Routine Maintenance and Common Repairs on a Vicmarc 300

[Curt Yaws]

Hi. I just got a 20 year old Vicmarc VL300. What common repairs and maintenance should I be looking at? Thanks.

 

[Mick Fagan]

If the electrics are working correctly, then I would look at the state of the head stock bearings and the belt.

There isn't much to go wrong with that era of Vicmarc lathes, from a mechanical point of view that is.

 

[RichColvin]

The maintenance tasks for my PowerMatic 3520b are shown below. These are probably similar to those needed for the VicMarc 300.

Motor & Drive

• Blow out motor & drive
• Inspect power cord for fraying

Belts & Pulleys

• Blow out area
• Check belts for any cracks (inside and outside)
• Check pulleys

Frame & Bed

• Ensure the bed is level
• Ensure fasteners are tight
• Clean way surfaces & apply light coat of oil or paste wax.

Headstock

• Clean Morse taper
• Clean threads
• Clean indexing holes
• Ensure locking handle secures the headstock, and tighten the cam lock nut if necessary

Banjo & Tool Support

• Clean & lubricate tool support opening on banjo
• Ensure collar secures the tool support securely
• Clean & lubricate clamping shaft and cam
• Clean & lubricate screw locks
• Ensure locking handle secures the tool support, and tighten the cam lock nut if necessary

Tailstock

• Clean Morse taper
• Clean & lubricate quill threads and entire quill body
• Clean & lubricate clamping shaft and cam
• Clean & lubricate screw locks
• Ensure locking handle secures the tailstock, and tighten the cam lock nut if necessary

Tailstock Swing Away

• Clean way surfaces & apply light coat of oil or paste wax.
• Clean spring and pivot area, and apply light coat of oil to spring.
• Ensure top and insides are aligned with lathe's ways / bed. Tailstock should slide easily onto swing away.
• Ensure retaining bolts are tight.