[theanswers]

Hi,
I've recently purchased a excel 500 Metalworking lathe. However I am somewhat alarmed by a noice coming from the main headstock. In certain gears it's as if some of the gears within the headstock are loose and banging about. This obiously isnt normal. I've checked the oil and it appears to be low. Would it be a lack of oil causing this or would there be something more serios wrong?
Looking forward to your replies and advice
Peter

[Al_The_Man]

Banging noises are not good, often there is a cover of some kind you can do a bit of visual inspection, chipped gears cause noise or a gear loose on a lay shaft etc.
Engage the gear you have the problem noise with when you remove the cover.
Al.

[theanswers]

Now the fault is within the headstock. I.e. directly behide the area where the levers are to change the speeds. Is this the area you are talking about? I hope to open it on wednesday and try and identify the fault. Should one top the machine up with oil first or wait until i have a look?
Any other tips or advice?
Thanks

[Al_The_Man]

It is often easier to drain the oil when you inspect it, otherwise you may miss something.
I had a problem on a mill gear head where the bronze gear index fork had worn allowing the shifted gear to still be partially engaged.
In this case I S.S. a new bronze piece on.
Al.