Hercus 260 ATM rebuild

[swunderlick]

Not too long ago I picked up an old Hercus 260 ATM, this will be the first machine that I have personally owned.

And as things typically go for me I very quickly found something wrong that I wanted to fix. In this case it was just a worn out half nut. So I pulled the apron off and started to see more and more wear and tear on the parts. And now my "new" machine looks like this. In reality this is well into the project, it was extremely filthy and neglected so most parts shown here have been through the first round of cleaning just enough that I could identify the most critically worn components and get them on order. Now comes the real deep clean and reassembly.

This really wasn't part of the plan, I just want to start turning something.

 

[6.5 Fan]

You should get a great education on how your new machine operates. Hope things come together.

 

[Swharfin']

swunderlick Bravo dig in.
I haven't been a member here very long either but I have seen 1000's of yrs. accumulative knowledge in all disciplines being freely given.
My 0.02 - Take lots of pictures both to post and to help you with reassembly. organize your parts, get a manual. I've found a guy in ENG. that supplies both PDFs and printed manuals [email protected] in saying that I ordered a manual for a TOS FNK 25 a few wks ago and as yet haven't received it
( Covid Quarantined item?)

 

[swunderlick]

swunderlick Bravo dig in.
I haven't been a member here very long either but I have seen 1000's of yrs. accumulative knowledge in all disciplines being freely given.
My 0.02 - Take lots of pictures both to post and to help you with reassembly. organize your parts, get a manual. I've found a guy in ENG. that supplies both PDFs and printed manuals [email protected] in saying that I ordered a manual for a TOS FNK 25 a few wks ago and as yet haven't received it
( Covid Quarantined item?)

That's awesome Swharfin, I've been looking all over the place for a manual and I'll have to give this guy a try. Hercus hasn't even replied to my attempts at contacting them and it's been weeks. Luckily Mal has been super helpful but I would still like to get the correct manual.

And I taken loads of pictures, that's the beauty of digital photography, you can take as many as you want.

 

[YotaBota]

Success, the .jpg loaded this morning. The sn you gave in the other thread, 19506, isn't on the list so not sure if it's the list that's wrong or the sn isn't correct. I'm thinking the 9 might be a 7.
The good thing about tearing the machine apart is that you'll know how everything works.

 

[DavidR8]

I found these @swunderlick
I see 260 ATM referenced inside so I hope these are useful.

 

[Janger]

Are you in Calgary Swunderlick? I have a Hercus but it's labeled Rockford. Is your lathe CNC or manual? There is a forum on facebook for hercus equipment. Bunch of nice Australians mostly.

 

[Janger]

I think Swunderlick you already answered all my questions on your intro thread.

 

[swunderlick]

Success, the .jpg loaded this morning. The sn you gave in the other thread, 19506, isn't on the list so not sure if it's the list that's wrong or the sn isn't correct. I'm thinking the 9 might be a 7.
The good thing about tearing the machine apart is that you'll know how everything works.

Awesome, but do you happen to know if '82 is when they stopped building the 260? My serial number is beyond this list, but I actually have two serial numbers on my machine and I suspect one was just stamped wrong. I have 10506V and 19506V. If I was to guess (with some help from Mal) the 10506 was probably stamped wrong because according to him and this list the 260 wasn't in production yet. Plus the 19606V is stamped in two locations. Likely it is just a later production model.

Hercus has been absolutely useless on this, they haven't even taken the time to respond to me.

 

[swunderlick]

I think Swunderlick you already answered all my questions on your intro thread.

Sorry, not in Calgary. I hate to say it but I spent 10 years in the Edmonton area, does that make us mortal enemies?

And yeah, the machine is manual.

I haven't seen the FB group for Hercus, but I'll definitely have to look for it. When I found this group I was only really looking for general metalworking groups because I didn't have a machine yet.

 

[swunderlick]

I found these @swunderlick
I see 260 ATM referenced inside so I hope these are useful.

Awesome, thanks so much for these.

 

[swunderlick]

Clean up and painting continues tonight. The first few pieces that I painted are dry enough now to put them away until the new parts arrive for reassembly. And started to clean the bed tonight, lots of scrubbing and solvent for the first stage.

When I started this I was thinking of it as a restoration, but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not restoring a classic car. My goal isn't to have something historically accurate but to have a good clean tool that operates smoothly and accurately.

Gotta run now, dog won't leave me alone, must be time to go outside. I'll be back tomorrow, thanks for all the help guys.

 

[YotaBota]

but do you happen to know if '82 is when they stopped building the 260

Don't know,my list may have been put together in 82 and never updated. I haven't found any info as to when Hercus stopped production.
Have you been in touch with these guys?
https://australianmetalworkinghobbyist.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

 

[swunderlick]

Don't know,my list may have been put together in 82 and never updated. I haven't found any info as to when Hercus stopped production.
Have you been in touch with these guys?
https://australianmetalworkinghobbyist.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

Yes, I've got an assortment if parts coming from them. They've been really helpful, just never thought to ask them about the year, but they are probably the best source of information out there.

 

[swunderlick]

Little by little it's getting there. First coat of paint on the bed tonight.

I think I'm going to run out of storage space in my head for all my ideas if I don't get this thing turning soon.

 

[Crankit]

Tried a microfiber roller from Benjamin Moore?

Wayne

 

[Proxule]

slow down before you continue have a look at enamel hardener, Isocyanate. Mix it 1:8 with your oil paint and it sets in days now WEEKS, and becomes dry in a day and has a nice gloss to it.
http://ca.proformproducts.com/en/pr...st-reducers/wet-look-acrylic-enamel-hardener/
napa auto has some - 25$

Gluck

 

[swunderlick]

slow down before you continue have a look at enamel hardener, Isocyanate. Mix it 1:8 with your oil paint and it sets in days now WEEKS, and becomes dry in a day and has a nice gloss to it.
http://ca.proformproducts.com/en/pr...st-reducers/wet-look-acrylic-enamel-hardener/
napa auto has some - 25$

Gluck

Thanks for the advice, I'll have to check that out. I know Lordco sells Pro Form products, so should be easy to get locally.

 

[Proxule]

Any questions just ask. Many a machinery have had that treatment !

 

[PeterT]

I've wondered about those generic hardeners too. Usually I'm loathe to mix chemicals from different brands / paint systems because the paint manufacturers are always messing with the recipe, sometimes for environmental reasons & sometimes just because. But I've read the same thing specific to Tremclad. I painted my mill stand with Tremclad & used a disposable foam roller & foam brush for hard to reach areas. It is really easy to apply & leaves a consistent finish vs brushes.

If I had a machine I really cared about, I'd go Endura. Its meant to be sprayed, also high in isocyanate, but brutally tough stuff.