Delta Milwaukee Homecraft Lathe

[CEPenworks]

Yes this is an old lathe, from 40's or 50's, but it has been doing what I need it to do for about 6 years. One issue with the head stock is that it spins oil out of the bearings. The bearings are not sealed so the headstock is essentially an oil reservoir to lubricate the bearings. There are caps on the ends with felt that are supposed to keep the oil on the inside. Who knows when these felt caps were last replaced. I have two thoughts. 1) Try to find the correct felt material and try to fashion replacements. 2) Buy a modern sealed bearing to replace the old bearings. The manual says they are a timken bearings but give no specifications. Any thoughts on either of these working?

Another problem I have noticed is the headstock is about 1/16" lower than the tailstock. I am not sure how the headstock could have dropped over time. There is nothing under the tailstock raising it up. I think this might have been a mistake back when it was made. Since the headstock appears to just bolt to the bed I was thinking of getting some metal shim stock and placing it between the bed and the headstock. Any other thoughts?

[Bob Vaughan]

Shimming the headstock will do the job.  It could be that the tailstock is a replacement.
There's not to be so much oil in the headstock.  Don't fill it up, it will make a mess.  Been there 40 years ago.
The Timken bearings are likely close the same dimensions as a modern sealed bearing but some shimming may be necessary.
your lathe is likely a 46-230.

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/1724.pdf