Another Harrison M300 Rebuild

[Spark plug]

I really like m300's I keep thinking about getting mine re ground but I would like something a bit bigger really. But they are an excellent lathe for there size.

 

[Shox Dr]

Rebuild it sell it on. When I started looking for one, I enquired with one of the companies that claim to rebuild them, starting cost most £7.5k. All that got you was a wash and brushup.
A full grind and you are looking at £10-12k+

Trouble is you might fall for it again

 

[Spark plug]

Rebuild it sell it on. When I started looking for one, I enquired with one of the companies that claim to rebuild them, starting cost most £7.5k. All that got you was a wash and brushup.
A full grind and you are looking at £10-12k+

Trouble is you might fall for it again

That is also what worries me, I like them because they are very user friendly are heavy enough to handle big cuts and drills. but not overly heavy which would make them cluttered and clumsy to use.

I noticed this when I used the m300's cousin the Colchester student 1800 it just felt cramped and cluttered.

 

[Shox Dr]

The Master is the same

 

[Spark plug]

What I would say is pay perticular attention to the base you are going to place the lathe on. It is very surprising how mutch the lathe will move if not say level. When I set mine up properly the difference to the feel of the machine was unbelievable. I would expect this to be even more critical on a 1000mm version.

 

[scottmk1]

I have spoke with Brian at Slideway Services about a regrind & for what it will cost there is no way I'm not getting it done. I will replace the cross feed screw & nut ( but not with one from 600 group). My tailstock has a little slop in it but nothing that concerns me really.

I think I will change the dials to plain metric ones as my dual items are seriously rough.

 

[Spark plug]

I have spoke with Brian at Slideway Services about a regrind & for what it will cost there is no way I'm not getting it done. I will replace the cross feed screw & nut ( but not with one from 600 group). My tailstock has a little slop in it but nothing that concerns me really.

I think I will change the dials to plain metric ones as my dual items are seriously rough.

Do you mean the dials are cosmetically rough or the internals are worn?

 

[Maker]

The Master is the same

How does the Chipmaster compare?

 

[Spark plug]

How does the Chipmaster compare?

The chipmaster is a different ball game as it is an older model witch you would compare to a Harrison L5 / 9".

The modern equiverlant would be a student 3100.

The chipmaster was more of a lighter machine with a high spindle speed and variable speed drive built more towards smaller precision component manufacture.

 

[scottmk1]

Do you mean the dials are cosmetically rough or the internals are worn?

Both. The numerals are quite difficult to see & if you look at the pics you can see some goon has assembled the innards with a chisel.

 

[Spark plug]

I need to re do the paint fill on my hand wheels as well as they are hard to read.

 

[scottmk1]

If I can get the insides of mine back together I will probably try to redo the paint fill too.

 

[Spark plug]

If I can get the insides of mine back together I will probably try to redo the paint fill too.

One never done a paint fill so fine before so should be interesting.

 

[mylesdw]

I've always wondered how you get it all to line up again after a bed is reground. Surely the tail stock ends up at the wrong height.

 

[Spark plug]

I've always wondered how you get it all to line up again after a bed is reground. Surely the tail stock ends up at the wrong height.

Generally whatever is removed from the bed has to be added to the saddle and tail stock. Unless the headstock is mounted on the bed ways, in which case uverything will lower evenly.

 

[Maker]

Generally whatever is removed from the bed has to be added to the saddle and tail stock. Unless the headstock is mounted on the bed ways, in which case uverything will lower evenly.

The rack, leadscrew and power feed "bar" (Is there a proper name for this?) wouldn't line up with where they should in the apron if you don't build the saddle back up would it?

 

[scottmk1]

They build it up with Turcite so that all the heights match

 

[stormin]

I have spoke with Brian at Slideway Services about a regrind & for what it will cost there is no way I'm not getting it done. I will replace the cross feed screw & nut ( but not with one from 600 group). My tailstock has a little slop in it but nothing that concerns me really.

I think I will change the dials to plain metric ones as my dual items are seriously rough.

Care to elaborate more on the price as Im interested? PM if you feel necessary and don't want to advertise price deal publicly.

 

[DanielW]

That scratching doesn't look deep and I would have accepted it because it won't do any harm,however if you're going to have it done I'd say the scratch was about a thou or two and thats the amount you should aim for to which it will not alter anything drastic in terms of height.

Normally a hardened bed shouldn't be scratchable>?

 

[scottmk1]

I guess the pics dont show it fully but the rear of the V ways are by far the worst, if it was only the scratching on the flat ways I wouldnt bother getting it done.

I think the scratching has been caused by some swarf or debris getting jammed in the saddle and rather than strip it & clean its just been used.