Smart and Brown Model L series 25

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Just for anyone following this here's the headstock stripped with the 2 offending bearings in my hand. I can fully see now why Tony Griffiths remarked on bulletproof capability provided there is adequate lubrication of the bearings. These bearings do not run in oil but are wick/wiper fed via manual oiling points in the housing and in the pulley. Poor lubrication = expensive lesson. QED.

Interesting to see the differences. I'm assuming they are inside the pulley?

 

[KWJ]

Interesting to see the differences. I'm assuming they are inside the pulley?

 

[KWJ]

Pressed into the pulley. 2" and 2 1/4" quality bearings but feel like they have sand inside for the want of a drop of oil!

 

[KWJ]

BTW at each end of the housing where you can see red paint in my photo there are depressions which are designed to hold a small amount of oil. These seem to hact as wicking reservoirs to feed the shaft and bearings. Only after I stripped the paint did I see a grub screw at each end to allow draining of dirty oil I presume. If you didn't strip yours you might have wondered what those grubs were for.

 

[KWJ]

I looked at the headstock again today and I'm wrong about how the bearings are lubricated --- Both bearings are inside the triple pulley and they are oiled via the oiling points in the pulley. The wicks/wipers + the oiling points at both ends of the headstock housing lubricate the shaft and the ball race at the chuck end.

 

[KWJ]

My countershaft is completely different from any other model L's I've come across. It attaches under the apron - much nearer the headstock base than yours. this is a photo of the unit - it's fitted the other way up in use. The motor drives a double V pulley attached to the shaft not a triple like yours. I'm a bit bamboozled as to which version of the model L I have and I'm still unsure as to what motor spec.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Completely missed all these posts. Hadn't got any notifications. Will check through them tomorrow.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

All gone now.

Loaded on the lorry off to its new home this afternoon.