I'm a long time from needing to do this, but I'd like to start accumulating any parts/tools I would need.
My tailstock-side (right) spindle bearings are pretty tight - no detectable movement just using my hand.? But the change-gear-side (left) bearing has a lot of play.
The left cap looks like it's been shimmed up, so perhaps removing the shim will help.
I've read some old posts about shimming the bearing shells themselves and then scraping them to fit the spindle shaft again.? However, how do we maintain alignment of the spindle parallel with the ways horizontally and vertically insuring the spindle is centered in the bearing?? Seems gravity would have had a hand and the lower bearing shell is more worn than the upper, so that's probably where most of the wear is going to be.? I haven't measured the play but it seems like if I extrapolated it to the far end of the bed (like if I had a long rod chucked up) the far end would have significant up and down movement like maybe 1/8 of an inch (just guessing).
Or do we just get the spindle centered as best as possible in the headstock and then adjust the whole headstock to align with the bed?
Am I overthinking this?
chrisser