Britan repetition lathe operation

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

I've just acquired a Britan repetition lathe off a friend who had never run it or knew much about it.

I've managed to find a few videos on it and have got it turning on etc. However I can't seem to rotate the rear tool changer, and the whole cross slide unit won't slide back and forth. I was wandering if anyone might be able to shed some light on what might be locking it down.

I'm based in Herefordshire, if anyone local would be happy to demonstrate some of the features in person please let me know.

I do have the manual, but haven't found it much help so far.

Kind regards, Jacob

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

There are a few posts on this forum concerning the machine. This search term (without the quotes) should find them:

"britan lathe site:www.model-engineer.co.uk"

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Nice machine, one of the later ones and looks like it’s 1 1/4 capacity model. First of all make sure the black knob is lifted up, it is a stop that can be set for boring holes, also right at the back of the cross slide is a square headed screw which adjusts the stop, maybe it has been wound in too far, another thing may be causing it is the spring on the right hand side of the slide, there is a little chrome plated button which when activated holds turning tools against the guide plate, the way to release it is to give the cross slide lever, the long one a very sharp push backward, maybe you are not being brutal enough. There is nothing else to stop the slide moving and as it goes back it will auto index to the next tool.Got exactly the same model in the workshop and used them in industry many years ago, they are fantastic machines to use and once you have got the hang of it you will be amazed how fast you can make stuff.

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

Posted by Baz on 01/10/2023 19:08:49:

Nice machine, one of the later ones and looks like it’s 1 1/4 capacity model. First of all make sure the black knob is lifted up, it is a stop that can be set for boring holes, also right at the back of the cross slide is a square headed screw which adjusts the stop, maybe it has been wound in too far, another thing may be causing it is the spring on the right hand side of the slide, there is a little chrome plated button which when activated holds turning tools against the guide plate, the way to release it is to give the cross slide lever, the long one a very sharp push backward, maybe you are not being brutal enough. There is nothing else to stop the slide moving and as it goes back it will auto index to the next tool.Got exactly the same model in the workshop and used them in industry many years ago, they are fantastic machines to use and once you have got the hang of it you will be amazed how fast you can make stuff.

Baz you are the man! Turns out after being sat for 15 years everything had just got a bit stuck together, gave each handle a hard shove and they're both free now. My main occupation is as an artist blacksmith, I try to not resort to hitting everything with a hammer though 😂

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

You lucky dog, there can't be many nice examples about now.

As with most lathes the "extra bits" are important for doing stuff so make sure you've got every little part possible from your mate

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

It was at the back of his container and we cleared everything out, so anything I don't have I'll have to make. I have run it and it spins, only thing I couldn't do was get it into high gear on the front lever, but will have another go and see if I can get the power feed working.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Jacob changing speed using the clutch lever is usually done with the machine running, doesn’t matter what speed or direction, it will be stiff, power feed is hydraulic and air obviously gets in to the system so every time you use it you need to bleed the air. Move the whole bed to the right and open the two valves then move long lever to the left, the whole carriage will eventually judder it’s way towards the spindle, repeat a few times and all will be good, there are two feeds both infinitely adjustable so roughing and finishing. You appear to have the desirable indexing tailstock turret, do you have the rear splash back and the guard that goes in front of the operator and the bar feed and stand?

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

Thanks very much Baz, I'll give both those things a go.

I've got the splashback, front guard and stand, not sure about bar feed as there's quite a few pieces that weren't attached which I need to go through and see what fits where. I'll post some photos tomorrow of what I've got.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Andrew Johnston, forum member, has, or at least had, a Britan repetition lathe. He may come along and offer some pearls of wisdom on the subject. I seem to recall that he used it to produce a number of fasteners for his traction engines, amongst other things.

John

[Anonymous]

I held off posting as Baz is clearly in a different league to me in terms of experience. But I still have my Britan and it is getting regular use at the moment making 1/4" BSF/M6/2BA nuts,bolts and studs for the tenders on my traction engines. My Britan came with a good range of collets and accessories, Shortly after I bought it there were two boxes of accessories for sale on Ebay, both in Essex so not far from me. I made sure I won the auctions.

Andrew

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

Here's the rest of the tooling I have with it, plus bar rest and covers.

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

Also quite a few left hand drills, ranging from 17/64 up to 19mm (smallers are all imperial, bigger stub drills are metric). Thanks for everyone's input, looking forward to getting some use out of it!

[Anonymous]

Looks to be fair range of collets, including hex, although I can't see any square ones? Also a good selection of smaller collets for the tailstock and even smaller collets for the indexing tailstock. There are even a few oversize 2nd operation collets; never seen one of those in the flesh.

I spy a spring loaded backstop, which I find very useful. There's a good selection of toolholders, a couple for parting blades and one for boring.

There is what looks like a die holder but the body doesn't look like the ones I have with dog clutches? Are there any similar units for taps?

Andrew

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Jacob it looks like you have all the important bits there, left hand drills are a bonus as they are getting hard to find second hand nowadays. Get it all cleaned up and you will have a fantastic little machine. I know of quite a few running daily in industry turning out excellent work. Spares etc are only now obtainable by cannibalising an existing machine but fortunately they don’t seem to break or go wrong. A fantastic little machine that is hard to beat for short production runs.

[Jacob EdwardsParticipant @jacobedwards65038]

Unfortunately no square ones Andrew, will have to stick to the 4 jaw on my boxford aud for the moment.
Are the 2nd operation collets the ones in the 3rd picture i'm holding? How would you use them and where would they fit?
I've have a hunt through for ones for taps, not sure though!

Excellent new Baz!
Unfortunately i'm still having trouble with power feed and high gear. Have taken a short video (to better illustrate what's there as well as a picture of behind where the high/low selector is on the front, wasn't sure what was meant to happen there with the lever?

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Jacob regarding the clutch, as it hasn’t been used in a while I would move the headstock belt to give the fastest speed you can get and try again, be brutal with it, really brutal. A spray of WD40 or something may help, if the clutches engage too easily they tend to slip so most people seem to set them on the tight side. Regarding feeds, you don’t need the spindle running to bleed the system, just the auxiliary motor, the 3 in 1 motor as it drives the hydraulics for feed, air compressor for the bar feed and coolant pump, this is located directly under the tailstock. Undo the little valves a couple of turns and move little lever at front to vertical or left and leave it there and eventually if you have oil in the system it should work, if it doesn’t it is quite easy to get it all out, usually it’s only the air compressor that gives problems and if it is beyond repair it is easy to just plumb in to the shop airline with a suitable pressure reducer, cannot remember actual pressure but is about 5 to 10 psi. Thinking about it it may be an idea to clean the hydraulic oil reservoir out and treat it to some new oil. For changing belt position on headstock you will find a lump of 3×2 timber handy to just lift the motor while you move the belt.

[websnailParticipant @websnail]

Good advice there.

If you have the time, there is a long chat, that Andrew Johnston and I had about his Britan a good while back.

Do a search and you should find it. I can't seem to get a link to work.

Or just ask questions

Dave

[Anonymous]

Posted by websnail on 02/10/2023 19:42:35:

…there is a long chat, that Andrew Johnston and I had about his Britan….

Good to see you here; and I am still grateful for the advice you gave me when I first got my Britan.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Posted by Jacob Edwards on 02/10/2023 16:49:10:

Are the 2nd operation collets the ones in the 3rd picture i'm holding? How would you use them and where would they fit?

Yes they are the ones you are holding. They fit in the headstock same as the normal workholding collets. They are intended to hold short, larger diameter, work for second operations. They were available up to 1-3/4" according to my manual. I've never seen one until now, so I suspect they are quite rare and were probably made to order.

To second Baz the mechanical high/low lever is very stiff. Mine needs a good shove but there is a positive stop when it is fully home. In reality I never use it. The electrically selected slow speed is fine for power tapping and using the Coventry diehead.

Andrew

[websnailParticipant @websnail]

Yes, I'm still lurking on here Andrew Glad you found your machine useful.

Re: high/low lever. It shouldn't be too stiff to use comfortably. It can be adjusted and does have a sort of over centre lock on both sides. Don't go mad and back off too much or the clutch will slip.

Dave

[Author]

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