Just bought a Fortis lathe

[John Pengilly]

Great to see another Fortis owner! Here's mine:

View attachment 398501


I really like it, although it is a little tired. Apart from those two teeth yours looks to be in rather better nick! I'll be interested to see any photos you take when the apron is apart: I need to dismantle mine as it has become very difficult to engage the feeds. I suspect a bit of swarf has just got somewhere it shouldn't.

BTW, I think all the lubrication points are designed to be oiled, rather than greased. I do have a PDF of the Clausing 100 manual which contains some info useful for these lathes. I tried to attach it here but it's too big. If you'd like me to email it to you, just drop me a PM.

It would originally have had a clutch on the countershaft, engaged by a lever which stuck out forwards from that lug on the RH side of the hinged cover. I gather from lathes.co.uk that this was a bit of a weak point which was often removed.

Is the serial number still legible on the plate on the hinged cover? Apparently, if the serial number includes an 'E' then it was a 'high precision' machine. Not sure how relevant that would still be after 80 years, though!

Your Velo looks great now by the way. I did a double take when I saw the 'before' picture as I was sure I recognised it! I think you bought it from a mate of mine up in Bolton?

Great to see another Fortis owner! Here's mine:

View attachment 398501


I really like it, although it is a little tired. Apart from those two teeth yours looks to be in rather better nick! I'll be interested to see any photos you take when the apron is apart: I need to dismantle mine as it has become very difficult to engage the feeds. I suspect a bit of swarf has just got somewhere it shouldn't.

BTW, I think all the lubrication points are designed to be oiled, rather than greased. I do have a PDF of the Clausing 100 manual which contains some info useful for these lathes. I tried to attach it here but it's too big. If you'd like me to email it to you, just drop me a PM.

It would originally have had a clutch on the countershaft, engaged by a lever which stuck out forwards from that lug on the RH side of the hinged cover. I gather from lathes.co.uk that this was a bit of a weak point which was often removed.

Is the serial number still legible on the plate on the hinged cover? Apparently, if the serial number includes an 'E' then it was a 'high precision' machine. Not sure how relevant that would still be after 80 years, though!

Your Velo looks great now by the way. I did a double take when I saw the 'before' picture as I was sure I recognised it! I think you bought it from a mate of mine up in Bolton?

 

[John Pengilly]

Great to see another Fortis owner! Here's mine:

View attachment 398501


I really like it, although it is a little tired. Apart from those two teeth yours looks to be in rather better nick! I'll be interested to see any photos you take when the apron is apart: I need to dismantle mine as it has become very difficult to engage the feeds. I suspect a bit of swarf has just got somewhere it shouldn't.

BTW, I think all the lubrication points are designed to be oiled, rather than greased. I do have a PDF of the Clausing 100 manual which contains some info useful for these lathes. I tried to attach it here but it's too big. If you'd like me to email it to you, just drop me a PM.

It would originally have had a clutch on the countershaft, engaged by a lever which stuck out forwards from that lug on the RH side of the hinged cover. I gather from lathes.co.uk that this was a bit of a weak point which was often removed.

Is the serial number still legible on the plate on the hinged cover? Apparently, if the serial number includes an 'E' then it was a 'high precision' machine. Not sure how relevant that would still be after 80 years, though!

Your Velo looks great now by the way. I did a double take when I saw the 'before' picture as I was sure I recognised it! I think you bought it from a mate of mine up in Bolton?

Hi I would really like a PDF of the manual if there's one going I have got the same lathe as you got many
thanks John **email removed**

 

[mr_luke_too]

Hi John, my apologies: I don't spend a huge amount of time on here (probably more than I should though). I've made a note of your email address from your post the other day (might be worth editing that to remove, now) so I'll send you the PDF of the manual for the Clausing 100, on which the Fortis appears to be based in a moment.

Your lathe looks to be in decent nick. Much smarter than mine.

While I'm here, do either you or @GraemeVW have an original travelling steady for yours? If either of you have photos of one - specifically how it mounts to the carriage - that would be much appreciated!

 

[John Pengilly]

Many thanks for the PDF John

 

[Agroshield]

While I'm here, do either you orGraemeVW have an original travelling steady for yours?

Is this any use?

Anyone have a picture of Clausing 100/4800 with follow rest?

I have a need to turn some small diameter 1/2” rod. I can see the possible need may be for a follow rest. Have never seen one attached to the 100 lathe before. Bob G.

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[mr_luke_too]

Very useful! Thanks very much.

 

[GraemeVW]

Hi John, my apologies: I don't spend a huge amount of time on here (probably more than I should though). I've made a note of your email address from your post the other day (might be worth editing that to remove, now) so I'll send you the PDF of the manual for the Clausing 100, on which the Fortis appears to be based in a moment.

Your lathe looks to be in decent nick. Much smarter than mine.

While I'm here, do either you or @GraemeVW have an original travelling steady for yours? If either of you have photos of one - specifically how it mounts to the carriage - that would be much appreciated!

I saved this pic from an eBay add. The fixed steady is wrong, but I guess the travelling one is correct.

 

[colinb4987]

Any chance anyone can tell me the height from the floor to:
*Cross slide handwheel
*Lathe bed

I'm away at the moment so can't measure directly, but plotting a new (small) workshop and trying to work out desired heights, space above/below, working area clashes etc.!

Thanks in advance

 

[GraemeVW]

Any chance anyone can tell me the height from the floor to:
*Cross slide handwheel
*Lathe bed

I'm away at the moment so can't measure directly, but plotting a new (small) workshop and trying to work out desired heights, space above/below, working area clashes etc.!

Thanks in advance

just seen this, I'll measure when I get home

 

[winchman]

just seen this, I'll measure when I get home

Glad to see your still about !

 

[colinb4987]

just seen this, I'll measure when I get home

Thanks!

 

[Blou55]

It lives!

Motor is noisy, but alot of that was the temporary wobbly pulley. I'm going to make a new motor pulley but this lathe will do it easier than my little lathe so this dodgy pulley will do, so I can make the new one.

This is the motor on its own. It's still quite loud though. The bearings seemed fine but maybe I should replace them. You can tell when switched off though that the bearings are only half the story. Wjat else can cause themnto make noise? Any way to quieter it down?

New bearings and rubber mounting bushes are all I can think of to do.

Nice job, how did you attach the back slash guard to the lathe...bolted at the bottom?