Warco 720

[Mick BaileyParticipant @mickbailey28509]

I’m intrigued by this particular model and sometimes see them for sale and wonder if buying one would be regrettable. I went to look at one two years ago for £600 with a whole load of quality accessories, but decided I didn’t know enough about them to go ahead with the purchase, only what I’d read on lathes.co.uk.

The overall quality seemed to be OK – nowhere near the Myford though, and a few poorly machined parts, but the question in my mind was where do you get spares from, and is there any compatibility with the original Super 7?

The spindle runs in roller bearings and I also wonder if these are standard sizes. The lubrication arrangement looks to be different too – maybe grease nipples rather than oil for the spindle.

I have a few Taiwanese machine tools from that era and the only source of parts is either make them or find a scrap donor machine. My rather heavily built bobbin sander needed a pair of ball races which were marked as standard sizes, but the bores had been ground out to an odd size. It cost more than I’d paid for the machine to get the replacements resized at the time.

 

 

 

[peak4Participant @peak4]

I had the same slight dilemma, but bought one anyway; I would do so again under similar circumstances.
I also have a pre power x feed genuine S7 changewheel model.
Yes main spindle is on taper rollers and uses grease; as far as I can tell, the rest of the lubrication is as per genuine Myford S7.

For those not aware, the 720 is a 70’s/80’s copy of a Super7B with power cross feed.

Quality of parts isn’t up to Myford, and some of the shafts, such as where the belt adjustment fits, are mild steel so subject to wear; clearly they could be re-made.
I had an issue with the clutch, where it would spontaneously engage, so I needed to modify the cross shaft a bit, but again, no major issue.
The rack on mine was a bit short, so the saddle ran off the right hand end, but I replaced it with one from an ML7 so fine now.
Metric threads can be cut using the 21/33/34 gear dodge, but you will need to budget for a genuine Myford stub/drive gear, as the Warco one is a single piece twin gear, so you can’t change just the drive gear for the 33 tooth one. Other than that, it works fine.
It’s an imperial lathe with an 8tpi leadscrew, but the fittings are metric, so for 1/4″BSF think 6mm, 2BA 5mm etc.

Mine has a Newton Tesla 750 motor package, which I’d certainly recommend.

Some accessories certainly fit, I’m using Myford steadies and a taper turning attachment

If you’re anywhere near Buxton Derbyshire, drop in for a brew  and play with one.

Bill

[Mick BaileyParticipant @mickbailey28509]

Thanks Bill. I live close to Leek, so not far off and would like to see one of these lathes first-hand in case I come across another for sale at the right price.

I wonder how many were sold? – They aren’t common and I’ve no idea what they cost new compared to an equivalent S7 at the time, or whether they were supplied with a range of accessories.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I think that’s the one we have in the club workshop at Exeter Model Engineers. If you are near and want to see come along to a public running day (1st Sunday) or a a Tuesday evening training session when we start them again next year.

[Mick Bailey]

On Mick Bailey Said:

Thanks Bill. I live close to Leek, so not far off and would like to see one of these lathes first-hand in case I come across another for sale at the right price.

I wonder how many were sold? – They aren’t common and I’ve no idea what they cost new compared to an equivalent S7 at the time, or whether they were supplied with a range of accessories.

Just sent you a PM with off-forum contact details.
They seemed to come quite well equipped, though mine had various steadies etc missing, hence knowing genuine ones fit OK
As I recall, they were appreciably cheaper; I’ll have an old Model Engineer somewhere with the prices; I can also let you have a pdf of the manual.

p.s. 730 was the long bed version, but  even less common.
Bill

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Mick Bailey, I don’t know what the Myford one cost, but below is a scan of a Warco advert on the back of ME in September 1981, but in the second November issue, they were £1150 & £1225.

Regards Nick.

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