• Scam Alert. Members are reminded to NOT send money to buy anything. Don't buy things remote and have it shipped - go get it yourself, pay in person, and take your equipment with you. Scammers have burned people on this forum. Urgency, secrecy, excuses, selling for friend, newish members, FUD, are RED FLAGS. A video conference call is not adequate assurance. Face to face interactions are required. Please report suspicions to the forum admins. Stay Safe - anyone can get scammed.

Live Centre looks to be dead

E

Elektrishun

Well-Known Member
I have a ROTOR C2 Super live centre that isn't spinning freely. I took a look at some videos for disassembly for a live centre but I didn't see anything that looked similar. Since I do not have any experience with taking apart a live centre I would like a second opinion on this one. There is a split in the ring that secures the roller bearings. Safe to assume that is not by design. The ring around the roller bearings appears to be threaded but I am not certain. Anyone take a live centre like this apart before?

Thank-you

Live1.jpg


Live2.jpg
 
I had issues with my Rotor as well.
Thread 'Live Center Bearing' https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/live-center-bearing.8451/

They had put one of the thrust bearing races backwards (as shown in the picture).

I honestly can't remember all the details of the disassembly. But I believe that split in the cage of the roller bearing is supposed to be there so that you can adjust the preload.
 

Attachments

  • 20230802_163714.jpg
    20230802_163714.jpg
    634.8 KB · Views: 17
  • 20230802_164230.jpg
    20230802_164230.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 17
  • 20230802_163722.jpg
    20230802_163722.jpg
    932 KB · Views: 16
  • 20230803_142333.jpg
    20230803_142333.jpg
    678.8 KB · Views: 18
thestelster said:
I had issues with my Rotor as well.
Thread 'Live Center Bearing' https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/live-center-bearing.8451/

They had put one of the thrust bearing races backwards (as shown in the picture).

I honestly can't remember all the details of the disassembly. But I believe that split in the cage of the roller bearing is supposed to be there so that you can adjust the preload.
Click to expand...
After viewing your images the only view I didn't see was one similar to the first image I posted. I assume yours looks the same from the front?
At this point do you think the internals should come out with some persuasion from the rear? Slide out past the threads?
 
Elektrishun said:
After viewing your images the only view I didn't see was one similar to the first image I posted. I assume yours looks the same from the front?
At this point do you think the internals should come out with some persuasion from the rear? Slide out past the threads?
Click to expand...
I believe so, yes. Maybe squirt some penetrating oil everywhere and carefully tap it out.
 
“Rotor” is a pretty high class center (I have one in MT5, very nice). Yes, they come apart (mine needed cleaning and lubrication). I don’t recall the exact details, proceed like Stelster says - carefully. I know I ended up making a few simple tools. It is sort of like one of those wooden puzzles, you just have to figure it out. I’ve had a few rotating centers apart, every one was different - cool to see how different manufacturers do things.
 
I just happened to be trying to figure out how to get my Royal Versa-turn precision (half a tenth) live center apart when I saw this thread. Not sure it helps but here is a blowup I saw for mine.

Versa-Turn-LC-feature-diagram.jpg


I'm thinking I'll drill a hole through the shank so I have something to pull it apart with.
 
Success!

Apart.jpg


Applied Deep Creep a few times during the day and then I let sit overnight, pointy side up.


EDIT

If you decide to follow the advice below be advised that I now realize there appears to be a small metal pin in the centre at the back of the Live Centre (see image below). The centre punch I used is too shallow to make contact but I thought it would be worth mentioning. As well, I contacted the company for recommended grease, oil, and any other information they can give me on this model. I will post the info if they respond.

Oiler Rear.jpg



The centre punch on the left was used to get it started. There is an opening on the tail of the Live Centre for it to sit in (middle image below). I could see a ridge of metal flush with and encircling the tail end of the Live Centre (right hand image below). I assume it's a bushing. A few gentle taps while viewing through the oiler opening (left hand image below) to see if it was moving. Once it advanced a little I switched to the other punch which now dropped in place inside the bushing. A few more taps and it was out.

Vise.jpg
Vise2.jpg
Rear.jpg


Hopefully, a little cleaning and greasing and it will come alive once again.
 
Last edited:
Response from Rotor Tool AG after inquiring about what grease they would recommend for the bearings and what oil to use at the oiling points for my ROTOR C 2 Super live centre:

"Since 25 years we sell closed casing with durable grease. So it seems you have a very old model.

Therefore feel free to use regular tool oil"

This live centre came with the lathe and I do not know it's history. When I took it apart there was some grease around the bearings mixed with oil.

From the response above it seems they are suggesting to simply use "regular tool oil"? Or maybe this is a misunderstanding of what I was asking?

If you guys were putting this live centre back together what would you do for bearing lubrication?

IMG_20241229_153323.jpg
 
I honestly don't know what the correct lube is supposed to be, but when I took it apart, it had some thick black gease in the bearings. So probably some moly type grease. Though there is an oil port on the center. I think, but I do not know, that through time the grease gets gradually thicker and requires some oil to be squirted in to thin it out?

I lightly greased the bearings with Shell Gadus S2 V100-2 which is designed for roller and plain bearings. It has an ISO 100 viscosity (which is around 30wt oil).
 
In the absence of better information, I'd fill 1/3 of the space with high quality high temp automotive water rated wheelbearing grease. It will last forever and I cannot imagine why it wouldn't be perfect for a live center. If anyone disagrees, I'd love to know why.
 
Susquatch said:
In the absence of better information, I'd fill 1/3 of the space with high quality high temp automotive water rated wheelbearing grease. It will last forever and I cannot imagine why it wouldn't be perfect for a live center. If anyone disagrees, I'd love to know why.
Click to expand...
Of all the suggestions it's the one grease that I had on hand that best suited the application. I did have some Super Lube 41150 synthetic grease but it's shelf life was well past the due date and is now disposed of.

Live centre is back together. Cleaned everything with Isopropyl Alcohol 99%. Not too difficult to reassemble. A pair of fine tipped stainless steel tweezers came in handy to get the roller bearings back into position. And it turns. Thanks to all for the assistance and suggestions.

I was going to write, "It's alive!...centre" but there is no "groan/dad joke" emoji...;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top