Info on Maino Perego Olympic lathe

[datosi81]

I looked at this lathe today....150x800. Can’t see it run because he doesn’t have three phase power. Quite a bit of rust on the less used areas of the bed, cross slide, and chuck. I think it could be cleaned possibly with the exception of the extreme right end of the ways. Has a couple handles broken. Just the ends, not the mechanism. Also includes something that I can’t identify. Looks like a hydraulic tank and pump attached via hoses to a large ram.

Main questions are is it worth buying for any price? What size should the motor be in this lathe? Is it new enough to use with a vfd? And what is this ram used for?

View attachment IMG_2006.jpgView attachment IMG_2007.jpg

 

[dennisa49]

Hello Datosi,
The tank and motor look like a hydraulic power pack.
Could it have been used as a high flow coolant system. The lathe look is like a serious rebuild project.
Good luck, Dennis

 

[RM-MN]

A good rust remover would make that lathe look much better. However, looks aren't the most important part of a lathe. Take another look at it, turn the chuck by hand and see that it turns easily and smoothly (you may have to remove belts in the headstock for this). Take along a dial indicator and base and put it against the chuck, then chuck up a piece of bar stock that sticks out a ways and see how much slack there is in the headstock bearings. Look for wear on the ways. Those will tell you a lot about the limits to accuracy that the lathe can achieve. Then you have to balance that against your uses.

 

[ShopShoe]

datosi81,

My guess is the hydraulic unit is a tracing attachment. There would be a tracer following a template that controls the cross slide. Keith Fenner (on YouTube) has a Clausing lathe with one which he sometimes uses on his repair projects.

For example: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDnIM1LeYl8[/ame]

Relevant part starts about 24:00.

The rest of the lathe looks like there are lots of parts included, but not assembled. It might take a lot of work to bring this into operation. If you think you might enjoy a machine restoration project it could be interesting. If you would rather get an operational lathe working on other projects you might wieigh your options more carefully.

Just my opinions,

--ShopShoe

 

[datosi81]

Thanks for the feedback guys. The chuck spins nicely by hand. I did bring a dial indicator to measure wear In the ways, but the carriage handwheel is broken (you can see somebody has it clamped on it the pic) so moving it was difficult. I also indicated against some round stock as RM-MN suggested. I did get a few thou runout but it seemed more like the way the stock was mounted in the 3 jaw, and the jaws themselves needing to be cleaned up but can’t say for certain.

If I could get it for $400-450 does that seem like it might be worth it? I know it’s a crapshoot to some extent no matter what without having it run, etc. but I know I wouldn’t offer more than that

 

[RM-MN]

Thanks for the feedback guys. The chuck spins nicely by hand. I did bring a dial indicator to measure wear In the ways, but the carriage handwheel is broken (you can see somebody has it clamped on it the pic) so moving it was difficult. I also indicated against some round stock as RM-MN suggested. I did get a few thou runout but it seemed more like the way the stock was mounted in the 3 jaw, and the jaws themselves needing to be cleaned up but can’t say for certain.

If I could get it for $400-450 does that seem like it might be worth it? I know it’s a crapshoot to some extent no matter what without having it run, etc. but I know I wouldn’t offer more than that

Do you ever go to a casino or buy lottery tickets? This lathe is much less risk than that. Even I would risk that amount of money for this lathe.

 

[datosi81]

Do you ever go to a casino or buy lottery tickets? This lathe is much less risk than that. Even I would risk that amount of money for this lathe.

That’s what I wanted to hear [emoji16]
I made an offer and he “has other guys coming to look” but I think I will hear from him in the next day or two. Let’s see how this goes....

 

[datosi81]

Double post

 

[don-tucker]

I would say that the hydraulic power pack had nothing to do with the lathe,not Even the same colour though it has the same name and I would say it is to big for a copy attachment

 

[DJP]

Perhaps this lathe had an hydraulic drive system instead of an electric motor and pulleys. Variable speed with hydraulics would be impressive for a lathe.

The power pack can always be used for other purposes so I wouldn't leave it behind in the deal.

I know some boat builders at our yacht club who enjoyed building their boat more than sailing away and cruising the world. This could be similar where there is more pleasure in restoring an old lathe so enjoy the journey. I had that bug with old cars and loved to find one that was neglected.