What I forgot to add was that I much prefer this version of a backlash eliminator to the one that distorts the nut, simply because there is an even axial force on the leadscrew, rather than a potentially distorting one that will cause uneven thread wear in the long run. I don’t know about you, Brian, but if I was going to fabricate a new nut, I would have thought that a version like this would not be too difficult at all to make. Looking back through the thread, it would appear that doing it this way is very similar to Keith Long’s suggestion – only adjustable in situ – always an advantage!

Best wishes for a speedy full recovery, Brian.

Good evening all,

I’m new here, but a regular on various other fora. I was prompted to respond as I have, some Smart & Brown lathes and a fairly intimate experience of messing about with them. Firstly you may like to consider the Yahoo Smart & Brown group dedicated to these lathes. It is friendly and active and an Operators Manual and Parts Lists are available for free download once you have subscribed, although the details of the feedscrew nut are not very explicit. 

You might also consider talking to Bracehand Ltd near Hitchin (Google it), Chris, the proprietor, was an employee of S&B’s and he bought the S&B name and remaining spares and all their old drawings when they went under. It is not inconceivable he may have a new or ‘good used’ nut and/or feedscrew.

Brian, you have correctly deduced the backlash adjustment on the Mdl A, the taper tipped screw opens the split to reduce the clearance. Make sure that you adjust the nut on an unworn part of the screw or it will bind when you do move to an unworn area. It is probable that most of the backlash can be adjusted out, but any remaining will be due to wear in the scew, not the nut. This will manifest itself as a variation in the backlash over the range of movement. If this is unacceptable, it is the screw more than the nut that needs replacement.

You are pretty much committed to the 8 TPI when you consider the 0~125 graduations on the handwheel. It has caught me out and my chum who’s Mdl A I serviced last year, but unless you change the handwheel as well you are in for some major confusion!

The two part nut that Steve described is used in the top compound slide of both the Mdl A and 1024 as well as some of their other machines. I agree that I prefer either of the two part nut arrangements to the tortured nut on the MdlA, but the original has lasted 60 odd years so it can’t be too bad.

Backlash would not normally give rise to the carriage floating about in use, have you checked the gibb strips for correct adjustment? It might be worth a look.

Rgds

Richard

 Brian,
The tricky part of adjusting the gibbs is the rather irritating locking rings. You need a mildly special tool to deal with them easily – essentially a hollow screw driver. I made tool from a 1/2″ long piece of 5/16 silver steel. Drill an instrument screwdriver diameter hole up the middle and mill the end to leave a 1/32nd wide ridge (inverted groove, but I can’t think of a good word) to engage with the slots in the locking rings. I also put a hex on the other end so I could tighten them. You can then use the tool described to nip up the locking rings whilst holding the adjusting screw with a small screwdriver up the middle.

The way I adjust the gibbs is to set the cross slide to an unworn area of the saddle and tighten all the screws reasonably tight, by hand. Tight finger-tight if you like. This will lock the slide, but will ensure the gibb strip is fully seated as it needs to be pulled down the dowels at the ends. Then successively release each screw and re-tighten it until you just feel it seat and no more. That as such will probably be OK, but if you use the locking rings, you will have to back off the adjusters slightly as the locking rings will take up any clearance in the locking screw threads and tighten the adjustment further. If the saddle is badly worn, you may want to slightly tighten the gibbs some more and accept that it tightens up a little in the unworn area.
Richard