Thoughts on South Bend Junior 9 Worth

A&M Designs · Jan 1, 2023

I am ready to buy my first personal lathe from a buddy. What are your thoughts on worth for this Junior 9? My buddy said it had a lot of chatter because of the head stock and bearings, and said facing is perfect but turning is rough. He is looking to sell for $1150 including his custom table and new Shars 6.25” Chuck and 8” surface plate attachment.

I imagine that all I will have to do is resurface the headstock and replace the brass bearings. Not sure, but that’s what I’ve gathered from searching the forums and YouTube.

John in MA · Jan 1, 2023

Changegear lathes don't seem to get a lot of love on the market. I'm sure you could get a similar Model B in better shape for less money unless on an island somewhere. With a little shopping probably a better model lathe overall.

mattthemuppet · Jan 1, 2023

I think that price is on the higher end for a change gear lathe in perfect running condition. For one with issues, way too expensive. I'd keep looking if I were you.

A&M Designs · Jan 1, 2023

@John in MA, @mattthemuppet thanks for your input. I’ll keep looking. I haven’t been able to find anything yet with competitive pricing. Anything cheaper is covered in rust and looks locked up and other larger models are much more expensive. I was going to look at pricing for bearings and headstock repair.

kitno455 · Jan 1, 2023

I own this lathe's near twin, and recommend them highly. They weigh nearly twice what the 9" workshop does, and are capable of good work. The poor turning finish you show likely has more to do with tool geometry and lack of tailstock support.

I would buy it, add some spacers under the bed, and leave the spindle bearings in place. If the lift test shows a lot of clearance, a couple swipes with a file on the sides of the bearing caps will fix that.

allan

A&M Designs · Jan 1, 2023

@kitno455 ive heard they are nice lathes and with his purchase of. $300-$400 Chuck adds a decent amount imo. I will post a follow up if the deal works out. Thanks for the input

animal12 · Jan 1, 2023

Offer him $ 800.00 . Do a search here on how to do the spindle lift test , then armed with that knowledge head over there with a indicator & the bar & give it the test . The results should tell you where to start with your offer . I've seen worse looking bearings & spindle's on lathes that are in use . Not quite sure just what a 8" surface plate attachment is but 400 for the chuck says he thinks the lathe is worth $ 750.00 . What else comes with it ? Steady reat , follower rest, 4 jaw , tailstock tooling , face plate , dogs , change gears ? Those are all minus the tailstock tooling & dogs with plate pretty expensive & not as common as the 9 A-C lathes parts. That lathe has no cross slide power feed .
animal

A&M Designs · Jan 1, 2023

@animal12 thanks for the low down on bearing wear. I’m not sure how these bearings could look and still perform properly. He figured the chatter was from the bearing. I think he’s going to give me more pictures in the coming days with everything he has for it. I will post once they come in.

MrWhoopee · Jan 1, 2023

I don't recommend a change gear lathe to the inexperienced. Threading is the most challenging of the basic lathe operations without trying to figure out if you have the gears right. Having said that, I don't know of an experienced machinist who would pick one except out of desperation.

And the price is too high.
Keep looking, be patient. Expand your search, be prepared to drive 4 hours each way.

Dobermann · Jan 2, 2023

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with a change gear lathe IF you have all the gears. Setting up the threading is pretty easy since there's a chart right on the end cover of the lathe showing gear tooth count and position. HOWEVER if there is enough wear in the spindle bushings to be causing a chatter problem, it may not really be possible to fix it by filing the bearing caps. That's because you can reduce the clearance in the bearings for the "lift test" (Up - Down) but you really can't fix the fore-aft clearance in the bearings with that method.

The only way to find out is to try it and see what happens. The owner might not be too excited about having you take his lathe apart to trim the bearing shells! It is possible to make new bearing shells using that lathe but you'd really need to know what you're doing.

BTW, the price is much too high for a lathe with admitted bearing problems.

moonlight machine · Jan 2, 2023

75.00 / ton

jmm03 · Jan 3, 2023

does it have the change gears? the stand is nice but a little light, could be transferring some vibration. Bronze bearings for this lathe are not off the shelf items, adjusting to minimum clearance and checking that they were getting the proper amount of oil could solve the chatter issue, the wear is not horrendous. you said that lathes are few and far between in your area, but getting a machine that you have to spend as much on as what you purchased it for is not necessarily the best way to go, unless you are buying it for a project and cost is not the main factor.(this is not the case here possibly, but parts and tooling can add up quick) Jim

michiganbuck · Jan 3, 2023

If that part in photo #5 is an example you better check to see how hard the part is and how much stick-out from the chuck...and if the tool bit is sharp with the correct geometry for the material. I would try a HSS bit with end and side cutting edge clearance, along with side and back rake on a mild steel part.
You might take a 2x2 or some pry with an indicator to see the verticle and horizontal play in the headstock...
Even if reparable you need to add up all the stuff you might like ..A 4jaw, steady, threading half nut, cross feed nut... . change gears.
Also if the bed ways are mint-like new that /or poor should be considered.
(X) facing is perfect but turning is rough. That seems odd?

$1150 for a nice, well-equipped 9" SB is and Ok price IMHO.

John in MA · Jan 3, 2023

I think when you're looking at stuff like this, along with "how can I make this work?" you also need to keep in mind "is it worth it?" A little waiting and a little shopping will get you a better machine. I bought a fully tooled 9A last year that'd never been really used for $800. This weekend someone sold a very clean 10L for $1500 on the local CL, and that was a toolroom model with a taper attachment and collets. I personally know someone currently selling a Star 10" QC lathe in good condition for less than the OP lathe price. A barebones changegear lathe with bad spindle bearings might be a fun project but it'd have to be cheap and you'd have to want the project to make it worthwhile.

steve-l · Jan 3, 2023

Please be aware that most of these old SB lathes are severely worn out. That does not mean that they are not still usable, but it does mean that they are no longer accurate without an experienced user. These lathes are NOT economically rebuildable by regrinding the ways and carriages. Do not be tempted! As a beginner, you need a lathe that does what you tell it to do and a worn out lathe will not. A beginner will not have the experience nor the knowledge to be able to use a clapped out lathe. Cleaning and repainting may make it look better, but it will still be a clapped out lathe. Don't get me wrong. These old SB lathes are great machines if not worn out, but they are now very, very rare, so be warned.

animal12 · Jan 3, 2023

Don't know where your t but a guy just offered up a 9A on the Soithh Bend Lathe io group

SouthBendLathe groups.io Group

All about *South Bend Lathes*. All models and related equipment are discussed. Owners and prospective/past owners ("newbie" to seasoned machinist) are welcome. UPDATE: I believe everything has arrived that's going to arrive, so we are good to go. Welcome aboard all! We are set up by default to...

groups.io

Here's his post , you have to go to the group to get his email , I don't like giving out other folks emails
animal
My bad , its a 10" lathe not a 9
animal

Selling my 10" South Bend Lathe
Has standard metal base.
3 Jaw chuck, face plate, live and dead centers, boring bar holder, thread cutting tool holder, cutoff tool holder, Jacobs chuck.
208, 3 phase 1/2 hp
Bed is in good shape
The quick change gearbox is off, and has some gear damage.
I purchased it from a local high school. Planned to fix the gearbox and use it myself. Too many other projects, this one needs to go. Asking $995 for it.
Located near Madison WI
Also have some other SB parts for a larger lathe. Taper attachment and a quick change gearbox that I would like to sell.
Thanks
Mike

RF · Jan 3, 2023

Seems a little high on price to me. Missing feet under the bed unless he decided to mount bed right to table.

A&M Designs · Jan 3, 2023

@animal12 i appreciate the heads up. I will look into it.

A&M Designs · Jan 3, 2023

All,

I expressed to my friend that I admire his effort to clean up the lathe and build the setup that he has, but the spindle clapped could be a money sucker (thanks to all of your advice). I told him if he could get what he’s asking for it then he should, and he mentioned that if it doesn’t sell in the next few weeks he’s going to make me a deal.

A good friend at work (experienced machinist and pro rebuilder) said he can grind the shaft if it’s still hardened and machine me new oversized bearings if the deal goes through but at that point my first project would be producing more bearings.
I think my buyers excitement has subsided a little and my hopes for a larger more precise lathe are in mind (Hardinge).

Thoughts on South Bend Junior 9 Worth

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