I have a quite old 1953 model "A" and it too is in a cold workshop it never seems to actually suffer from the cold though.

It is powered by a three phase 3/4 HP Gryphon motor what yours running on?

Paul

Hi Anchorman, I have a BUD and it's in a cold workshop but never suffers from what you are describing. My headstock bearings are grease packed and have those screw down refillable caps. Mine was driven by 3/4 HP 3 phase motor originally but I converted it to a single phase motor, but reading the paragraph on single phase conversion in this **LINK** I choose a 1HP motor and have not suffered any of the problems mentioned in that paragraph. (it's the one right at the bottom) I agree with Les that it could be a slipping belt, often the link one that goes up to the headstock, or a pulley on the shaft, but I think that would make it's self known sooner than later.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 24/02/2013 14:24:20

My big Taiwanese lathe has a similar problem in the winter time, I'v got to run it for some time at low speed until it warms up, if its very cold it will have a hard job starting at high speeds, perhaps I should use a lighter oil in the winter. Ian S C

My AUD also runs a little slow in the higher speed ranges when its very cold – you can hear it increase in rpm as it warms up.

Check also that neither of the drivebelts is slipping as they might not grip as well when cold. In my case when I had slippage it could bot be heard, I identified it by a little heat build up on the affected pulley but I think a dot of marker pen on the belt an pulley would also work.

Tony

I bashed the cross slide handle on my Boxford model a, which bent the handle, the shaft is ok which supprised me?

I want to take the handle off but can not see how it's fastened on.

Does anyone know how to remove the handle from the shaft?

Brian

Boxford running slow,playing about with motors and belts is NOT the solution,and a well lubricated Boxford will run in very cold conditions ,the problem is that the headstock will not rotate correctly,so do something about the spindle before the belts or motor are ruined, the lathe is pushing 50 years old and its about time the spindle was stripped the bearings washed out and fresh grease applied,its not a mangel or lawn mower its a precision spindle that requires care and maintenance. It must be in poor condition for it to nearly refuse to turn when cold, Many readers well past retirement must remember wintertime in factory workshops where a pullover plus a jersey then an overall was the norm,and the heating minimal ,the Boxford in the factory where I worked was new in the early fifties and very often ran all day probably averaging 25 to 30 hours per week ,of course in the early cold mornings nobody switched a machine on at full chat,it was switch on at a reasonable speed for a few minutes,and there were no problems with the Boxford on very cold days,when it was at least twelve years old the headstock was stripped and washed out and greased,as a precaution ,it gave good service and was an excellent machine. On machines with enclosed lubricated headstocks and gearboxes ,if they have pumped lubrication it is ok to run them slow for a while,if they rely on splash lubrication then on a cold start they should be run at a reasonable speed to ensure the oil splashes everwhere.

I think the younger generations are nowadays too used to machines /appliances which run for a specified life with no maintenance,who last used a grease gun on a car? Most small machine tools used by modellers are based on 1940/1950s designs which required regular care and a fair amount of mechanical knowledge on the part of the user,they do not run for ever.