Is an "almost free" Harrison L5 Mk1 worth bothering with?

Alan Ibbetson · 2008-12-24T09:31:41+00:00

Thanks to everyone who helped steer me in the right direction for damp proofing my garage prior to converting it into a workshop. I'll be laying the concrete for an additional garden shed over the holidays so I can relocate my ride-on mower and get that part of the project moving.Here's my next newbie question (remember, I did warn you all).A local vintage car restorer is retiring. He has what looks like avery early Harrison L5 with tooling that he might part with forpeanuts. I think it's an early one because it has the round headstockcover split along the centre line of the bearing and the clutch rodrunning the length of the machine. The ways look undamaged but thestudents at Ashford tech from whence it originally came seem to havehad an accident with a hacksaw on the edge of the topslide. Or havethey crashed it into the work piece with the thing running??In the experience of the group is this equipment worth botheringwith, or am I likely to be taking on a major restoration projectrather than acquiring a useful tool? I don't know enough to tellwhether I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth if I passed on it orwhether I'd be buying a load of trouble. Is the fact it's only 400yds away overriding good sense?I'm looking for gut feeling generalisations rather than specifics, ofcourse.Thanks,Alan

Dec 24, 2008 25 Replies

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Austin Shackles 17 years ago

On or around Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:23:00 +0000, Bob Minchin enlightened us thusly:

Just a slight caution, make sure the spindle bearings are up to running at higher speeds. If you're going from 750 up to 1000 I doubt it makes a lot of odds, but if you want to make it run at about 2000, you need to be sure that the machine will take it.

Ages ago the school at which I was a pupil at the time got hold of a small, defunct, aveling-barford roller. This was fitted with a detuned ford side-valve, which was u/s. The tech lot got heir hands on it and fitted a spare austin 1300 engine. The teacher got onto Aveling and got some techincal info, one of which was "don't run the engine at more than 1800 rpm or you risk exploding the gearbox".

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Richard Shute 17 years ago

and me in Canterbury.

Hi Alan, I just sent you a PM. I'm very local to you, feel free to contact me if you wish. Off for a doze now, too much turke..........zzzzzzzzz Richard

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dave sanderson 17 years ago

I had this on my L5, the original motor was a gigantic 6 pole motor.

415V only, speeds on the top plate 21 - 480 rpm. I remotored mine with a complete 1hp setup from Newton Tesla, as the lathe was free I could spend on the motor. Ive had no problems with the setup in several years (cant remember how many) If you search google group archives youll find the posts. As for speed I routinely make alloy parts for (micro) RC Helicopters with my L5 and my TOS mill. These are both reasonably sized 'industrial' machines, and the parts I make are usually about 15mm in the biggest dimension. I usually run mine at around 1000 rpm input speed (same as the original motor), so 480rpm spindle speed but I do use the inverter to speed it up, but its really quite noisy (gears mostly) when running fast, and as Im not in a 'production' environment if it takes a little longer to make a part it doesnt matter. Dont forget that SFM charts are usually production oriented, and as such are about getting the most parts out as fast as possible with a reasonable (for them) tool life. Going slower is nearly always an option. Pointy sharp tools help.

Dave

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dave sanderson 17 years ago

Mines not bolted down, in fact I think its moved 4 times around the garage since I got it...

As for looking at it here:

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help.

Dave

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Alan Ibbetson 17 years ago

Further to all my questions about Mk1 Harrison L5s, the old codger doesn't look as if he can be bothered to sell it after all. In a fit of New Year madness and Esterlin Champagne I bought a Smart and Brown Model A Mk2 off eBay (item 230316370220). I think it will be lower risk and more of a "use it" rather than "rebuild it" project.

You can blame Richard Schute. My wife certainly does. There are some immensely helpful folks on here, not least the people telling us about fascinating silicone enhanced ladies who don't seem too interested in men. Thank you everyone. You'll all be rewarded, but sadly not in this life.

Happy New Year,

Alan

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