Taking steps from porting to cutting cylinder squish band and base. My first lathe!!!

[chadihman]

HI everyone, I just bought a used but really nice logan model 700 or Montgomery wards powercraft 700 10" swing metal lathe. I paid $200 for it. It's clean and has no wear. It came with a set of reamers, collets, and a complete gear change set for thread cutting. I also purchased a new axa 100 series quick change tool post and a morse taper live center. I fell in love with this heavy 1940's chunk of american history. Now I'm wanting to start cutting squish bands and cylinder bases. I'm taking it slow and sucking up as much info as I can.
I was wandering if any of the lathe operators would be willing to show a few pics or video of squish band cutting. I saw a setup on you tube with a square block locked in a four jaw chuck with bolts holding the cylinder to the block. How ever it's done I know it's got to be time consuming work getting everything set up.
Get ready chainsaws, It's time to really rip I'm really excited about this lathe
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[Stihl 041S]

You did well!!!

 

[chadihman]

You did well!!!

Yeah I couldn't pass on this deal. It was an offer to only me from an older fella that needed it gone from his house he is selling and he said he thought I could really use it.

 

[Hammertime1]

Very nice! Every time I find the smaller ones they are tolerances are just horrible or it was really low end units. I did manage to snag a nice mill and surface grinder earlier this year though but still searching for my own smaller lathe. Great find she's a beauty. Can't wait to see how it's done either.

 

[chadihman]

I'm gonna be pretty bumed out if no one shows some pics of squish band cutting:msp_sad: Come on guys don't be bashful

 

[rmh3481]

Here are a couple of vids to help explain the process;
Pop up performance piston tutorial.AVI - YouTube
Turning Cylinder Base Down Tutorial.AVI - YouTube



Where abouts are you in Pa?

 

[Termite]

Chad, it looks a lot like a 1936 Atlas I used to have. I think they are cousins.

 

[chadihman]

Here are a couple of vids to help explain the process;
Pop up performance piston tutorial.AVI - YouTube
Turning Cylinder Base Down Tutorial.AVI - YouTube



Where abouts are you in Pa?

15 min east of Harrisburg. Elizabethtown Pa. Thanks for the links

 

[chadihman]

Chad, it looks a lot like a 1936 Atlas I used to have. I think they are cousins.

Well I could not find a model plate anywhere so I'm not 100% positive it's a logan but that what I was told. I purchased a parts/operators manual from Logan actuator company and it sure looks like it is a model 700 logan. The electric motor is a craftsman and it looks original. It has a leather flat belt. Lots of the old lathes looked similar in pics I have seen.

 

[srcarr52]

Here is an example of how to cut the squish band.

http://youtu.be/N7yE7Y97P5g

 

[parrisw]

Do you have any experience running a lathe? I would not recommend cutting a squish for the first timer.

Its not easy to get the cylinder square and with .0005" runout, before you cut. My first try at it took me a while, but getting faster, but I also had my lathe a couple years before I did a squish band cut.

 

[Mastermind]

I'm gonna be pretty bumed out if no one shows some pics of squish band cutting:msp_sad: Come on guys don't be bashful

I'll post some pics in this thread http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/216575.htm tomorrow. I'm sure if I can set it up on my little Chinese lathe you will have no problems.

 

[Stumpys Customs]

Here's a pic of my crude setup, but it works.

 

[chadihman]

Do you have any experience running a lathe? I would not recommend cutting a squish for the first timer.

Its not easy to get the cylinder square and with .0005" runout, before you cut. My first try at it took me a while, but getting faster, but I also had my lathe a couple years before I did a squish band cut.

I have no experience on a lathe other than in a shop class in high school. I'm a mechanic so I have many of the needed measurement tools needed. I use a dial indicator, depth guage, calipers and micrometers often. I'm learning the basics from a coworker who was a machinest. This type of precise work is what I thrive on. Time consuming but worth it.

 

[chadihman]

So are the jugs bolted tight to the square block with tapped holes and then the block adjusted in the four jaw chuck for precise run out? Adjustment on the bolts is probably also needed.

 

[srcarr52]

So are the jugs bolted tight to the square block with tapped holes and then the block adjusted in the four jaw chuck for precise run out? Adjustment on the bolts is probably also needed.

Yup. And adjusting the bolts to align the bore axis with the lathe axis effects the run out so you have to keep going around in circles adjusting the bolts, then the chuck. Then back to adjusting the bolts and so on until you get it right. Until you get a feel for it, it will be very discouraging.

 

[Tree Sling'r]

I never got into cutting the squish. I bought an offset boring kit for my milling machine a few years back, but never really messed with it. My lathe I made a handful of different wood mandrels that help with the cylinders. I guess I am just happy with making pop ups and what I am already doing as far as porting, my system is pretty fast.
I sure do like this stuff though, I wish I had more machining ability. Good luck bud!!!!

 

[parrisw]

So are the jugs bolted tight to the square block with tapped holes and then the block adjusted in the four jaw chuck for precise run out? Adjustment on the bolts is probably also needed.

Yes, the bolts align square. And you'll need a test indicator for inside the bore.

 

[srcarr52]

Yes, the bolts align square. And you'll need a test indicator for inside the bore.

If you can fit two in there (top and bottom of bore) it makes the dialing in process much faster.

 

[Tree Sling'r]

Yes, the bolts align square. And you'll need a test indicator for inside the bore.

Speaking of which, I have a brand-new digital indicator if anyone is interested. From Grizzly.