13 inch Cincinnati Hydrashift or 13 inch Harrison?

[ScottMcc]

I have a choice of a 13x36 1980's Cincinnati hydrashift with low use, or a 1960's 13x40 Harrison, either one for $3500. The Harrison is super tight and precise, but parts come from England. I hear good and bad about the Cinci and parts are expensive, but I like that it's newer and US made. Which is better for precise gunsmithing, threading, durability, maintanence, etc?

 

[ScottMcc]

Actually I can't say how old the cinci is, but it's serial number is 1W2D5S-35V, can anyone decipher?

 

[Bully]

So...

I’m pretty much a newbie. However I have a Harrison M300 13-40 and am very happy with it. I am hoping that nothing on it goes south as Clausing holds their parts very dear.

I had a few issues with it in the beginning the min one being the selector was stuck. The shift drums at plastic and have a habit of getting pretty stuck if not used for a long time. However a week and a half soak with Kroil and some loving force and it’s all working very well.

PM me if you have any questions on the Harrison. If I can answer I will.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[ScottMcc]

Thanks Bully! I called Cincinnati machines, and they told me it was made in 1966. Since they are about the same age, I am starting to lean more toward the Harrison. Any other tips?

 

[jmm03]

Scott, you might post your question on the practicalmachinist.com forum, I have worked on the larger version of the cinncy hydrashift, they can be very challenging to troubleshoot and repair parts if they are available are very expensive. They are great lathes, just old. Jim

 

[butchlambert]

Hands down, the Harrison for gunsmithing.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You wont need parts. Go for the harrison

 

[Shrek]

Harrison. The Cincinnati has a small spindle bore and if I remember correctly it has a longer through bore also. Not sure what spindle nose the Cincinnati has but the Harrison has a D1-4 nose which is very common which makes is generally less expensive. I went and looked at a small sixties tray top when I was looking and it didn’t really make sense as a gunsmithing lathe. The M300 is about perfect.

 

[Bully]

Thanks Bully! I called Cincinnati machines, and they told me it was made in 1966. Since they are about the same age, I am starting to lean more toward the Harrison. Any other tips?

None that I can think of off hand.
Although I don't know the Cinci lathe at all I can say that my Harrison has:
Power carriage and cross slide
The ability to cut both imperial and metric threads with a simple swap of the gears that are easily accessible
The D1/4 cam-loc is, to me, a better set-up than a threaded spindle (If that's what the Cinci has)
Speeds are from 2500 down to 40
I just built my first rifle on my lathe and am pretty stoked on my machinery purchase. If you get the Harrison and run into any problems, shoot me a PM. If I can't help I have a buddy that has extensive time on one and knows them very well.

 

[Hal]

Listen to Butch, he wouldn't stear you wrong.

Hal

 

[tobnpr]

Can't be an M300, they were not Introduced until '71.
Earlier Harrison 13's had an L0 spindle nose, not a camlock.

Really need pics to see what you've got.
As with any 50-60 year precision machine, could be a lightly used and well maintained gem, or a heavily worn, clapped out piece of scrap iron with 60 thou of backlash on the dials.

If you don't have the knowledge to evaluate the machine under power, best to find someone to that can. That $3500 could be a fair deal or better- or a nightmare.

 

[Toolbreaker]

I can't speak for the Cincy, but I've used two different Harrison AA's at my day job for the last 14 years. "Little Green Tanks" . They're good lathes.

 

[ScottMcc]

Thanks for the info everyone! I am getting the Harrison this weekend. The current owner went through it a few years ago and replaced all the bearings. It is rock solid.

 

[GenePoole]

Thanks for the info everyone! I am getting the Harrison this weekend. The current owner went through it a few years ago and replaced all the bearings. It is rock solid.

Be sure and post some lathe-porn for us when you start making chips.

 

[majohnson]

It to bad Hardinge didn’t make a larger HLV-H, it would make an great gunsmith lathe. Look at the earlier Jet lathes made in Taiwan, they are also good lathe. The Monarchs also have larger bores.

Good luck with your purchase it took me several years and a lot of trips looking at junk.

 

[butchlambert]

Do not some of the HLV-H Hardinge lathes have a 1.5 spindle bore. I know of several top notch gunsmiths using Rockwell Lathes. Short in the headstock and a 1.5" spindle bore.

 

[majohnson]

I believe it only goes to 1.125-1.25. With 5C it will only go to 1.0625. Look at the threaded chucks they might have larger bore.

I almost bought a Hydra Shift, but back out at the last minute. The selling point was it came with enough tooling for 2 lathes. A couple months after it was sold the new owner had the gear train failed, the estimate from Cincinnati was $25K.