Restoring an old Atlas lathe

[sanddrag]

I just obtained an old Atlas lathe that I wish to restore. From spending 10 minutes looking at the ones on ebay, it seems like is a 6" model. It has pretty good length too. I'll try to get actual pictures up soon.

Anyway, it is in pretty sorry shape. The spindle has play beyond belief. I can easily shake the whole thing by hand. I don't know if it is missing parts or if it is the bearings or what.

It has no chuck and the longitudinal feed is quite difficult to turn.
The ways have a good amount of surface rust.
There is no motor.
It is missing some of the change gears

I don't want to put too much money into this thing since the import mini lathes are looking more and more attractive (and their prices are coming down). But, it does seem like it was a quality machine at one time or another, and I have hopes of putting it back that way.

Does anyone have a manual or parts diagram or something?

How should I restore the rusted ways?

I am willing to put some time and effort into getting it running again, but not a whole lot of money.

[NC Cams]

I think I may have a complete one and some spares that I semi restored some time ago - and instructions too, someplace.

Try to get photos so I can be sure it is the same one.....

Mine was the one sold by Sears in the 40's-50's.

[vulcom1]

You could join the Atlas section on Yahoo
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlas_craftsman
There are a lot of members and info, also they have extra parts to sell sometimes. I am on there as I have a TH54 that I have had for years and last year I replaced some parts mainly the half nut's for the carriage.
The spindle is it babbit or timken bearing. If it is babbit you may still have some shims left in the head to snug it up for side play. If it is Timken there is an adjusting nut on the gear side for adjusting. Which ever it is you do not want to be to tight as it will expand with heat when working.
Have fun cleaning.
John

[vulcom1]

Wrong site and could not edit.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlas_craftsman/
Sorry about that.
John

[sanddrag]

From looking at pictures online and comparing, I am almost certain what I've got is an Atlas 618 lathe just like this one: http://clocktools.com/atlas1.JPG

Mine is missing chuck and gear cover.

Does anyone know how to get the headstock assembly apart? It has a roller bearing in there. I need to pull it apart to see why it has an insane amount of play in it.

EDIT: I pulled the headstock apart and I believe I have found the problem and it is a fairly simple fix.

Also, does anyone know where to get a chuck for it? Will one of the import Sieg (HF, Homier, etc) lathe chucks fit it?

In reassembly, is there anything I should be cautious about? Anything I need to keep an eye on during reassembly (to make sure it all lines up or whatnot)?

Last, I'm not quite sure how all the belts and gears are supposed to go. Does anyone have drawings or pictures or something? Also, I'm assuming I can just get a surplus motor to drive it. Is that okay?

Thanks so much. I really hope to bring this little gem back to life after being forgotten on the floor under a big lathe for a number of years now.

[vulcom1]

I am not sure why but it would not let me put the full url for the craftsman group. Anyways if you make it groups.yahoo you should get there or do a search. There is a ton of info there and you are not the first to have this problem and won't be the last. I know it helped with mine.
John

[sanddrag]

Well, I completely disassembled it and fixed the wobbly spindle/bearings and freed all the siezed up parts and so on ans soforth. But it would still need a motor, chuck, and toolpost at the least. And for not too much more than that would have cost, I got myself a brand new HF 8x12.