Hi There,
Is your lathe one of the later Korean made SBL's?? I think
SBL was using them starting in 1979 or 1980.? The easiest
way to tell is to look at the side of the bed at the tail stock
end.? If the name "SOUTH BEND" is cast into the bed, it is
a US made one.? If blank, Korean.
The Korean made ones are still nice machines.? They mostly
came with Flame Hardened beds.? These were redesigned
so the headstock could be used for both horizontal drive
or cabinet (under drive).? I had one about 30 years ago.?
The only bad thing about them (if it can be said) was they
would use castings that had minor flaws.? They would weld
up the defect and machine the piece out.? SBL made lathes
would not use any castings that had flaws.? They would scrap
the casting.
The only thing that wasn't right with the one I had was the well
for the wick under the rear bearing would loose oil in a few hours.?
This turned out to be that when those wells were drilled in the
casting, they went a tiny bit too deep and just nicked the hole
bored for the reversing tumbler.? Once I located the problem,
I disassembled the head stock, flushed out the well with BRAKCLEAN?
and then put one drop of JB Weld? in there to seal the nick.? Then
reassembled it and all was good to go.
So, let us know which type you have or better yet, post some pics
and we'll be sure to help.
Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb
