Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Any machinists on the airplane??

The pilot seems to have passed out!

And here is the problem with making a post on a mobile phone, it can dump all the stuff you took time to write, in seconds! Let’s try this again!

Looking for tips. I’m making an injection fuel rail for the 302 Jimmy. I need to ream the ends for a -6 o-ring boss fitting. That piece is 24” in length. Even if I stick the thing 15” above the vise ion the table. I don’t think I have enough mill head to get that high. I don't think the lathe has enough capacity to mount it offset in the chuck. I have the correct reamer and it seems to like 1400 rpm. I also have the 9/16-18 tap I need.

I’d hate to have to do this work by hand. Thoughts?

Do you have a milling attachment for your lathe? Hold a chucking reamer in a 3 jaw chuck and mount the rail on the carriage. Then use the milling attachment to center the hole on the reamer, and use a slow feed on the carriage to ream the hole. That's how custom rifle barrel makers gun-drill their barrel blanks before rifling them. You can flow water soluble cutting oil into the drilled hole in the rail to keep the reamer lubed. If the shank on the reamer is too short, weld an extension onto it.
Jerry

Can you clamp the workpiece to the cross-feed of the lathe and put the reamer in the chuck? I know that's kind of backward, and may take some fiddling to get it lined up with the headstock, but might be worth a try. You might have to machine something to get the work at the right height, but lining it up horizontally should be a piece of cake.

Or maybe stick some round stock in the opposite end for a center point and machine a piece that will slide on it that's supported by a steady rest?

[on edit] Sounds like Jerry got there first with nearly the same suggestion.

Both suggestions are spot on!
Think outside of the box to get the job done.

Don

Thanks all! That's exactly where I was headed, but didn't know such a thing as a lathe milling attachment existed. Now that I do, I know what I need to do!

Thanks again!

If you had a Bridgeport, you could clamp it to a right angle plate off the side of the bed, then swing the head over and line up on it.

Sounds like what’s already been mentioned is your only option with the equipment you have. But, definitely doable.

John

Here's mine which I modified ("Surprise- - - -Surprise!" Jim Nabors voice) to fit my lathe, and increased the vertical travel on it.


www.ebay.com/itm/373879962167? [ebay.com]

Jerry

Here’s the facts as we know them. That lathe doesn’t belong to me. If I wanted to get a milling attachment for it, it would require justification, approvals, order the thing, wait almost a year, etc. If I bought it myself, when I retire in five years, I would have no lathe but a nice milling attachment. So, outside the box I go. First, I made a dead center to go along with the live center. Hung the fuel rail. Then, with some scrap 3/4” plate and 1” plate, I made a right angle sled. Lined and squared everything in place. Clamped my piece. Worked like a champ. Reamed and tapped one side, re-lined up and squared the other and repeated. I’m happy.

Now, if I can just get the injector company to ship me my injectors! They’re only on the other side of the county. It really shouldn’t take three weeks (and counting!)

NICE JOB!!

Just proves there's more than one way to skin a cat, as the old saying goes.