No time for the bikes (or boat) today - busy fixing the lathe, without which I'll struggle to machine some of the parts for the new engine (I have a smaller Boxford, but it doesn't have the capacity or features of the Holbrook).
The latter has developed an unusual sound, kind of a rumble, which started out as faint a while back, but is now noticeable. Don't want to damage the old girl so thought I'd better get into it. I've suspected the motor bearings (my son thinks it's electrical, but I have no desire to get into the delta-star box - full of solenoids and relays - if I can help it) so yesterday evening I managed to get the drive belts off and slide the motor out.
These machines are certainly massively built - there's no way I could lift the motor; even the armature is a struggle. Note the pulleys at top left hand of pic are a foot diameter, and the covers (which these days would be tin or even plastic) are solid cast iron and a similar struggle weight-wise.
Anyway, got the bearings off the armature this afternoon, and ordered a new pair. Was a bit concerned re availability as they're an oddball imperial size (1. 1/8 x 2. 13/16 x 13/16) but it transpires they're actually fairly widely available as some classic bikes use them. So far, not as bad as I was expecting.
