Lever operated tailstock attachment Myford

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Like this only more bigger

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Preload with the lever and lock the barrel as you would/should with the hand wheel set up. Works fine>

Robert Butler

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

I had an ML7 for years fitted with the basic type lever attachment and never found the need to ever change back to the screw feed. I didn't find it any harder to judge the pre load on a dead centre with the lever than with a screw, I have managed to get it wrong using either system! I always found the ML7 handwheel with two handlesand the thread of the tailstock barrel sticking out to be very knuckle grazing and awkward, which is the original reason for fitting it, The S7 tailstock handwheel seemed a definite improvement.

My 254 has the rack feed still sold by Myford ( fits 254 and S7) and I use that for everything, I have the very small chuck on a spindle sensitive drilling attachment sold by ARC, just drilled some lubricator jets No 78 with no problems, and I'm a bit ham fisted. When I was working I made an attachment similar to the one shown by Hopper above 3mt to fit our works lathes, worked so well someone pinched it!

Both of the Myford ones had stops, the ML7 a rod and the 254/S7 one has a collar, very useful for repetition jobs.

Dave

Edited By Dave Wootton on 09/03/2022 11:46:03

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Had mine for 12 years.

One of the first accessories I made.

The castings shown in David George's post earlier in the thread are cast from the patterns I made.

Shown in the photo on a Myford M type and in answer to Davids question they are also good for the ML7.

………….and for George, as hopper suggest, rotate it and have the handle upright.

geoff

[GeorgineerParticipant @georgineer]

Posted by Hopper on 09/03/2022 09:44:15:

Posted by Georgineer on 08/03/2022 21:56:45:

I love my lever attachment, with one reservation. The handle sticks out a long way and catches me when I'm walking past in my cramped workshop. I've taken to removing the handle when not using it.

George

Can it not be rotated so the lever sticks upwards?

I never thought of that! I'm not sure if it would be so convenient to use, but I'll have a play. It's actually no problem to remove the handle. The rod fits snugly into its socket, and I don't tighten the screw.

George

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Hopper on 09/03/2022 11:19:32:

I'm thinking of having five bob each way and making a lever action "sensitive" attachment that fits into the MT2 taper in the existing tailstock, using a nice Jacobs 3/8" chuck I have kicking around. Handy for drilling small and medium holes then easily popped out to make way for a centre or bigger chuck.

Myford call them a sensitive drilling attachment but I think I will make mine a bit bigger for general use.

Another form of each way bet would be the design by the late John Stevenson which cunningly combined both screw and lever feed.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

If anyone is interested I made one years ago and it has given good service I could email the drawings they come from The Model Engineer and Light machinery Review dated Aug 15th. 1929!!!!.Nothing new under the Sun!!!

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by bernard towers on 09/03/2022 20:03:50:

If anyone is interested I made one years ago and it has given good service I could email the drawings they come from The Model Engineer and Light machinery Review dated Aug 15th. 1929!!!!.Nothing new under the Sun!!!

Thanks Bernard. PM sent.

[egaParticipant @ega]

bernard towers:

I, too, will PM you.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Well, I have decided to make both the 1929 sensitive attachment from Bernard's info, plus my own copy of the original Myford lever action tailstock complete. So as not to hijack this thread, more about that here LINK

But one thing I really need if someone can help by meausuring up an original, is the dimensions for the small link connecting the handle to the quill and the sizes/details of the pivot bolts. I have outlined more detail in the new thread if anyone can help. Thanks.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Intrigued by the 1929:reference, I went searching patents and found this from 1981

**LINK**

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DUS4301699A

.

which cites Tyden from 1929

**LINK**

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DUS1704957A

.

Is this mere coincidence, or is the Tyden patent the source of Bernard’s offering ?

… Just curious

MichaelG.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Not obviously, Michael. The 1929 ME article was submitted by one H Dyer. His driller, as he calls it, looks much the same as the one Myford sells today, pictured in my post above of 9/3/22, only more elegantly shaped in the style of the era rather than Myford's Soviet Brutalist effort made from square blocks. And it fits into the taper of the tailstock, rather than clamp on to the tailstock itself.

I can't see any connection to the patents other than the most general of principals of having a clamp and a lever etc. But it is entirely possible that Mr Dyer had seen the patent, or patented item itself and based his design on the principles. Or it may have been a common idea that was done at the time by machinists and Tyden was the first to get around to patenting it. I guess we will never know.

I cant upload the original ME article as it is a PDF and this site won't accept it. But it is almost identical to the photo I posted of the Myford item but the two blocks are narrowed down where the link fits.

 

Edited By Hopper on 20/04/2022 01:08:07

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

PS: A search of the ME index for "Drilling Attachment" reveals numerous pre-1929 articles as far back as 1904. Without seeing the actual articles it is hard to say what exactly they were but from the titles such as "Sensitive drilling attachment"n etc it sounds like the concept was around long before 1929. Interesting old articles. I would love to browse some of them. Especially the drilling attachment with "self-act feed" for the lathe. MEs were an innovative bunch back then, treadling away.

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Warco list this (presumably Chinese) in 2mt and 3mt but it may take up too much bed length?

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 20/04/2022 09:39:57

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Nick Clarke 3 on 20/04/2022 09:39:38:

Warco list this (presumably Chinese) in 2mt and 3mt but it may take up too much bed length?

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 20/04/2022 09:39:57

Yes that is very similar to the Myford current offering which is very similar in design and execution to the 1929 ME article, save the less rounding off of the two peices of flat plate there. Probably out of the same factory in India or China whre the Myford one is made. Or the factory next door who found one lying about and copied it.

It would take up that extra three or four inches of bed length but for me that would not usually be a problem. And it allows quick change over from screw to lever action, albeit you would not be pushing a 13/16" drill with this one. The current Myford version I think has a 5mm max chuck. So it is a true sensitive attachment for small bits rather than the full sized universal tailstock lever attachment.

[Alan JacksonParticipant @alanjackson47790]

I much prefer this type, long range and sensitive

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