Jet GH-1440W Lathe - Problems and Remedies

Larry:

I am rebuilding a Jet lathe model #1325 PBD, could you please e-mail me and tell what HP and RPM the motor should be.
smacon@savannahtech.edu THANKS

Sam

this is reply to 3-30-04 post

I also got a BVB25L from Samuel. I'm not any expert machinist, so I think it is just fine.

Went down to Philly to pick it up. The guy in the shop uncrated it and helped us load it. He fired it up and everything worked. Quite a project.

Got it home and put it on a bench. Haven't done anything, other than minor clean up. The oil in the headstock looked pristine. The gears are reasonably quiet. The speed change handles don't quite point the directions they should, but that's minor.

runout on the 3way chuck was less than a couple thou.

My buddy got a Grizzly 9x20 last year. He spent more getting it running right than I did on mine.

The large swing, stiffness, and large spindle hole are great, comparatively.

Unfortunately, I heard Samuel Machinery went out of business. I'll have to check further.

[flatlander]

Larry, I bought a Jet GH1340W/1 in Dec. '04, and spent the rest of the winter aquiring tooling and working at truing a Rem M700 action. The only real problem I've had with the machine occured when I first ran it above the 650rpm break-in limit. I spun it up to 910rpm and was alarmed at how much vibration that produced - sorta like an old Maytag on spin cycle with an unbalanced load in the basket. Living out in the boonies (and buying the machine from an online outfit in NY) has made it a little difficult to get a qualified serviceman to come out - I'm nearly 200 mi. west of Wichita. I did get a new set of drive belts that helped some, but the vibration is unacceptable. The good news is that I contacted a dealer in Hutchinson (165 mi. away), and got him talking with the tech service gal at WMH Tool Groups. As a result, Jet is paying him to come out and inspect the lathe next Friday.

The results I've gotten truing the M700 were good, and I'm satisfied with the accuracy of this machine. I'm using carbide insert tooling for most of the gunsmithing jobs I've done to date, and 650rpm works well, giving a decent surface finish. However, I'd like to think the surface finish may improve slightly after we find the source of the vibration and eliminate it.

I had the same problems with oil leaks on my Grazianowhen I got it last year but then it is 35 years old. Used a Jet at the local high school and was impressed enough to not get one. Buying used can be a big risk. Fortunately I had it inspected and was not dissapointed when it arrived.

[flatlander]

The Jet dealer from Hutchinson drove 165 miles one way to bring a retired machinist out to inspect my Jet GH1340W/1 a week ago Friday. They checked out all the things I asked about, and agreed that the cause of the vibration was the chucks. Both the 3 & 4-jaw chucks were out of balance, plus the 3-jaw didn't fit the camlock spindle's taper as it should've. The dealer got on his cell phone to Jet's warranty dept. and arranged to have two new semi-steel chucks shipped direct to me. As I said, that was on a Friday - the following Tuesday, UPS dropped them off at my back door. After wiping the excess oil/grease off and installing the camlock studs, I ran both chucks up to the same 910rpm that'd been giving me problems. Results were gratifying - the vibration was nearly totally eliminated.

Not only did these guys take care of my problems, but I enjoyed talking with them. Now when I get ready to purchase a vertical mill, I know which Jet dealer I'll be talking to first.

[Netstalker]

Larry,
I think you received a cull and its obvious this machine should have been left in China and had absolutely no right being sent to anyone anywhere.
I do not work for JET or anyone else. I'm a parts maker, I do not say machinist as I make and sell specific to me machined products. I have imported many lathes from Taiwan.

I do see your page as exactly a JET bashing ordeal. I know you say different, but I have seen many like yourself in 26 years. You should have got on the phone to JET two minutes after you seen the mess they sent you and took your pictures and emailed them to JET and demanded a refund or new product.
If I was Jet I would send a rep out and deliver and install a new machine, set it up, get the OK from you, remove your old piece of crap, and then offer you some free tooling etc.
Thats what an A1 company does.
However calling out a company and notifying them last reeks of an agenda and is just plain dumb on your part. Why go on the net first? Why mess with a new machine under warranty and then do a spree kill.

Why? To be the big man. Dumb, just plain dumb.
When you come to any business second or third and they see what you did, it's human nature to blow you off. You know what I say is true. Three years later the crap still sits here. And don't think I'm involved but I see this crap daily. What a waste.

Doing the right thing is easy unless your ego gets in the way.

[Garry7203]

I am a machinest newby coming back to a new hobby after too many years to mention.
I bought a HQ400/3B from Gasweld here in Australia 2 months ago and have had several problems. This is a combined Lathe/Mill/Drill.
When I got it home and on the bench (150kg), I started it up and all appeared operational. Switched over to Mill and no rotation! I spent 45 minutes getting it from the trailer to the bench and I was not taking it staight back!
Looked at the parts break down and took off the top pulley. Found that a tab of the lock washer was bent down into the bearing race. Bent it up, put it all back together and all happy.

I trammed it all up and was very happy with the accuracy. Tailstock off centre 5 thou and I have got it back to virtually zero.

I have made several tools and a tacho billet holder for my XV250 (see the Yahoo group for photos) and all seemed good, other than

From the start the gears 'ticked' when I was using position 'I' on the gearbox. Last night I needed to use 'II' for a 0.125 mm pitch and leadscrew would not rotate.

Lathe is under warranty but I live a fair way out of town and have invested several hours in fixing things up. I would rather keep something I have checked out than get a replacement.

Took the Mill off the top of the lathe and the Headstock off tonight and opened up the gearbox. Lo and behold, a stripped nylon gear.

I will post a photo if I can.

I will take in to Gasweld tomorrow and see if they will replace, with gearbox gaskets, as long as I do the work.

I will keep you all informed if you are interested.

Garry

Originally Posted by Unregistered

this is reply to 3-30-04 post

I also got a BVB25L from Samuel. I'm not any expert machinist, so I think it is just fine.

Went down to Philly to pick it up. The guy in the shop uncrated it and helped us load it. He fired it up and everything worked. Quite a project.

Got it home and put it on a bench. Haven't done anything, other than minor clean up. The oil in the headstock looked pristine. The gears are reasonably quiet. The speed change handles don't quite point the directions they should, but that's minor.

runout on the 3way chuck was less than a couple thou.

My buddy got a Grizzly 9x20 last year. He spent more getting it running right than I did on mine.

The large swing, stiffness, and large spindle hole are great, comparatively.

Unfortunately, I heard Samuel Machinery went out of business. I'll have to check further.