Hi from Bedford

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

I have recently acquired an IXL Invicta Lathe, (Ehrlich) and am proceeding to rebuild it. Its going well, with just a few damaged and missing parts.

It does not have a thread dial indicator, and a couple of the change gears have damaged teeth. Not easy to source as they are 26DP.

I don't have a parts list or manual for this lathe not surprising as it was probably built pre war.

Any info or advice would be most welcome.

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Welcome along John, can your change wheel teeth be repaired by pegging an insert in ? Weld or braze ?

[Anonymous]

Welocme to the forum John. I can't help with the specifics of the lathe, although I've cut a lot of gears so may be able to offer some advice on the change wheels. As you've discovered 26DP is not common. But it is possible to make cutters at home, or use a CNC mill.

I used to be in an Olympia2B syndicate at Thurleigh with a John Riley; surely not one and the same?

Andrew

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Hi Chris, Thanks for the welcome. I have a couple of gears that have been repaired by brazing. I'd love to find someone that can do that, I'm not upto that myself.

There was one major gear missing that I have had made, a little expensive, so repair would be good.

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Hi Andrew, Thanks for the welcome. I am a pilot and I have a friend Pat Barker who used to work at Thurleigh, he mentioned another John Riley that worked there. So not the same but close.

I bought a Taylor Monoplane from Pat and flew it out of Thurleigh to its new home at Hinton in the Hedges before Thurleigh airfield closed.

Love my lathe, hope to start using it soon.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Hello John – nice to see another neighbour on the forum. I needed an 80 tooth gear for my newly acquired lathe about a year ago but as gear making is not something I yearn to learn I bought a ready made job and customized it to suit. It was something between £30 – £36 but I have mislaid the delivery note and cannot remember the name of the company who supplied it.

I went to the DERA auction at Thurleigh when things came to an end. I remember parking the car on the scorching hot concrete apron and being amazed at the width of the never ending runway disappearing over the horizon.

I also recall dad teaching mum to drive at the Tempsford airfield before all the concrete was dug up. As you know we had more than our fair share of WW2 air bases in this small area the history of which makes for interesting reading as in for instance "The Bedford Triangle".

Rik

[Anonymous]

Well I never! I know Pat Barker well, although I haven't seen him since my father died. Both Pat and the other John Riley worked with my father (J B B Johnston) in Structures Dept at RAE Bedford. I used to fly at Twinwood Farm and then at Thurliegh, both gliders and the Tiger Moth, until we sold it. I now fly at Gransden Lodge, gliding and tugging.

One key question about the change gears is the pressure angle. Given the age of the lathe the PA is most likely 14½°. It is possible to machine gears on a CNC mill to save the effort of making, or buying, special cutters:

And the final gear set:

I live a few miles west of Cambridge, and regularly visit Bedford as my mum lives in Brickhill. PM me if you'd like to meet up.

Andrew

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Good afternoon John,welcome to the mad house, I live just outside Bedford on the east side, I'm not into Model Engineering per say I restore Stationary Engines to show at vintage rally's, if you need a use of a lathe whilst restoring yours just ask, mine is not large but I've recently machined some 75mm rollers for a friend.

Martin P

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Hi Rik, It would be good if you could find who made your gears, really cheap. I used to fly from Little Gransden just up the road from Tempsford. So much history around here. I now fly from Little Staughton, Pathfinders used to fly from there.

Good to hear from you.

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Hi Andrew, I'll send you a PM, we could visit Pat, he's in Great Barford.

I had a gear made, the guy checked one of my good ones, its 20 deg PA. I guess even milling a new one would be costly. Becaause I have about 4 damaged ones, repair seems a good route to try.

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Hi Martin, I'm north Bedford, many thanks for the offer. I'm looking for a thread dial, so would have to make a modification depending on what I can find. May ask for your help if I need a spacer or such.

It seems Bedford is the place for machinists.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

John – Re: your gear. I have had a look online and if I remember correctly my 80 tooth gear was supplied by:

https://www.gearsandsprockets.co.uk/

Hope this helps.

Rik

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Thanks Rik, I'll check it out.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hi John,

Welcome to the forum. For info on your lathe check out:

http://www.lathes.co.uk/ixl/

Neil

[John RileyParticipant @johnriley12118]

Thanks for the welcome Neil, I have had a great deal of info from Lathes.co.uk, I've spoken to Tony Griffiths there, he is very helpful. I have found nothing for my Lathe on eBay or elsewhere, but I can modify parts from other lathes.

I am using a Boxford thread dial indicator, but with a different gear to suit my lead screw. Maybe it would not be as much fun if everything was straightforward.

I must say this site is a mine of information.

John

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