Flexispeed Meteor 2

[ferroequinologistParticipant @ferroequinologist]

Hi all,

I’ve been given a lovely little Flexispeed Meteor 2 lathe (see pic). It’s in need of a bit of TLC as it is a bit rusty and dry, but the motor works in forward and reverse. It’s my first lathe and I am looking forward to using it.

I wanted to ask if anyone has a digital or paper manual for it and any advice on cleaning is much appreciated.

 

Thank you Sandra

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Have fun with the lathe and  restoring it.

H

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Hi,

I’ve put a copy of a Flexispeed Meteor maintenance manual in my dropbox here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/13gx5qkitip1siqteqaew/Flexispeed-Meteor-Manual.pdf?rlkey=jn4b9qw3sk9ncmbc65lxp54ct&dl=0

Any problems send me a PM.

hope this helps,

Rod

[ferroequinologistParticipant @ferroequinologist]

Hi Rod

Thanks so much, that is a great help! Downloaded and reading now.

 

BW Sandra

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Cleaning it, don’t be too aggressive, and don’t start by stripping it down completely!   The reason for not stripping first is incorrect assembly mistakes can be a pig to diagnose.

Get the worst off with plastic kitchen scourers, tooth brush, maybe brass brush and WD40/paraffin.  Once cleanish apply plenty of lube and make sure everything that should moves freely.  Ask again if anything is seized, or there’s deep rusting.

If the lathe runs, spend some time putting it through it’s paces by cutting metal.  This will reveal faults like nothing else – worn bearings, half-nuts, bed, gibs etc, broken/missing parts, knackered motor, bent lead-screw and other nuisances.  Also, if new to lathes, take time to get used to the machine – don’t rush it, there’s a lot to learn.

You can dismantle simple stuff like the tailstock but approach anything else with caution.  Lathes aren’t exactly rocket science, but they do have gotchas!  Much safer to do a deep clean and paint job later after becoming familiar with the lathe.

I don’t care if my lathe is grubby.  Matter of taste!

Dave

 

[Roderick Jenkins]

On Roderick Jenkins Said:

Hi,

I’ve put a copy of a Flexispeed Meteor maintenance manual in my dropbox here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/13gx5qkitip1siqteqaew/Flexispeed-Meteor-Manual.pdf?rlkey=jn4b9qw3sk9ncmbc65lxp54ct&dl=0

Any problems send me a PM.

hope this helps,

Rod

Many thanks, not seen that before.
Copy downloaded and stored in my Simat 101 folder for when I eventually dig out the box from under the bench.
Bill

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks, Rod

Duly downloaded and saved to GoodReader on the iPad

… always useful to have access to these historic documents.

MichaelG.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Happy to see that Sandra’s lathe has a countershaft.  The spindle is soft and runs in cast iron.  As the instruction book says, the spindle speed should be kept to less than 1000rpm.

I purchased one:

and did quite a bit of work on it including making a new spindle (the headstock itself was un-worn).  A gentleman over on MEM sent me the pdf manual.  One point to note is that the taper in the tailstock is the thin end of a Morse #0.

I sold it when I bought a Pultra.

Rod

 

 

[Gep EnglerParticipant @gepengler40547]

https://www.lathes.co.uk/flexy/index.html

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

I have one of these and, in my view, it is a lovely machine. It is not quick and turning anything to size takes time, but it does give a good finish with care. I found that mine needs sharp tools, a moderate depth of cut and a steady feed rate to cut properly. Over-enthusiasm or blunt tools are a recipe for disappointment.

One thing that I just cannot master with it, though, is parting-off.

James.

[ferroequinologistParticipant @ferroequinologist]

I won’t be taking much apart as I don’t want to disturb too much to start off with. I will try and clean as it is with in dowsing it in WD-40 then a degreaser and scourers . I don’t mind if the lathe isn’t like new, it needs to function. I will however  take it off the board it is on now and mount it to a new one. I need to sort all the wires, make them a bit more tidy. Not sure if i should put the motor back on hinges so it drops back tensioning the belts or put it on the board like in Rod’s picture having slots to adjust tension?

 

Sandra

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I would think that parting from the rear would help on a lathe that size although I part from the front on my Peatol but the parts are 10 mm or less. Just a thought maybe thats one of the reasons Taig supply a rear parting post, that could be a route for you.

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Thanks to Rod I now read:

“It will be found that the 3-step pulley can now be moved from side to side for the purposes of selecting seven separat ratios, there being two repeats”

Which I admit had never occurred to me, although it looks like Sandra’s setup allows this.

 

 

 

 

[bernard towers]

On bernard towers Said:

I would think that parting from the rear would help on a lathe that size although I part from the front on my Peatol but the parts are 10 mm or less. Just a thought maybe thats one of the reasons Taig supply a rear parting post, that could be a route for you.

I have contemplated trying this,  but my apprehension with this is whether the chuck will try to unscrew itself.

James

[James Alford]

On James Alford Said:

On bernard towers Said:

I would think that parting from the rear would help on a lathe that size although I part from the front on my Peatol but the parts are 10 mm or less. Just a thought maybe thats one of the reasons Taig supply a rear parting post, that could be a route for you.

I have contemplated trying this,  but my apprehension with this is whether the chuck will try to unscrew itself.

James

The Taig/Peatol rear parting tool and post holds the parting off blade upside down ( cutting edge at the bottom but on centre). Parting off takes place with the lathe running forward as normal so there is no danger of the chuck unscrewing.

Has the side benefit that swarf drops down under gravity away from the cutting edge rather than building up on top of the cutting tool as the blade goes deeper.

[Peter Cook 6]

On Peter Cook 6 Said:

On James Alford Said:

On bernard towers Said:

I would think that parting from the rear would help on a lathe that size although I part from the front on my Peatol but the parts are 10 mm or less. Just a thought maybe thats one of the reasons Taig supply a rear parting post, that could be a route for you.

I have contemplated trying this,  but my apprehension with this is whether the chuck will try to unscrew itself.

James

The Taig/Peatol rear parting tool and post holds the parting off blade upside down ( cutting edge at the bottom but on centre). Parting off takes place with the lathe running forward as normal so there is no danger of the chuck unscrewing.

Has the side benefit that swarf drops down under gravity away from the cutting edge rather than building up on top of the cutting tool as the blade goes deeper.

Obvious when you think about it for a minute……. I was thinking that I would need to run the lathe in reverse, which I cannot do.

Thank you. I shall give it a try.

James

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