Hello Brian,

I just sent off my ML7R headstock and spindle to Darren Boden and had it back in 3 days with new angular contact bearings and a scraped in cone bearing – top class service. I went for posting the headstock as I'm over 3 hours away from Darren who's based in Nottingham. Everything you read about him is top class and my experience is likewise.

daz.46@hotmail.co.uk

All the best,

Geoff

yes Darren is still servicing as far as I know I was in contact with him only a few weeks ago

I agree with Brian. It's almost certainly the little backgear bull wheel locking lever. If you look at the end of it, you're likely to see evidence of the end of it contacting something and a corresponding silver metal mark in the head casting at the point of contact. Very easy to check by either engaging back gear or using a bit if tape to hold the lever further in place. If you're not too purist about it. You could file a little extra clearance on the end of the lever to stop the ticking.

With all due care taken over safety etc, a long screwdriver with the handle up against your ear and the pointy end on various suspect bits of the lathe should help pin it down to a specific area or even bearing.

Safer – if costlier – alternative is a ‘mechanic’s stethoscope’ .. ebay probably the cheapest source.

W.