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Woodchuck53 · October 09, 2012, 04:31:04 AM

Well this is an idea I came up with.
Do to the recent events surrounding our lively hood out here I decided to get a little more formal machining training.
I started last week at the same place I took DE in high school about 40 years ago.
It was when I went to the same Mickey D's for a kids meal that I thought, now isn't this something. I went there starting in the eleventh grade half a day all year for pipe welding. We learned a lot about every thing having to do with metal and working with each other. Mr. Greer was a welder of the old, old school so you didn't advance until you got it and got it right. I think of him often.
Well any way went and introduced my self to the admin. office and they took me around to the shop and the instructor. I talked with him a couple hours and explained what I was looking for and he showed me around. I admitted that I had a little experience with small lathes and mills but wanted to learn more advanced methods. As we talked he asked when I was planning on starting and I said as I was 14 and 14 when would it work for him. We decided on 4 days of my hitch home. Could I start Friday? I did.
As he showed me around he walked to a machine he said some of the lesser students arsed around with and locked it up. Did I have any experience with this big of a machine. I had. Could I take a look at it as he hasn't had time.
I went in there Friday morning and LOTO it and started removing the head stock assembly gear train cover. Found that the splash cover was dripping water and there was a lot of surface rust inside. Really made me sick to see that.
Lossened the belts on the motor drive and unlocked the motor to spin it over. Sure enough by hand it is froze up. The chuck wouldn't budge. Pulled a sample of the fluid and compared it to there cutting oil bucket from the store room. Yep someone had put cutting oil in the drive train.
Took me 6 hours to drain and flush the drive. Removed all surface rust I could and kept pouring diesel fuel thru it. Once I felt good about the returns I tightened the belts back up and secured all other parts I had removed or loosened. Filled the unit with the proper oil and set the rotation to it'e slowest rpm. Manual engaged the drive, bumped rather a little at a time.
Kept manualy moving the selector handles thru their matching speed ranges. Finally got it to spin free and run smooth. It being a 21" x 80" Clausing it could hurt you if somethiong flew apart so I was by myself all day. That afternoon the instructor walked up and asked me if I wanted to work with this machine first. Yep
I think that would be a good idea. It's 4pm by now so the following Tuesday I spent all day parting and 60 degree beveling 4" sch 80 pups for the welding students. Got to know the students and instructor better and believe no matter what they decide with our jobs out here I am going to add another craft to my list. Besides this is the exact machine I bought last summer to rebuild for myself. Some body's watching out for this old boy. Just I thought I would share. Stay safe.