anyone change out the bearings on a Nova live center?

[Dave Fritz]

I have the Nova https://www.teknatool.com/product/nova-live-center-system-with-stepped-cone/ live center and it sounds like the bearings are going out. It looks like a sealed system. Has anyone tried to change the bearings? I can't find anything on line about that particular live center other than a lot of positive reviews.

[Ron Borowicz]

I have the same problem. Curious, have you tried Nova support?

[Alex Zeller]

I have seen live centers for metal lathes that have a snap ring on the outer cone but one the one (unknown brand) it looks like they are just pressed into place.

[Dave Fritz]

I sent a question ticket? to Nova for consideration. We'll see.

[Robert Hayward]

Look on the back side for two round holes opposing each other. I have changed bearings on a live center before.
The picture below is the type of spanner wrench I used when I changed mine.
400727

[Dave Fritz]

400728no holes, looks sealed. My Robust has a slip ring but there's nothing on the Nova.

[John K Jordan]

400728no holes, looks sealed. My Robust has a slip ring but there's nothing on the Nova.

I'll take a closer look at mine tomorrow. It may be the bearings are pressed in. If that's the case, extracting them will probably destroy them but new bearings could be pressed in.

How old is this live center, did it get a lot of use? I've been using one of mine for 5 years now with no noise yet. I turn a lot of smaller things - perhaps I don't use as much pressure as some who turn bigger things. What kinds of things do you typically hold with it?

JKJ

[Ron Borowicz]

I have had mine since they first came out. Like it a lot. I use it on small things and large rough outs up to 15 inches. I suspect I put too much pressure on it. When I ease up on the pressure the grinding stops...so does the feeling of having a secure mount! I wish I could get just the live center without all the attachments.

[Dave Fritz]

Same problem here Ron, only I use mine for small handles with the cone center in the hole to keep things straight. If I push too hard I'd split the wood so I don't think that's the issue. Funny thing I went out in the shop to video the sound and now it runs just fine. It may not after a little more use but right now it's fine. I'll certainly share what I learn from Nova when they get back to me on my request ticket.

[Joe Kaufman]

I would approach the bearing change by purchasing a 3/8-24 X 6 inch hardened Socket Head Cap Screw, make a washer that just fits through the inside of the female taper and a sleeve to pull against the back side of the outershell. Insert the cap screw with washer through the nose taper, add sleeve, washers and nut and pull the taper shaft with both bearings. Hold the cap screw with an allen wrench. I’ve had to use lubricated spherical washers under the nut before to reduce the torque applied to the nut.

Change the bearings on the shaft, make a tapered block that contacts the outside tapered nose of the outer shell, reverse the process and pull the assembly back in place. I would suggest that you don’t attempt to use a flat washer and pull against the small front surface of the shell. Distort that surface and the taper will no longer hold or be concentric. There is probably a small sleeve between the two bearings, if so, don’t forget to re-install it. It would be nice if one of the bearings were the annular contact type to accommodate the thrust load. Check the bearing numbers closely.

[John K Jordan]

Same problem here Ron, only I use mine for small handles with the cone center in the hole to keep things straight. If I push too hard I'd split the wood so I don't think that's the issue. Funny thing I went out in the shop to video the sound and now it runs just fine. It may not after a little more use but right now it's fine. I'll certainly share what I learn from Nova when they get back to me on my request ticket.

I looked at mine. Those and two other brands I have are all the same as far as construction - the bearings are pressed into the housing and the mandrel is pressed into the bearings, (though probably not in that order). I use a hydraulic press for these. The problem is you usually have to construct special jigs since you can put pressure on the center race of most bearings without damaging them. One way to do it is first press the mandrel into the inner races of the two bearings while backed up with an appropriate sized tube that only supports the inner race. Then another tube that contacts the outer race presses both bearings into the housing. Or it may be simpler to first press both bearings into the housing then back up the inner races with a tube through the front and press the mandrel in. Hard to know without doing it once. Maybe Nova will give provide a suggestion other than "buy a new one."

Press-fitting bearings are much easier if you freeze one part to shrink it and heat the other to expand it. Hot oil is sometimes used as well as a fridge or dry ice. Nearly any machine or good mechanic should be able to replace the bearings but I couldn't guess about the cost. The bearing specification is on the seal visible on the rear of the bearing. They are cheap, available from any bearing shop or Amazon.

BTW, I almost never use the cone, partly because of the reason you mention. For woods prone to split, especially with thin spindles, I first make a small, shallow hole in the center then use a Steb live center. This has a spring-loaded point that will not split the wood. It is tightened until the teeth grip the wood. I turn very thin spindles with this, and probably use it for 95% of my spindle turnings. (use Steb drive centers for the same reason - the spring-loaded points.)

400776

As I've mentioned before, I love the Nova center because of it's flexibility. Since it has a 2MT socket I turn a variety of small wooden inserts with short 2MT sockets. These are for pressure, long extensions for clearance, and most of all with tenons sized to fit into holes drilled into the end of spindles.

One nice thing about these wooden inserts is I can turn one between centers very quickly then mount it directly into the headstock to size and shape it as needed. Here are some:

400782

I use one of these every time I make a tool handle or other handles like these:

400780

JKJ

[Dave Fritz]

Thanks for the replies. I did get a reply from Nova saying no one has asked that question before, they'd speak with their mechanic. In the meantime I have cut threads for my regular live enters and can use the Robust dead center to form them into whatever shape I want. I'll just make the switch. I'll use the Nova until it protests too much.

[Mike Goetzke]

I looked at mine. Those and two other brands I have are all the same as far as construction - the bearings are pressed into the housing and the mandrel is pressed into the bearings, (though probably not in that order). I use a hydraulic press for these. The problem is you usually have to construct special jigs since you can put pressure on the center race of most bearings without damaging them. One way to do it is first press the mandrel into the inner races of the two bearings while backed up with an appropriate sized tube that only supports the inner race. Then another tube that contacts the outer race presses both bearings into the housing. Or it may be simpler to first press both bearings into the housing then back up the inner races with a tube through the front and press the mandrel in. Hard to know without doing it once. Maybe Nova will give provide a suggestion other than "buy a new one."

Press-fitting bearings are much easier if you freeze one part to shrink it and heat the other to expand it. Hot oil is sometimes used as well as a fridge or dry ice. Nearly any machine or good mechanic should be able to replace the bearings but I couldn't guess about the cost. The bearing specification is on the seal visible on the rear of the bearing. They are cheap, available from any bearing shop or Amazon.

BTW, I almost never use the cone, partly because of the reason you mention. For woods prone to split, especially with thin spindles, I first make a small, shallow hole in the center then use a Steb drive center. This has a spring-loaded point that will not split the wood. It is tightened until the teeth grip the wood. I turn very thin spindles with this, and probably use it for 95% of my spindle turnings. (use Steb drive centers for the same reason - the spring-loaded points.)

400776

As I've mentioned before, I love the Nova center because of it's flexibility. Since it has a 2MT socket I turn a variety of small wooden inserts with short 2MT sockets. These are for pressure, long extensions for clearance, and most of all with tenons sized to fit into holes drilled into the end of spindles.

One nice thing about these wooden inserts is I can turn one between centers very quickly then mount it directly into the headstock to size and shape it as needed. Here are some:

400782

I use one of these every time I make a tool handle or other handles like these:

400780

JKJ

John - enjoy your posts they are very helpful.

(Sorry if I'm taking this off topic)

A while back another turner here that helped me with a pepper mill suggested a Steb drive center. I bought one and it works great. I see that there are Steb revolving centers. Was wondering which setup is best - drive side only/revolving side/or both sides?


Thanks,

Mike

[Dave Fritz]

Nova replied and said they don't repair them. He asked if I had proof of purchase and he'd see what he could do, but I don't. It's been a long time and probably doesn't owe me anything. Ron, you may want to contact them, maybe they'd sell just the basic live center without the inserts? Greenbush huh, went through there many years ago on my way to Lakeland College.

[Alex Zeller]

If you have access (or plenty of use for one) to a hydraulic press you probably could figure out a way to remove the old bearings. It would be kind of pricey but if you can get it apart I would replace the bearings with high quality name brand bearings. Looking at your picture you can see the standard part number for the bearing on the rubber seal. Chances are Nove uses a less expensive Chinese brand and maybe it didn't get enough grease injected into it or maybe it reached it's lifespan. Either way, like you said, it doesn't owe you anything so why not try to take it apart and replace them when the noise gets too bad or it feels like it's grinding.

[Dave Fritz]

Just a final reply from Nova. Without the proof of purchase nothing. He did suggest looking for some sales and the cheapest found was from Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/NOVA-Live-Center-System-with-Stepped-Cone-5015/204488267 Good idea Alex, I have a fellow nearby that's a hobby machinist. He might enjoy doing it just for fun.

[John K Jordan]

Just a final reply from Nova. Without the proof of purchase nothing. He did suggest looking for some sales and the cheapest found was from Home Depot. https://www.homedepot.com/p/NOVA-Live-Center-System-with-Stepped-Cone-5015/204488267 Good idea Alex, I have a fellow nearby that's a hobby machinist. He might enjoy doing it just for fun.

That's seems high - I've found them as cheap as $45 on sale. (I bought 2) But maybe they don't go on sale often.

I don't see where you live but if you are close drop it off and I'd be glad to try to take it apart. Yesterday I was able to get a PM3520 quill apart that was stuck stuck stuck. If you had a spare bearing you could also try prying out the rubber seal on the back, cleaning and lubricating, then putting another seal on it. I didn't write it down but I think the numbers on the back were 6202RZ.

JKJ

[John K Jordan]

I personally like the steb centers on both the headstock and the tailstock ends for most of the smaller work I do. (I think I made an error in my other post and meant to say steb "live" center in one place, sorry.) I like the spring loaded points on both ends - they center perfectly without putting any splitting force on the work. And while I don't recommend having catches, if you do have one the steb centers can work a bit like a safety center and let the wood spin rather than induce trauma!

I don't have the larger steb live center but I like the small one (1/2") so much I should probably get the big one too (1" I think).

JKJ


John - enjoy your posts they are very helpful.

(Sorry if I'm taking this off topic)

A while back another turner here that helped me with a pepper mill suggested a Steb drive center. I bought one and it works great. I see that there are Steb revolving centers. Was wondering which setup is best - drive side only/revolving side/or both sides?


Thanks,

Mike