Here we go. Atlas 10F lathe

[julianthegypsy]

This has been sitting on the floor in the shed ever since I got it...over a year ago!
As luck would have it, I got given a frame, which saved me finding the non existent time to make one, and lock down has given me extra time to do stuff, so here goes!

 

[julianthegypsy]

First problem, it's too heavy to lift on to the bench, and I can't figure out the motor mounting arrangement...now sorted...

 

[julianthegypsy]

Heartbin mouth, start taking lumps off. There is now more on the bench than the floor. The aluminium plate turns out to have holes that fit the motor mount too!

 

[Browser]

I will watch this thread with great interest, I've got two 10F's and a Broadway (Clausing re-named and sold in the UK) on the garage floor waiting for me to do something with them. Current plan is to move the two 10F's on and use the Broadway as it's bigger/heftier but we'll see

 

[julianthegypsy]

I was confused, because everything I've read about them says the motor is mounted separately from the countershaft, yet this one clearly has the motor mounted on the countershaft bracket, and looks like it was made that way.

 

[julianthegypsy]

A mighty effort from wife and daughter on one end and me on the other, and it's up! The box on the floor is full of bits that go with it, including the gears, and the milling slide is around somewhere too.

 

[Iain Westland]

Excellent. i'll be watching with interest as I've decided to make a start on mine after deciding not to weigh it in.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Excellent. i'll be watching with interest as I've decided to make a start on mine after deciding not to weigh it in.

First impression, for a small lathe, it weighs a ton, which is always a good sign!

 

[Iain Westland]

i bought mine when slightly mished... two bottles of wine and an open ebay tab. thought it was table top model lathe, turned out its ne, arly 6' long. couldnt find any info on it and the name badge was for a firm without remark... so after a couple of years id decided to clear it away. bored a few nights ago and passing time on ebay [sober] and a similar one was for sale. bit of digging using that as a starting point and it turns out mine is a Colchester Bantam from the 1920s.. got to renovate that, and use it.

 

[Pete.]

I was confused, because everything I've read about them says the motor is mounted separately from the countershaft, yet this one clearly has the motor mounted on the countershaft bracket, and looks like it was made that way.

Mine had the motor hanging off the countershaft bracket. Yours has the wrong pulleys on the motor and on the end of the countershaft. Should have quite a small double motor pulley and a countershaft pulley of something like 10 or 11" Diameter. Does your one have ballrace headstock? If so then it shouldn't matter much how fast you turn it but if it's the plain bearing variant you should take care with the top speed and monitor the bearings for heating up.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Mine had the motor hanging off the countershaft bracket. Yours has the wrong pulleys on the motor and on the end of the countershaft. Should have quite a small double motor pulley and a countershaft pulley of something like 10 or 11" Diameter. Does your one have ballrace headstock? If so then it shouldn't matter much how fast you turn it but if it's the plain bearing variant you should take care with the top speed and monitor the bearings for heating up.

Yes, it has quad pulleys throughout, and has plain bearings. Thanks for the tip. I was surprised, because with the back gear, that would give 32 speeds, but if it should be a double pulley that explains it, sixteen is a good selection, but not a ridiculous amount!

 

[Pete.]

Here's what the original pulleys looked like. The big one with the curved spokes ran with a bit of a wobble, and every other one I've seen did also.

 

[fizzy]

Looks like a proper bit of kit!

 

[julianthegypsy]

Looks like a proper bit of kit!

About the same size as the myford ml7. 6" by 18" with all sorts of attachments available.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Here's what the original pulleys looked like. The big one with the curved spokes ran with a bit of a wobble, and every other one I've seen did also.

View attachment 229197

That's a lot different! I'll run it on the slowest speed from the motor until I can find pulleys the right size. What oil should I use on the oiling points? I'll need to figure out what belt I need too as the motor belt is missing.

 

[frank horton]

Pete, oh so like the lathe bench .......

I use Synthetic engine oil every where on mine...slide, bed and threads,....
A few drops of sticky chain-saw chain oil on the exposed gears....works well and doesnt fly off....(few drops when its running, mind ur fingers).....
for others interested....
if u have a lathe with a proper gearbox I use Auto trans fluid (Red, anti frothing)....

 

[julianthegypsy]

Pete, oh so like the lathe bench .......

I use Synthetic engine oil every where on mine...slide, bed and threads,....
A few drops of sticky chain-saw chain oil on the exposed gears....works well and doesnt fly off....(few drops when its running, mind ur fingers).....
for others interested....
if u have a lathe with a proper gearbox I use Auto trans fluid (Red, anti frothing)....

Perfect, thank you! Now I need to find a couple of oil cans. I just know I have some somewhere!

 

[julianthegypsy]

Bit of pottering today. Bit of cleaning and loose assembly, just to see how everything goes...

 

[Pete.]

Those are not Atlas gears, they look like steel replacements. No bad thing, the originals were dire.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Those are not Atlas gears, they look like steel replacements. No bad thing, the originals were dire.

You're right, I noticed that too. The originals were Zamac I believe. Piece of luck!
The vice is off the milling slide. I also found acset of internal jaws for the chuck, as well as the four jaw chuck and a faceplate.