Thanks Geoff good information

Hi From my Bantam Manual -"On 20 in. (510 mm) machines a cross-bar is fitted between the bedways immediately in front of the headstock. On 30 in. (750 mm) lathes a tapped hole is provided between the bedways for a lifting eye.  Proper equipment must be available for raising the machine by means of rope or cable through the cross.bar or lifting eye. Under no circumstances should the lathe be lifted by means of a bar through the spindle bore or by ropes around the headstock and tailstock. Balance'the machine
during lifting by moving the caniage towards the tailstock end of the bed."
Best of luck, I'd start with carriage as far as it can go towards tailstock !  I have the smaller one with no tapped hole but all other bolts are UNC /UNF
Easy with a 1.0 Tonne engine crane.
Ashley

Hi.
I resently moved a Mk 1 colchester student. I can confirm that the lifting eye is 7/8 BSW & with the tailstock & saddle moved to the right the machine is balanced when lifted.
Ian
"

Mike

Best to check that the machines in question actually have the tapped hole.  When friend Mike-the-Pilot purchased his square head Master the lifting eye was screwed into a steel block which clamped securely onto the bed, fitting tightly between the shears.  Official Colchester part as instructions pertaining to positioning and balancing were in the manual.  Certainly the best way to lift a machine, about 5 minutes to load and unload.

I'm none to sure that I'd care to trust a tapped hole in the bed exposed to all the mess along with the activities of Bodgitt & Bend Inc and their many followers.  OK I've used the one on top of a Bridgeport but that's safely out of most bodgers reach.

Clive

Further questions on the colchester, Do the long bed master and the long bed student have drilled holes in between  the shears?   or do they use a special clamping mechanism fitted across the shears to assit in lifting?

best wishes

Mike

Paul's cautious approach caused me to review what I said regarding Colchester lifting back on June 12th.  Had I been working dangerously with my M300 ?
Looking for some other info in my pukka Harrison manual, I spotted that page 5 covers Installation, and there's a clear paragraph titled `Lifting' as follows:

"Lifting
The approximate weights of the machine are: -
630mm Model (630 mm/25" between centres) - 583 kg (1285 Ib).
1000mm Model (1000 mm/40" between centres) - 685 kg (1512 Ib).
The machine should be lifted using the eye-bolt supplied (SEE GENERAL ARRANGEMENT AND FOUNDATION PLAN) with the apron/saddle assembly positioned, as despatched, towards the tailstock end of the bed.
Alternatively, a rope sling may be used, - being looped under both ends of the swarf tray."
On the page 4 plan there's a clear picture of an M16 eye-bolt with an arrow pointing directly to the tapped lifting point on the lathe bed.
If 600 Group are happy with 16mm I'd feel even more comfortable with a 7/8" (22mm) jobby!

You can't beat a bit of RTFM!

Geoff

I find it amazing how many people insist on lifting a lathe with a bar up the headstock, strop choked round the chuck etc. Obviously they have never asked the price of a set of Gamet gearings!