Myford Super-7 (1955) – Headstock cap-scew size??

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

Myford Super-7 (1955) – Headstock cap-scew size??

This topic has 13 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 20 March 2025 at 11:55 by noel shelley.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

Author

Posts
19 March 2025 at 20:40 #789618
flatline
Participant
@flatline
Good evening all…

I am still very much a beginner and have had my Super-7 since May last year…. I have learnt enough to understand that now is the time to get the bed, saddle & cross-slide re-ground…

I have disassembled virtually everything, and am down to the last 4 bolts/cap-scews that hold the headstock to the bed.

So far I have got away with a selection of metric & AF tools, but these last 4 definitely need the right tool for the job.

Can anyone tell me what size Allen-socket I need to undo these please??

Many thanks.. 🙏
Advert

19 March 2025 at 20:53 #789625
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
if as you say you have af imperial sizes then you are there
19 March 2025 at 21:10 #789628
flatline
Participant
@flatline
Unfortunately I don’t have any AF Allen-sockets…

I have an old Allen-key that has no markings but measures 0.215”/5.45mm across the flats… it fits, but it’s not ideal… as I say, it’s quite old & of unknown manufacture so I don’t know if those measurements reflect the actual size required??

any help greatly appreciated.
19 March 2025 at 21:11 #789629
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
“Getting away with” is about right. Normally, the fasteners on these lathes are all BSF, BSW and BA.

You risk rounded-off hexagons by using poorly-fitting spanners and keys – oh, and skinned fingers from spanners suddenly slipping off, but skin grows back.
19 March 2025 at 21:22 #789631
Martin Kyte
Participant
@martinkyte99762
You need a TEE wrench on these as they will be very tight. Do get something that fits correctly.
20 March 2025 at 07:18 #789654
Diogenes
Participant
@diogenes
These are reliably good & you can buy them singly – for this particular application, I’d use a plain rather than a ball-end pattern.. ..you can shop around, obviously..

https://bondhus.co.uk/collections/t-handles
20 March 2025 at 07:25 #789656
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
A quick look on Myford’s site tells me they are 5/16BSF fixings. A google for that size screw spec says they are 7/32″ nominal hex so that is what you need. Sanity check 7/32″ is 0.218″ so close to the one you have
20 March 2025 at 07:33 #789665
flatline
Participant
@flatline
JasonB – many thanks for your reply, progress will be swift now!!
20 March 2025 at 08:44 #789684
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
On 19 March 2025 at 21:10 flatline Said:

Unfortunately I don’t have any AF Allen-sockets…

I have an old Allen-key that has no markings but measures 0.215”/5.45mm across the flats… it fits, but it’s not ideal… as I say, it’s quite old & of unknown manufacture so I don’t know if those measurements reflect the actual size required??

any help greatly appreciated.

Don’t mess about, buy a set of Imperial Allen keys, and avoid ‘too cheap’. T-Handles are best if frequent use is likely.

An early lesson painfully learned by me is that fasteners are easily damaged by ill-fitting tools, and the aggro that causes isn’t worth the risk! A tight Allen socket that’s been distorted by an ill-fitting key becomes a major problem. Ditto screw-heads and nuts and bolts damaged by misfit tooling. Worth getting sets of tools that fit accurately. Though 90% metric, I haven’t begrudged buying both metric and imperial Allen key sets.

Old tools must be in good condition, and that depends on their history. Wrong size, and/or worn. Any doubt, chuck ’em out!

My advice, don’t cheapskate on this one.

Dave
20 March 2025 at 08:56 #789691
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I’d go with a 1/4 or 3/8 drive with 7/32″ hex, a ratchet or tee bar will give more leverage than a tee or L shaped key and extensions will give you the reach needed.
20 March 2025 at 09:50 #789716
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
Not entirely off topic ! I was faced with a number of 3/16″ af countersunk head bolts that were seized and had been attacked by the cabin boy who having butchered the heads gave up. For this size (4.75mm ) take a short 5mm hex key and hammer in to the bolt head, it will cut its own size and will give the best hope of success. Noel.
20 March 2025 at 10:38 #789725
Clive Brown 1
Participant
@clivebrown1
My 7/32″ hex key is, as close as I can measure, within a tenth of a thou. of exact size, 0.2188. It’s a very snug fit in a 5/16″ allen screw. I think the OPs key at ~4 thou. less might seem quite slack at this size.
20 March 2025 at 11:03 #789729
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
On 20 March 2025 at 10:38 Clive Brown 1 Said:

My 7/32″ hex key is, as close as I can measure, within a tenth of a thou. of exact size, 0.2188. It’s a very snug fit in a 5/16″ allen screw. I think the OPs key at ~4 thou. less might seem quite slack at this size.

Agreed !!

Like so many things these days; many are made “a little worse …”

For the job at hand, only the best is really good enough

MichaelG.
20 March 2025 at 11:55 #789734
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
is the key the OP using a 7/32″ or is it a 5.5mm ? Their very close. Noel
Author

Posts