Porper model B lathe

[Canadian cue]

I am helping a friend rebuild his Model B lathe and we decided to replace the spindle bearings as part of the rebuild. We are trying to decide if it is worth the extra $'s to replace them with a better bearing than factory. The factory ones ore worth about 20 a piece and the good ones are about 220 each. Was wondering if anybody has been down this road before. Thanks for your time.

 

[cueman]

I am helping a friend rebuild his Model B lathe and we decided to replace the spindle bearings as part of the rebuild. We are trying to decide if it is worth the extra $'s to replace them with a better bearing than factory. The factory ones ore worth about 20 a piece and the good ones are about 220 each. Was wondering if anybody has been down this road before. Thanks for your time.

The only thing I would advise you about is that very high dollar bearings are also very sensitive and are destroyed very easy with any tapping or jamming. So lower priced bearings may run out .0002" but they can usally take abuse where as the expensive bearing can't take the abuse. So I would not spend the money for the more expensive bearings. If the bearings need replaced use similar bearings.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[rhncue]

The only thing I would advise you about is that very high dollar bearings are also very sensitive and are destroyed very easy with any tapping or jamming. So lower priced bearings may run out .0002" but they can usally take abuse where as the expensive bearing can't take the abuse. So I would not spend the money for the more expensive bearings. If the bearings need replaced use similar bearings.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

I agree 1000% with Chris. The difference in performance between good, standard, bearings and close tolerance bearings is very slight and that machine does not warrant the extra precision. Truthfully, most large metal lathes don't need them as the chucks, carriage and tool holders aren't accurate enough for the slight difference they make.

Dick

 

[Canadian cue]

Thanks for the opinion Chris and Dick this is the way we are leaning. We just thought that if there was a time to upgrade it would be when we had the lathe apart.

 

[cheese_ball]

don't bother...

It's not worth it... I tore apart my Model B last month and debated the same thing; here's the problem:

These lathes are toys. They have aluminum headstocks and aluminum ways. These parts are already not very precise. These lathes almost all have .0005" - .001" of run-out, and the vibration from the inexpensive electric motor kills any iota of precision this machine may have been able to hold. It's not worth the cost of putting the high-precision bearings on b/c the vibration will destroy these types of bearings as well over time. Expect to replace the chinese bearings every 18 months if you keep them clean, every 12 months if neglected.

 

[BLACKHEARTCUES]

It's not worth it... I tore apart my Model B last month and debated the same thing; here's the problem:

These lathes are toys. They have aluminum headstocks and aluminum ways. These parts are already not very precise. These lathes almost all have .0005" - .001" of run-out, and the vibration from the inexpensive electric motor kills any iota of precision this machine may have been able to hold. It's not worth the cost of putting the high-precision bearings on b/c the vibration will destroy these types of bearings as well over time. Expect to replace the chinese bearings every 18 months if you keep them clean, every 12 months if neglected.

I have 2 model B lathes. I had to have the 1st one rebuilt after 11 years. The other one only lasted 6 years...JER

 

[Michael Webb]

I have 2 model B lathes. I had to have the 1st one rebuilt after 11 years. The other one only lasted 6 years...JER

When you get tired of rebuilding, Can I have it please.