Last week I found a fairly decent Graziano SAG 14 on the local Craigs list and brought it back to the shop after some light haggling.
I have read as many of the posts here on PM about these lathes that I could find and now that I have had some quality time
w/ the machine I have some questions for you Graziani types
Some of these points have been discussed in different posts so I will try to keep it short and sweet and w/ your help get some
issues answered and this lathe set up and properly equipped.
First off the lathe came to me with very little tooling. Seems it originally came from a shop where there were several of these
and the original tooling is probably still there. The basic stuff needed has been noted here on the PM posts as unobtanium or
make it yourself items like the spindle adapter to MT4, the steady rest, I have yet to use a follower but thats just me. the
other things like tailstock arbors and chuck / drive plates I can find here and there but the toughie is going to be the spindle
arbor.
As far as condition and function goes this is a fairly nice machine for its age. I cant see where it was ever left outside to
marinate in the rain so that probably rules out the US Government as the original purchaser. The guy I bought it from is
a very talented TIG welder and he was in the process of cleaning and painting when Mrs. TIG welder announced that
a new future TIG welder about to appear. So after I took possession I did all the regular things like new belts, new oil
and lots of elbow grease. The machine came w/ a new RPC so I was able to operate some of the lever functions and found
that the only real problem is in the lead screw/ carriage drive rod engagement.
When the machine was demonstrated I saw that the carriage moved when engaged, cross feed worked etc. but now for
some reason this engagement slips. Its like it is alongside the opposing gear that it is supposed to meshed with but jut on
the edge . the lead screw rotates as does the power shaft when the screw bar coupling lever is engaged in either position
but there is no real engagement.
I havent opened the cast cover as of yet as I am thinking that the problem is in the carriage stop disconnect assembly that
is mounted on the power shaft by the gear case Its like it wont move fully to the right to engage. Any prior experience
here would be greatly appreciated before I open the patient.
Thanks in advance,
Chuck Kiegh
I have read as many of the posts here on PM about these lathes that I could find and now that I have had some quality time
w/ the machine I have some questions for you Graziani types
Some of these points have been discussed in different posts so I will try to keep it short and sweet and w/ your help get some
issues answered and this lathe set up and properly equipped.
First off the lathe came to me with very little tooling. Seems it originally came from a shop where there were several of these
and the original tooling is probably still there. The basic stuff needed has been noted here on the PM posts as unobtanium or
make it yourself items like the spindle adapter to MT4, the steady rest, I have yet to use a follower but thats just me. the
other things like tailstock arbors and chuck / drive plates I can find here and there but the toughie is going to be the spindle
arbor.
As far as condition and function goes this is a fairly nice machine for its age. I cant see where it was ever left outside to
marinate in the rain so that probably rules out the US Government as the original purchaser. The guy I bought it from is
a very talented TIG welder and he was in the process of cleaning and painting when Mrs. TIG welder announced that
a new future TIG welder about to appear. So after I took possession I did all the regular things like new belts, new oil
and lots of elbow grease. The machine came w/ a new RPC so I was able to operate some of the lever functions and found
that the only real problem is in the lead screw/ carriage drive rod engagement.
When the machine was demonstrated I saw that the carriage moved when engaged, cross feed worked etc. but now for
some reason this engagement slips. Its like it is alongside the opposing gear that it is supposed to meshed with but jut on
the edge . the lead screw rotates as does the power shaft when the screw bar coupling lever is engaged in either position
but there is no real engagement.
I havent opened the cast cover as of yet as I am thinking that the problem is in the carriage stop disconnect assembly that
is mounted on the power shaft by the gear case Its like it wont move fully to the right to engage. Any prior experience
here would be greatly appreciated before I open the patient.
Thanks in advance,
Chuck Kiegh