Craftsman lathe 109 (I guess), please help

[Wilediema]

Hi everyone,
My name is Pedro and forgive me of I have same errors on my write (I am Portuguese)
I just bought a metal Lathe and after many researches, I found this forum and I guess here is the right place for me to start.
I need help to know the model if this lathe to try to find parts the restore peace of story.
I am new on this hobby and I am very happy with that.
I guess this is a craftsman lathe (109) but as far as I read about it it seems like a few parts are not original and I start to desmantle because there were same play on the headstock, don't know if it is the bearings, shaft ot chuck.
Like the coutershaft I cold not find any info about him.
Thanks in advance to everyone.

 

[spongerich]

Hi Pedro,

Welcome to GJ

That is a Craftsman 109 Lathe. It looks like the countershaft you have is shop made.
The best source for parts is eBay, though Home Shop Supply does still sell some new parts for that machine (http://www.homeshopsupply.com). The spindle on the 109 is tiny and easily bent. If the bend is minor, you can try to straighten it. I wouldn't worry too much about getting it perfect. The 109 is a very lightweight machine and not all that accurate even in perfect condition. It's a OK machine to learn the basics of lathe work, but for any serious machining, it's really not up to the task. The good news is that the 109 has a strong following, so if/when you decide to upgrade to a more capable machine, there is always a good market for them. I made a video that shows the basic parts and operation of the 109. If you want to watch it go to

 

[zkling]

Poor *******, get ready for a lesson in patience with that machine.

I'm not sure if they are still around, but there used to be a good yahoo group on the 109 lathes. When you say there is play in the spindle are you talking about radial play or axial play? It's been a number of years, but mine needed a bronze washer/thrust bearing to take up slack between the back gear case and the backside of the spindle nose IIRC. : That was for axial play though.

Edit to add,

On the counter shaft, I don't think they ever produced a true counter shaft for those. Mine just had the 3 step pulley on the motor to the matching 3 step on the head. Plus the back gears. Which BTW are VERY fragile as is all the gearing on that machine. It's been a long time and I try to forget that machine though.

 

[Packard V8]

Poor *******, get ready for a lesson in patience with that machine. :lol

On the counter shaft, I don't think they ever produced a true counter shaft for those. Mine just had the 3 step pulley on the motor to the matching 3 step on the head. Plus the back gears.

Yes there were two, maybe three different countershaft for the Atlas/
Craftsman.

Jack Vines

 

[woody 73]

Pedro see if this helps you out:

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/601.pdf

 

[zkling]

Yes there were two, maybe three different countershaft for the Atlas/
Craftsman.

Jack Vines

Really? Even for the tiny 109's? I don't think I have ever seen one in print or person. I got the same impression as rich that the one the OP has was adapted.

Another thing it looks like the spindle for your machine was adapted to a larger thread size. It just doesn't look like what I remember. Think they were something like 1/2-13. Rich is very much correct in that they are very easily bent if one tries to take too heavy of a cut.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, the threads were 1/2-20 and some were 1/2-24. Because there were so few chuck options, adapters were made to mount larger chucks.

With a heavy chuck and a heavy cut, more than one of those toy spindles or headstocks got et up.

Jack Vines

 

[Wilediema]

Many thanks to you all, help me a lot...
Today I toke to a friend of mine who know more then me about lathe's and he said that was a real mess on headstock. he said the bearings and shaft don't match and thats from cames the play.
anyone knows the sizes of the shaft and what type of bearings can go one the lathe.
Because I just make a search and the prices for a shaft posted to Portugal it will be more expensive then to make one arround here.
Like the bearings I should be lucky and found arround as well.
Thanks, again and again and once more "again"
Pedro.