Trying to figure out this lathe. The tail stock and headstock do not align. Any help on aligning them would be appreciated.

Thanks

If the misalignment is lateral, the tube can be adjusted. There should be a locking screw (allen head) on the head stock and tail stock end. Loosen them slightly, set the alignment, and retighten. It's a pretty common problem with that lathe.

Steve, look at the tail stock end of the tube, where it fastens to the bench. There is a hole in the fastening bracket. There should be an allen head screw in that hole that holds the tail stock end. I don't remember where the head stock screw is, but I believe its on the back side of the head stock near the bottom. If you go to Sears home page, you can probably find a copy of the manual for that lathe, which should tell you how to adjust the alignment.

Here is a pic of the side of the tail stock. There is a set screw and in the manual it says "the set screw, No. 30, in the tailstock should be checked occasionally to assure the proper pressure against the key and to keep tailstock at 90 degrees to the tubular bed". So it would seem to me that this is the adjustment, but no matter how I alter that screw the alignment does not change. Your thoughts?

Steve, it's been 15 or 20 years since I played with that lathe, but the tube is adjustable. In the end of the tube at that tail stock end, there appears to be a slotted screw in your picture. That screw holds a cam inside the tube which holds the tube in place. There's another fastener in the head stock end, but I don't remember where it is. By loosening those screws, you can rotate that tube, and correct your alignment problem. You'll find that even a minor catch while turning will cause the tube to rotate slightly, knocking your alignment off. When I owned that lathe, after adjusting the tube 100 times, I found a solution. There's a square key on the bottom of the tube that runs the full length. Once I had it aligned, I put steel blocks on either side of the key, and screwed them to the bench so the tube can't rotate.
Good luck!

Steve,

With those lathes it's not that difficult, but you need to familiarize yourself with the nuts and bolts, not too many of them in the older equipment compared to the ones made today. Don't be afraid to try things you can always return it to the way it was but you'll discover how it works and, like Jim, you'll figure out the cure to the problem.

Success!!! Thanks everyone for your patient and diligent help. It aligned perfectly after I removed the lathe from it's bench stand so I could find the set screw as Jim and Bert indicated. I think I may need to bore a hole in the stand top so I can get to the set screw with removing the entire lathe.

Thanks again - aren't forums great!