Big Delta Lathe - 1642 (46-745) No Longer Has Servicable Parts!! (Good Ending)
bis...@comcast.net
Howdy Wrec!
It's been a long time since I've posted, but I had to tell you a
little story about the "jewel" of my shop. Back in 1999 I bought the
2nd Delta 1642 Lathe (46-745 I think was the model #) that our local
wood store had. It was a 1.5 hp, steel bed behemoth with 20 amp, 120v
Baldor Motor.
It survived 2 moves from Nashville to Florida, and then from Florida
to Oklahoma. Over the years the lathe has never given me 1 bit of
problems and has served me quite well; until now.
I went out to get started on my ornaments for this season and went to
turn the lathe on and noticed it had a blinking "fault" light. After
several on-off's; I couldn't get than light to stop blinking on
"fault". I gave up and finally started to disassemble the variable
speed controller box. After about 15 minutes of taking things apart, I
noticed one of the little yellow circuit board "chips" was fried. I
mean it was toast! Burnt brown all around it. So off to the
"dewalt-porter cable-delta" parts website I go!
I wound up ordering what I THOUGHT was the right variable speed
controller for $878.00!! I came in about a week later and I rushed out
to the shop to get it all hooked back up and working. New controller
with DIGITAL READOUT - (Nice I thought) - UPGRADE! After a few
translations from Chinese; I think I got the right L1,L2,T1,T2,T3 wire
connectors all hooked up. Turn it on, hold my breath, error! I got an
"Lo" alarm on the digital read out. Tried several times later and then
finally gave up! I called the local Delta factory service here in OKC
and spoke to "Gary". I told him about my issues and he said to bring
the controller down and we would order the "correct" part for my
lathe. He called me back on my cell about 2 hours later. He said he
had some good news and some bad news. I bitched and moaned about
Chinese junk and threatened to get that new "Powermatic"!
He said that the bad news is that Delta no longer sells or even has
any factory servicable parts for my 46-745 (1642) lathe!!! The
controller was NO LONGER AVAILABLE! The good news is that the factory
Delta rep would give me a new (X5) 46-755x lathe for the price I paid
for my new controller!! YIPEE!! about $2,000 in savings - I jumped on
it.
I got my new lathe all setup and working last weekend. Had to get an
electrician to come wire in a 220v receptacle off my circuit box. It
sure is sweet.Already made a few ornaments. A few differences:
Variable Speed controller has LED digital readout in RPM. (Nice)
Live Tail center is a new "beefier" design. Better point.
Baldor motor replaced with 2hp MARATHON motor.
Base / Feet have 4" square tube that BOLT on. Old ones were welded on.
Faceplate not near as nice (fit and finish) and the old one.
Knock-out bar is 6 inches longer than the old one (big deal)
#2MT Drive Spur has longer spurs and seems "beefier"
The tightening handles on the tail stock are much improved, beefier.
At certain RPM's though I noticed some odd vibrations that I never had
on my old lathe. No big deal, just bump up or down the RPMs.
All in all I'm a happy camper with my new X5 lathe. I just can't
believe that old controller bit the dust!
For any of you older Delta 46-745 owners out there; I sure hope your
VS controller lasts alot longer than mine did!
Neil (in OKC)
Lee Tollett
Nice story there Neil.. Where in okc do you live?? I live on
the east side of Moore. Around ne 12th and Bryant. Im new here, just
got my new lathe, but havent started on a project yet.. Must finish
my daughters china hutch first.
Lee Tollett
Dr. Deb
You know Neil, a little "rooting around" and you could probably find a local
ham operator who would know a "guy" who just eats and sleeps electronic
circuits. He could probably get you old VS up and running again, for not a
whole lot.
Deb
William Noble
motor, then just buy a small VFD and hook it up - a little 2 HP vfd costs
around #200 to $500 new, depending on features
"Lee Tollett" <leeto...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:oJURi.1416$uk....@newsfe21.lga...
> bis...@comcast.net wrote:
>> Howdy Wrec!
>>
>> It's been a long time since I've posted, but I had to tell you a
>> little story about the "jewel" of my shop. Back in 1999 I bought the
>> 2nd Delta 1642 Lathe (46-745 I think was the model #) that our local
>> wood store had. It was a 1.5 hp, steel bed behemoth with 20 amp, 120v
>> Baldor Motor.
>>
>> sure is sweet.Already made a few ornaments. A few differences:
--
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