-H, sold May 6, 1967 to "Electric Tool & Machinery", Baltimore MD

serial # "SPEC 83751"


I bought it from a local scrappie in April 2009.


As seen here it looks in rough condition, but the damage almost entirely cosmetic.







The lathe was treated reasonably well by the previous owners.  When the machine was decomissioned, the saddle & turret were brought up snug and locked tight.  When the machine fell over on its face (I believe the scrappie just pushed it off his trailer), only the handles were damaged.

















Later in April & into May, I cleaned and overhauled.  The bad news is the headstock had filled with water.  Happily the grease and oil inside prevented the worst of the damage.  After cleaning, I tested the headstock and discovered the bearing preload had disappeared on the front and rear bearing pair.  I snugged the preload back down and found the spindle runout was negligible- we'll see how they perform under load, but so far so good. 

Cleaning the headstock was an interesting problem, lots of muck inside, but a lot of sticky chips on the underside.  I ultimately threaded a strap through the spindle bore, bringing both ends up to the crane's hook (I put a loop around the rear end of the spindle, right where it exits the headstock, so the long overhang would not to put a bending moment into the spindle).  Then, I suspended the headstock over a cement mixing pan and used diesel fuel and brushes to clean, rotating the headstock around the spindle to get at all the dirt.

I intend to lubricate the headstock with oil, as the bearing grease is long gone- the bearings were shielded, not sealed.  A simple labyrinth seal is present on the front bearing assembly, with a passage back into the headstock.  If the oil level is set at approximately 1/2 the height of the lowest ball,  the seal should hold it in.  If not, then everything has to come apart.

The spindle nose is 2 1/4-8, the same as my old SB 10L.  Here, it looks small- a small projection off the end of the spindle.  I would've preferred an L00.  OTOH there is much less overhang with this spindle.




(more pics of the cleanup coming soon)


;;; eof