Product Support

I have a Record CL3 lathe, and at present I have some fairly large bowl blanks (wet/green wood) which I wish to turn. The weights are approximately 30Kg to 45Kg (66lb to 100lb).� Is the CL3 capable of turning such large blanks, without damage to the headstock and/or bearings? Because of the size, there is no tailstock support. I will try and cut the blanks so that they are fairly balanced, however this is not guaranteed.

The CL3 is capable of turning bowl blanks of this size so long as the wood is balanced and the spindle and bearing are adjusted correctly to eliminate play. Please see your instruction manual with regard to bearing adjustment.
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I need to replace the drive belt on a CL3 lathe, is it an easy enough job and do I need any specialist tools?

Replacing the drive belt on�both the�CL3 & CL4 lathes�is a fairly straight forward procedure, no specialist tools are required you will need:
> Mallet
> Solid brass rod (drift) approx 1/2" dia.
> Set of metric allen keys

To replace the drive belt you must first remove the�phosphor bronze�bearing�this is done by removing the inner locking ring so the ring is loose on the shaft. Now remove the socket head cap screw and washer on the back end of the shaft, take out�the first grub screw in the spindle pulley and loosen the�lower grub screw, the pulley should now float freely on�the shaft. The phosphor bronze bearing can now be removed through the front of the headstock.�Using the brass rod and mallet drive the spindle from the back end of the headstock towards the front, once the spindle has been released from the back bearing this allows the drive belt to be changed. After the belt has been changed reverse the�procedure to re-assemble the headstock, but ensure that�when driving the spindle back in from the front�, the thread�protector is fitted. As the spindle is being driven in, it must�rotated by�hand at each strike of the mallet, this prevents the spindle and bearing being damaged and�'flatted'. As�the spindle�seats in the back bearing you will hear a tone change in the casting.�Once re-assembled please refer to our 'adjusting�phosphor bronze�bearing' article.��If in doubt please refer to your instruction manual which details the belt change procedure.
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My CL3/36 has to much play in the headstock spindle. I am finding it very difficult to turn because of the vibration.

The solution is to adjust the bearings. They are designed to adjust out play as they wear in use and there is a detailed description of how to do this in the product manual.

Do I need a new banjo assembly to use the CL3/B bowl rest?

No, you can use your existing banjo assembly from the bed bars, but many users find it more convenient to purchase an extra banjo for use with the CL3/B.

I have just replaced all the bearings and spindle in my CL3 lathe. Is it necessary to 'run in' the new bearings before use, in particular the phosphor bronze bearing? If so for how long and at what speed?

Yes it is advisable to run in your new replacement bronze bearing in your lathe as when originally purchased. Run in for two hours at medium speed, keep well lubricated and re-adjust the bearing when it becomes warm.
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The lathe stopped during turning, and the bearing is LOCKED tight.

How do I release it?
How do I inspect it for damage?
What do I do?

To free the bearing, first release the outer locking ring, then release the inner locking ring. Tap the end of the spindle with a rubber mallet, this will then loosen the bearing. 

To remove the bearing for inspection, take off the inner locking ring completely, the bearing will then slide straight out on the key way. Look for heavy ridges on the inside of the bearing or uneven wear. If you find the bearing has these characteristics it needs replacing.

When replacing the bearing first tighten the inner locking ring then tighten the outer locking ring. To test for correct setting put the belt on the middle speed, start the lathe as soon as you press the stop button the belt needs to turn 4 revolutions - The belt not the spindle.

My CL3 lathe leaks an abnormal amount of oil out of the inside of the head stock from the bronze bearing. For each drop i put in the oil well one drop will simply come out the back. I am using 30w oil so i dont believe teh viscosity of the oil is the issue. I have tightened and adjusted the bearing as the instructions said, but it still leaks far too much.�
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This is a common question we receive. 99 times out of 100 it is the amount of oil put in to the bearing that is the problem and causes it to leak out . You do not need to fill it up. You only require one or two drops every half hour of turning and you will always get a little oil going inside the headstock as it has to leave the bearing somewhere.

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My Record Power woodturning lathe has parts missing or is broken and is in a generally poor condition needing some TLC. Can Record Power re-furbish and service this machine?

Depending on the parts required it is possible for the lathe to be uplifted back to Record Power. Where necessary work and �refurbishment can be carried out by our service team. The cost will obviously vary depending on the individual condition of the lathe, please contact us for further details of this service.
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I am having trouble with spiralling on spindles, and I was wondering if the problem bay be wear on the lathe headstock bearings?

The most likely cause of spiraling is that your centres are out of alignment. You should also check that your turning tools are sharp and your lathe speed is correct.