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Craftex B2227L Handle Position Control

A

Andrew Henderson

New Member
Hello, I am new to this forum and this is my first post.
I am also quite a novice to lathe work even though I have had my B2227L for 5 years. Time for its first oil change!
My lathe has started to leak oil past the spindle rotating speed control handle. I assume there must be o-rings on the shaft? My question is, how do I remove the handle seat to get at the flange and seal?
It has a cross pin that I thought was a taper pin, but decided to confirm before I did any harm.
Anyone who has any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
 

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That looks like a solid pin alright. You should be able to measure the hole on each end to determined be which way to drive it out. My lathe uses roll pins for those knobs.
 
Thanks john, measuring the holes confirmed which way to drive the pin.
I was surprised to find no seals or o-ring on the shaft to stop leaking oil.
I cannot find a vent anywhere on the gearbox, so I may add a sintered bronze vent plug.
 
Hey Andrew,

I have the same lathe actually, let me know if I can help with anything further!

Do you still have your manual? It has a parts diagram inside, and can be found online if you're missing it!

JW
 
Hi JW,
Thanks for the offer. Back together and running again. I did find my manual.....the day after I was done.
I am not a machinist, but a mechanic. When a gearbox leaks, the first thing I check is if the breather is plugged. Do lathes not have vents?
 
Jwest7788 said:
Hey Andrew,

I have the same lathe actually, let me know if I can help with anything further!

Do you still have your manual? It has a parts diagram inside, and can be found online if you're missing it!

JW
Click to expand...
Hey Jwest, do you still have you b2227l? I have a question I would like to ask you if you do.
 
Andrew Henderson said:
Do lathes not have vents?
Click to expand...

Yes. All three of my lathes have the filler plug (cap) cross drilled to let the headstock breathe. As you mentioned, a gearbox needs a way to breathe. Lathes are no different. If yours does not have a breather, I would drill the filler plug (assuming you have one).
 
Hello Andrew Henderson. I also have a Craftex B2227L lathe for several years without any issues touch wood.

You can download a copy of the manual from Busy Bee which shows the headstock parts listed on page 21 & 22, and the headstock diagram on page 23. Should offer you a better idea of what you're looking at. Good luck with this keep us informed.

https://www.busybeetools.com/content/product_manuals/B2227L.pdf

I couldn't open the URL posted by Jimbojones, this might help!

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/f...ftex-b227l-lathe-gearbox-noise-fix#post929930
 
Last edited:
Emery said:
Hey Jwest, do you still have you b2227l? I have a question I would like to ask you if you do.
Click to expand...
Hey,

I sure do!
@David_R8 also asked me the same recently, I assume related?
@David_R8, your question was what was my experience like without a quick change gearbox.

I would summarize my experience as: I was truly just getting started when I purchased my b2227L, and it was never missed. It's a luxury I would appreciate now, but I am happy I started without one, as it forced me to learn things I wouldn't have otherwise. Some mistakes, and some history.

But yeah, the creature comfort would be good at this point.

As I design most of the things I make, I generally stick to a single thread pitch to avoid the gears, but that's worked well for me.

JW
 
Jwest7788 said:
Hey,

I sure do!
@David_R8 also asked me the same recently, I assume related?
@David_R8, your question was what was my experience like without a quick change gearbox.

I would summarize my experience as: I was truly just getting started when I purchased my b2227L, and it was never missed. It's a luxury I would appreciate now, but I am happy I started without one, as it forced me to learn things I wouldn't have otherwise. Some mistakes, and some history.

But yeah, the creature comfort would be good at this point.

As I design most of the things I make, I generally stick to a single thread pitch to avoid the gears, but that's worked well for me.

JW
Click to expand...

Thanks Josh, @Dusty
Actually I know a fellow in Edmonton looking at a B2227 and he had some questions about the feed box.

On lathe he’s looking at, the lead screw turns freely when the feed box lever is disengaged but is very stiff when engaged even when input shaft is disengaged form the headstock gearing.

He’s concerned that something has gone awry in the feed box.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
David_R8 said:
Thanks Josh, @Dusty
Actually I know a fellow in Edmonton looking at a B2227 and he had some questions about the feed box.

On lathe he’s looking at, the lead screw turns freely when the feed box lever is disengaged but is very stiff when engaged even when input shaft is disengaged form the headstock gearing.

He’s concerned that something has gone awry in the feed box. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

On my Craftex B222L lathe feed box when the lead screw lever is in the far left (disengaged) position and using the lead screw crank handle on the right end of lead screw the lead screw turns freely. When the lead screw lever is in the far right position (engaged) I cannot turn the lead screw with the same crank handle. Has always operated like that since new.

Unsure what you mean by "even when input shaft is disengaged form the headstock gearing" unless you are speaking to inside the gearing cabinet? Never tried that.

What position was the half nut in, engaged or disengaged on the lead screw?????
 
Last edited:
Dusty said:
On my Craftex B222L lathe feed box when the lead screw lever is in the far left (disengaged) position and using the lead screw crank handle on the right end of lead screw the lead screw turns freely. When the lead screw lever is in the far right position (engaged) I cannot turn the lead screw with the same crank handle. Has always operated like that since new.

Unsure what you mean by "even when input shaft is disengaged form the headstock gearing" unless you are speaking to inside the gearing cabinet? Never tried that.

What position was the half nut in, engaged or disengaged on the lead screw?????
Click to expand...
The half nut was disengaged.
What I meant by the "input shat is disengaged from the headstock gearing" was that inside the gearing cabinet he removed the gear that connects the lead screw system to the headstock. It was still very stiff to turn with the feed lever engaged.
 
David_R8 said:
The half nut was disengaged.
What I meant by the "input shat is disengaged from the headstock gearing" was that inside the gearing cabinet he removed the gear that connects the lead screw system to the headstock. It was still very stiff to turn with the feed lever engaged.
Click to expand...

Understood however with my bum leg I'm not going to double check same on my lathe. Would suggest something is amiss although I'm unsure exactly what that might be?
 
David_R8 said:
Thanks Josh, @Dusty
Actually I know a fellow in Edmonton looking at a B2227 and he had some questions about the feed box.

On lathe he’s looking at, the lead screw turns freely when the feed box lever is disengaged but is very stiff when engaged even when input shaft is disengaged form the headstock gearing.

He’s concerned that something has gone awry in the feed box.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I believe that's the way it should be. When feed control is disengaged, that shaft should be pretty much free wheeling, but when the feed lever is engaged you are moving the carriage without any gear reduction factor so resistance will increase considerably.
 
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