Turn wheel for Grizzly G0462 lathe

[Mark Zimmerman]

I bought a Grizzly GO462 lathe a couple of months ago, and I'd like to add a wheel to the drive spindle on the left side of the drive pulley to make it easier to turn a piece by hand when it's mounted between centers or in a chuck. The drive spindle has an internal thread on the "outboard" side, but I haven't been able to determine the ID or thread count so I can add an extension pipe and some sort of wheel. I called tech support at Grizzly, but they couldn't provide me with any info. Has anyone figured out a good way to do this?

Thanks,

Mark Z.
new turner in Winchester VA

 

[Joe Greiner]

Turn, carve, and/or sand a long taper of medium hard dowel, with the small end significantly smaller than the ID. Twist it into the spindle with stout pliers, e.g. vise-grips. (It may be left-hand thread.) This will imprint the thread system into the wood. Remove the dowel. Measure the TPI from the imprint. Use a knife-edge caliper, such as Grizzly G9256, to measure the minor diameter; note this will be on the bias, and need geometric correction. From those measurements, consult tables of thread systems, to establish your need for threaded rod or pipe, which may be left-hand thread. You'll also need a lock nut or jam nut to secure everything together. FWIW, I think Jet's and HF's equivalent is 1/2-12 LH.

I'm disappointed with your experience of Grizzly's tech "support."

 

[Mark Zimmerman]

Thanks, Joe -- that's a great suggestion and I'll give it a try. If it's the same as the Jet, I might be able to pick up a replacement Jet part that will work.

Appreciate the help,

Mark