Heavy 10 Thrust Bearing

Jay Cutright

New member
Anyone know where to get a good quality Thrust bearing to replace the felt washer?
I was bidding on one on eBay and got outbid.
I'm going to take the felt washer into a bearing shop and see what they come up with. I thought a post here might generate a part number.
 
Jay try going to Practical Machinist they have a Southbend group that probably can help
 
Thrust Bearing Modification

Anyone know where to get a good quality Thrust bearing to replace the felt washer?
I was bidding on one on eBay and got outbid.
I'm going to take the felt washer into a bearing shop and see what they come up with. I thought a post here might generate a part number.

I did that mod to my 10L several years ago. I had to cut the cast iron takeup nut about 75 thou to get the bearing to fit. I think that the bearing sandwich was about .170 thick. I got mine from mcmaster carr. I cant find the bearing info but there was a thread on the hobby machinist web site about the mod. Yahoo southbend group has a file about the mod as well.
It is a very worthwile change.
 
Here's the one I found on eBay. I got outbid on it. The seller sent a message and said he has more but he's on the east coast and I would like to have this done before February.
 

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Gents,

I picked up my Heavy 10 a couple of weeks ago, so I am not completely fluent on it yet. Please do tell what exactly your doing and why you're doing it for the newbie. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Justin
 
Gents,

I picked up my Heavy 10 a couple of weeks ago, so I am not completely fluent on it yet. Please do tell what exactly your doing and why you're doing it for the newbie. I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Justin

There is a felt washer on the outboard end of the spindle that some have replaced with a thin roller bearing to eliminate end play.
Look between the lock nut and the bearing cap. The felt washer has a tab sticking out that locates into a hole in the casting to keep it from turning with the spindle. The washer on my lathe was turning and I'm not going to replace it with felt when there's a bearing available.
 
There is a felt washer on the outboard end of the spindle that some have replaced with a thin roller bearing to eliminate end play.
Look between the lock nut and the bearing cap. The felt washer has a tab sticking out that locates into a hole in the casting to keep it from turning with the spindle. The washer on my lathe was turning and I'm not going to replace it with felt when there's a bearing available.

Jay,

Looking between the lock nut and bearing cap on my lathe, I see a thin washer, maybe .025 or so thick, that is a wee bigger in diameter than my lock nut. It doesn't look like felt to me, and I don't see a tab sticking out. My Heavy 10 renovation guide makes reference to a washer in this location but doesn't say anything about it being felt. Is this the washer you are referring to?

Per my book, South Bend went to a thrust bearing set-up in this location at some point.

Justin
 
Jay,

Looking between the lock nut and bearing cap on my lathe, I see a thin washer, maybe .025 or so thick, that is a wee bigger in diameter than my lock nut. It doesn't look like felt to me, and I don't see a tab sticking out. My Heavy 10 renovation guide makes reference to a washer in this location but doesn't say anything about it being felt. Is this the washer you are referring to?

Per my book, South Bend went to a thrust bearing set-up in this location at some point.

Justin

I think you are looking at the right part. I said it all backwards, the tab sticks through the washer and into the lock nut and so the felt turns with the spindle. There's a little brass pin attached to it.
Mine was stuck to the casting. Someone most likely over tightened it trying to eliminate end play then after years in storage it was stuck on there like a gasket.
 

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Justin, whatever you do, don't mistake me for an expert on these machines. :) I am learning my way around a heavy 10 by taking it apart and putting it back together. I have never ran one. I hope I will some time soon!
 
I think you are looking at the right part. I said it all backwards, the tab sticks through the washer and into the lock nut and so the felt turns with the spindle. There's a little brass pin attached to it.
Mine was stuck to the casting. Someone most likely over tightened it trying to eliminate end play then after years in storage it was stuck on there like a gasket.

Jay,

Bingo...that looks like it. I can't figure out why I can't find a reference to the felt in my guide...

I've got the carriage and cross-slide off of mine for cleaning. I wasn't going to take the carriage apart...until a taper pin fell out of it from somewhere! I guess I'll be taking the carriage apart after all...

I'll probably go into the headstock, so I'll be paying attention to this thread. If somebody comes up with the part numbers for the bearing, please post it for me.

Thanks again, Jay.

Justin
 
thrust bearing

Here is the pdf that I used to modify mine. I got the bearings from Mcmaster. (they were quicker and cheaper than MSC)

That nut is cast iron. Be careful cutting it. I purchased a spare from Ted (latheman2). Very expensive but the only one available at the time. You need a second lathe or a friend with one to cut the nut down.

The pdf is on the Southbend Yahoo group files section. I believe I got it from the guy that originally made the pdf. (Eric)



It appears that I cannot get the pdf attached. forward me an email address and I will send it to you.
 
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Thrust bearing

Go to Mc Master-Carr type in Thrust Bearing in the search bar. Will bring up all types of trust bearing. When removing the spindle gear be sure to put it back on the same way to keep the gear mash the same.

Chet

thrust.png
 
thrust bearing

one thing I forgot to mention is that the bearings are different for the 9 inch and 10L lathes - be sure to get the correct one. You can use the part number in the pdf to cross reference for different manufacturers.
 
Thanks Earl & Chet.
I can buy those bearings at Coldwell Bearing in Terre Haute Indiana but I don't want the 3 piece bearing.
The fellar on eBay relisted more bearings for sale at a buy now price and I bought one this evening. I think he has found a better part and it doesn't require any modification to the nut to use it. I will find out as soon as they dig out enough to run the mail again.
I will post the item number for anyone else wanting a bearing and save you the trouble of searching for it.
Item number 172074384890
 
How much clearance

did you leave between the new thrust bearing and rear bearing cap, if any? Do you use grease or oil for lubricating the ball bearing? How much advantage do you think you have gained, washer vs. ball bearing? It's pretty easy to stop the spindle by tightening the, nut/ washer too tight, I found out years ago.

Thanks,

Pete
 
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did you leave between the new thrust bearing and rear bearing cap, if any? Do you use grease or oil for lubricating the ball bearing? How much advantage do you think you have gained, washer vs. ball bearing? It's pretty easy to stop the spindle by tightening the, nut/ washer too tight, I found out years ago.

Thanks,

Pete

I haven't gotten my bearing yet Pete. It will be a roller bearing. It will run in oil, adjusted to just barely take up end play, any amount to tight will be obvious when the bearing cap heats up. That's all I know about it right now. Some say it makes a big difference in quality and the accuracy of face cuts. I need a new fiber washer so its time to put the bearing in its place.
 
fiber take up washer

The Fiber Washer at the rear end of the Heavy 10 is not really a thrust bearing it is just a fiber washer between the head stock casting and the take up nut. The thrust bearing is under the rear head stock cover and it is a three piece heavy duty thrust ball bearing type. The fiber washer is self lubing from the spindle oil and will never wear out as it should never really touch the head stock casting just a very light film of oil just like the bronze spindle bearing do.
Chet
 
Chet you made reference to bearings sold by McMaster Carr for use as a replacement for the washer then in another post you said that the washer would never wear out.
Do you use the washer or a bearing?
I'm not sure I'm going to gain anything by this modification but since I needed to replace a damaged washer I figured I might as well make the modification that others have done before me.
 
So,

The Fiber Washer at the rear end of the Heavy 10 is not really a thrust bearing it is just a fiber washer between the head stock casting and the take up nut. The thrust bearing is under the rear head stock cover and it is a three piece heavy duty thrust ball bearing type. The fiber washer is self lubing from the spindle oil and will never wear out as it should never really touch the head stock casting just a very light film of oil just like the bronze spindle bearing do.
Chet

What makes the thrust bearing a thrust bearing? I think it be the fiber washer's influence if one thinks through the stack. I don't see what benefit may be gained with a roller bearing. The washer on my lathe is 72 years old and still perfectfully serviceable!

Pete
 
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