Couple things to check: 1.) Possible debris under the headstock. Clean ways and move the headstock back & forth a few times and clean again. 2.) Move the headstock to a different position and clamp tight and see if that makes any difference. 3.) Play around with the tension on the headstock clamp block. That clamp block is kind of weenie for a 3hp motor IMO. 4.) Are you certain the machine feet have equal weight distribution. 5.) Are you certain the bed bolts are tight with the legs.
1) I've never moved the headstock since I installed other than when I did try moving it earlier. no difference. 2) ^^ 3) ^ It was still tight 4) How would I check this? Jack it up on each end and let the legs dangle then set back down? 5) All bolts are tight One thing. I remember doing it after I saw them a little bit ago. I had circled where the pads were with a magic marker when I originally installed the lathe. Probably from my uneven turning lately it had walked 5-6 inches. I got it back in position and now the vibration is around 1000-1100. I also put a 2x12 across between the legs and put 60 pounds of concrete on each end. Still has a vibration. Looks like it's all up to a new belt now.
I'm following this interesting thread. One time I found that I had vibration and some noise. I was a little embarrassed when I tracked down the problem to the headstock lever not being tight. But if Sam F. already checked that, then it wouldn't be an issue.
I'm not sure if my sarcasm meter is twitching or not.... But I did check all of that and like I said after I moved it back into it's original position the vibration seems to be in just a little higher rpm. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive about it but I never noticed it when new. Maybe the grease in the bearings has gummed up from sitting 3-4 years without moving? The vibration kind of acts like when you have an out of balance blank. Starts out smooth, turn it up to that rpm vibrates then go higher it goes away. This is without anything on the spindle. Guess I should put the heavy chuck on there and see if it aggravates it. I figure not much I can do with it. I'll change the belt when it gets here in 3 weeks (maybe) and if that doesn't fix it I'll live with it. I even checked that the headstock and tailstock, the points on the spur and center line up exactly so I don't know how else to tell if it's torqued in some way. Still level too.
