Thoughts on a Sunnen LBA660

[Grant Gunderson]

Got an opportunity to pickup a Sunnen LBA660 for essentially free. Not sure if it has any of the mandrels. How hard are these to come by?

 

[kbuhagiar]

What exactly is it?

I gather that its some sort of machine tool...

 

[Grant Gunderson]

It’s a honing machine. Commonly used on engines but also good anytime you need an accurate smooth finish on a hole.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Grab it, if it’s free.

 

[signcrafter]

It’s a honing machine. Commonly used on engines but also good anytime you need an accurate smooth finish on a hole.

I googled it to see what exactly it was and the video I watched he was honing a connecting rod. How much of a use do you have for it? How much engine work do you do? I can't think of what else I would ever use one for, and I do a lot of odd stuff and usually can come up with an excuse to grab a free piece of shop equipment even if I think there may be a small chance I might ever use it in the future. I love having shop stuff just in case and love deals but personally I think I would pass on something like this. I do a lot of work but don't do much engine building. Also no clue on mandrel availability but I'm guessing like most machining stuff they will be expensive unless you can find a deal on them also.

 

[RoninB4]

-I've used a handful of Sunnen hones over the years, don't recall the models but also not likely to have been the one you're asking about. All of the pieces I honed were closed cylinders with a constant ID. From some brief reading it appears that there may be a problem with interchangeability of mandrels with different models. There also seems to be potential issues/concerns with split ID components like the big end of con rods, and with mandrels themselves. Not knowing what you're going to use this for perhaps this link will offer some insight.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/thoughts-on-a-sunnen-lba660.546134/

 

[Grant Gunderson]

-I've used a handful of Sunnen hones over the years, don't recall the models but also not likely to have been the one you're asking about. All of the pieces I honed were closed cylinders with a constant ID. From some brief reading it appears that there may be a problem with interchangeability of mandrels with different models. There also seems to be potential issues/concerns with split ID components like the big end of con rods, and with mandrels themselves. Not knowing what you're going to use this for perhaps this link will offer some insight.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/thoughts-on-a-sunnen-lba660.546134/

Thanks but that link points back to this thread.

 

[RoninB4]

Thanks but that link points back to this thread.

-That's because I'm an idiot sometimes. Try this one.

Sunnen mandrel compatability

I have three old Sunnen hones. Models MA and LBA. They use the obsolete SL series mandrels of which I have many as they can still be found new on ebay for cheap. I will soon need to hone a bunch of connecting rods and wanted to use the appropriate mandrel for the job which is a CR1750 mandrel...

www.practicalmachinist.com

 

[Burt Shaver]

Did a quick google search and came across a thread from a different forum saying they seen two for sale, one for 1500.00 and one for 600.00, exact model

 

[dnschmidt]

Hones take up a lot of room and are very specialized. Free is not always good when you consider shop space and replacement parts. With respect to Sunnen it's very likely you would be able to find parts as they are very good at supporting their equipment and Goodsen also has a good selection of stones but they aren't going to be cheap.

 

[Steve_P]

Is it a dedicated connecting rod honing machine?

It kinda sounds like you've made up your mind to get it, but unless I had a giant shop, I'd skip it. Unless you're going to be resizing connecting rods more than once a decade, you can scrape by without it.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Mandrels are everything, without the mandrels/stones it is a lump. Check out what a few cost before taking on a gift horse!

Edit to add setting fixtures

 

[txvwnut]

I have the same hone and it will use the CR mandrels. The LBA series hones can be had cheap because most of them don't come with mandrels. Depending on where you buy a mandrel from it run a couple hundred to a grand or more used.

 

[dutchgray]

If it's essentially free I would definitely get it, can always be sold and they are worth a bit of money.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Thanks guys. Was thinking of using it to refurbish suspension parts I work on a lot. Looks like tho a good set of used Mandrels in the sizes I need is at least another $6-800 so probably going to pass on this.