New to me - Colchester Triumph

[dan.taylor.1]

Ah I see thanks for the info on it didn't realize it was that dear or made that big a difference. Look forward to getting a use of it a bit step forward from my old mini lathe changing about poxy plastic gears to get a thread

Definitely agree on the tooling that's why I was so eager with this sale is all the extras that to buy individually would get hard to find and expensive quite quickly.

I assume it is this part here View attachment 315315


Yes that's a trav dial there was in a separate pic of eBay listing but didn't post here and it is in mm

I assume that is for measuring depth of cut precisely?

And I assumed that was for the motor

I've got several versions of the manual if you need them. Along with parts diagrams etc.

 

[Brad93]

Travel dial gives you your longitudinal movement, depth of cut is measured on your handwheel.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

I've got several versions of the manual if you need them. Along with parts diagrams etc.

If you could send them over or upload them that would be really great thanks

Was just looking at the manual for the rapid threader learning how it works

Travel dial gives you your longitudinal movement, depth of cut is measured on your handwheel.

I see cheers

 

[fizzy]

I just had a long interesting chat with the old chap who sold you the lathe.
Proper old gent!
He has the gap!!!
You have struck gold with this I reckon.
He was an hydraulics design engineer. Worked on the tunnel boring machines for the Channel Tunnel.
So your new lathe actually helped build it
He has hardly used it over the 20 years he owned it. Just the odd prototype or part now and then.
Pleasure speaking to him.

 

[fizzy]

He is looking around for some pallets.
Please do me a favour.
When you get it take some photos of the head adjusting screws etc.
They are front and back.
You also have the 2 speed motor. Again useful but could possibly cause problems if you need to convert it to single phase.
Who knows maybe we could swap motors - mine is single speed so easier to convert.

 

[Fastdruid]

Gap bed missing.

I suppose there is a small chance it might be hidden away in one of the drawers or been forgotten to be pictured. A very slim chance mind as the seller seems to have shown/listed everything else. Still, worth asking just in case he's just forgotten about it.

EDIT: Although this post is after I wrote this while @fizzy was posting. It's there!

There's been a few for sale like that recently. Where do they all go?

I suspect what happens is the original owner takes it off because they never use it. It gets put "away" somewhere and then when the lathe is sold off it's sold without because it's hiding in a cupboard somewhere.

 

[Pete.]

I just had a long interesting chat with the old chap who sold you the lathe.
Proper old gent!
He has the gap!!!
You have struck gold with this I reckon.
He was an hydraulics design engineer. Worked on the tunnel boring machines for the Channel Tunnel.
So your new lathe actually helped build it
He has hardly used it over the 20 years he owned it. Just the odd prototype or part now and then.
Pleasure speaking to him.

That's bloody handy having the right gap piece for the machine. Having the wrong gap piece is hardly any better than none at all.

 

[Munkul]

I suspect what happens is the original owner takes it off because they never use it. It gets put "away" somewhere and then when the lathe is sold off it's sold without because it's hiding in a cupboard somewhere.

That, or they try putting it back in without surgically cleaning everything properly first.
Then it doesn't seat properly, and they write it off as "gap bed lathes are useless, the gaps never go back in properly" and it gets totally forgotten about.

Really, if a gap plug has to be removed for a job it wants to be refitted as soon as possible after that job is done.

 

[Fastdruid]

You also have the 2 speed motor. Again useful but could possibly cause problems if you need to convert it to single phase.
Who knows maybe we could swap motors - mine is single speed so easier to convert.

A friend has a Colchester with the two speed motor and has converted it using a VFD. There is a good FB group "Colchester and Harrison Lathe Owners UK" which has a whole load of info as well.

 

[Fastdruid]

That, or they try putting it back in without surgically cleaning everything properly first.
Then it doesn't seat properly, and they write it off as "gap bed lathes are useless, the gaps never go back in properly" and it gets totally forgotten about.

Really, if a gap plug has to be removed for a job it wants to be refitted as soon as possible after that job is done.

Yeah, that too. On the L5 I always put the bolts back in *and* cover the base of where it fits (the swing is limited by the screwcutting leadscrew not the gap so I'm never going to be so close that I can't cover it.)

Still spend an age cleaning the bloody thing when I re-fit it!

 

[Pete.]

A poorly fitting gap piece is just as likely to be due to dings in the piece from being badly handled when not fitted. If it's bumped on any of the fitted faces/corners it won't sit down flush.

 

[Brad93]

Clean your gap right up, then touch it with a fine stone to see where the high spot is. If it's miles off it's not the right gap for the machine.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

I just had a long interesting chat with the old chap who sold you the lathe.
Proper old gent!
He has the gap!!!
You have struck gold with this I reckon.
He was an hydraulics design engineer. Worked on the tunnel boring machines for the Channel Tunnel.
So your new lathe actually helped build it
He has hardly used it over the 20 years he owned it. Just the odd prototype or part now and then.
Pleasure speaking to him.

Fantastic news that , similar story to yours went about two decades with minimal use which should mean even better condition

That's bloody handy having the right gap piece for the machine. Having the wrong gap piece is hardly any better than none at all.

I see , is the gap piece ground with the lathe bed as a one so paired to each specific lathe ? , Also he mentions he has lost the bolts I hope this should not be too big an issue with the locating of the piece and I can just make up some new 3/8 BSW bolts on

A friend has a Colchester with the two speed motor and has converted it using a VFD. There is a good FB group "Colchester and Harrison Lathe Owners UK" which has a whole load of info as well.

Will have a look at this will be nice to have some other owners help to get me up to speed with the workings of the machine.

That, or they try putting it back in without surgically cleaning everything properly first.
Then it doesn't seat properly, and they write it off as "gap bed lathes are useless, the gaps never go back in properly" and it gets totally forgotten about.

Really, if a gap plug has to be removed for a job it wants to be refitted as soon as possible after that job is done.

Clean your gap right up, then touch it with a fine stone to see where the high spot is. If it's miles off it's not the right gap for the machine.

Thanks for the advice I will make sure to get it perfectly clean and double-check the high spots before doing any power feeding or anything.

 

[Sean64]

I use a Triumph 7 1/2 at work for odd bits here and there . These are great lathes ,built to last that's for sure . Nice buy

 

[northwest]

Also comes fitted with a rapid screwcutting box

Once in a while I look about for one for the Harrison, can never find one, not at affordable money anyway. Bit of a win all round you have there.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

NEW LATHE DAY

Aswell as a few metres of 2" bar and some 3"

 

[fizzy]

So it all arrived safe then?
Pretty quick.
Please take several photos of the headstock adjustment and mounting points.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Seller lovley old chap , Packed down really well with ratchet straps and no expense spared so no damage in transport. Also all ways and machined surface covered in a good grease .

Great load of tooling a lot good quality kennemetal and the likse, inserts boring bars , Sheffield england made drills and cutters taps etc to go with it so plenty for me to experiment with and saves the cost of tooling quickly adding up at least for now lol.

Most if not all the accessories offered came with the lathe , Traveling steady , fixed steady , two faceplates , 12" burned 4 jaw , drive dogs , two speed motor , clutch and rapid threading unit off the top of my head.


Bit bigger than it looked on ebay but that's a good thing more value for money right

Now a lot to sort but really happy finally in the garage and can work away and start learning and learning.

 

[Lewis_RX8]

So it all arrived safe then?
Pretty quick.
Please take several photos of the headstock adjustment and mounting points.

Yes really happy with the speed especially considering the shortages with drivers so great service as usual from @fizzy pallet network and all the advice regarding the lathe and packaging advice for the seller was top notch

will get some photos of them once I find them all in the manual may be a little while till its running however due to the slighty complicated motor however got a few good ideas so just need to do some testing

 

[roofman]

Seller lovley old chap , Packed down really well with ratchet straps and no expense spared so no damage in transport. Also all ways and machined surface covered in a good grease .

Great load of tooling a lot good quality kennemetal and the likse, inserts boring bars , Sheffield england made drills and cutters taps etc to go with it so plenty for me to experiment with and saves the cost of tooling quickly adding up at least for now lol.

Most if not all the accessories offered came with the lathe , Traveling steady , fixed steady , two faceplates , 12" burned 4 jaw , drive dogs , two speed motor , clutch and rapid threading unit off the top of my head.


Bit bigger than it looked on ebay but that's a good thing more value for money right

Now a lot to sort but really happy finally in the garage and can work away and start learning and learning.

You got a very good deal there mate..rare these days to find such a score