Jet 1642 Maintenance and Repairs (spindle bearings)
A few years ago I purchased a used Jet 1642. It has been and is a great lathe with very little trouble until recently. I noticed I had began getting some noise that was different and I was having trouble with getting smooth surfaces. At first I just excused it as just a bad day for tool control, however it slowly kept getting to me. I began checking things on the lathe. No play in the spindle, but noise. I decided that it was a bad belt so I ordered one. When the belt arrived I began the process of changing it out. Once I removed the spindle shaft enough to get the old belt off and install the new one I noticed when turning the bearings by hand they were rough. The belt definitely needed replaced, but now I felt the bearings were shot and they needed replaced. The lathe is about nine years old, so I couldn't complain and the bearings were not that expensive. Including a new gates belt and high quality deep grove rubber sealed bearings the cost was less that eighty dollars. I decided to do a video on the procedure. Here is a link to my YouTube chat where the two part series is posted. I hope this helps some else in this situation. Remember lathe bearings do wear out and the symptoms can be subtle. Jim
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFaZ0aX47HDJ4U5XoxFH7g
A few years ago I purchased a used Jet 1642. It has been and is a great lathe with very little trouble until recently. I noticed I had began getting some noise that was different and I was having trouble with getting smooth surfaces. At first I just excused it as just a bad day for tool control, however it slowly kept getting to me. I began checking things on the lathe. No play in the spindle, but noise. I decided that it was a bad belt so I ordered one. When the belt arrived I began the process of changing it out. Once I removed the spindle shaft enough to get the old belt off and install the new one I noticed when turning the bearings by hand they were rough. The belt definitely needed replaced, but now I felt the bearings were shot and they needed replaced. The lathe is about nine years old, so I couldn't complain and the bearings were not that expensive. Including a new gates belt and high quality deep grove rubber sealed bearings the cost was less that eighty dollars. I decided to do a video on the procedure. Here is a link to my YouTube chat where the two part series is posted. I hope this helps some else in this situation. Remember lathe bearings do wear out and the symptoms can be subtle. Jim
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFaZ0aX47HDJ4U5XoxFH7g