OT -- Zim No. 525 valve resurfacing lathe.....

[Harry O]

I turned one up in my fathers tools. A very small lathe that is made to recut valves during engine rebuilds. Looks old, but very little used. Anyone have any idea what it is worth?

[Buckshot]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Zim-All-Steel-Valve-Grinder_W0QQitemZ110279114667QQcm
dZViewItem?hash=item110279114667&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3
A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZIM-Hand-Valve-Grinder_W0QQitemZ250283129286QQcmdZViewItem?h
ash=item250283129286&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%
3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

There are several others around, but nothing that looks like a lathe, or that mentions the '525' model number.

The only hobby my grandfather had that I'm aware of was to repair the multitude of small gasoline engines around the area people had on some of their farm equipment. He had a couple valve grinders as those shown above, that ground the valve and seat together. Whether his were Zims' I have no idea. I do know they were reciprocating and self advancing.

..............Buckshot

[Willbird]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Zim-All-Steel-Valve-Grinder_W0QQitemZ110279114667QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem110279114667&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZIM-Hand-Valve-Grinder_W0QQitemZ250283129286QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem250283129286&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

There are several others around, but nothing that looks like a lathe, or that mentions the '525' model number.

The only hobby my grandfather had that I'm aware of was to repair the multitude of small gasoline engines around the area people had on some of their farm equipment. He had a couple valve grinders as those shown above, that ground the valve and seat together. Whether his were Zims' I have no idea. I do know they were reciprocating and self advancing.

..............Buckshot

Those guys just LAP the valve and seat to each other don't they ?? They have a weird gearing setup so they make forward and reverse motions rather than just round and round..

[Pavogrande]

Those are two different tools - the "lathe" was a device that held the valve and had a cutter to reface the valve. You turned the valve by hand with a handle that clamped to the stem. It worked faily good , if you were patient and did not have stellite valves ---
The other tool is really a lapping tool, grinding compound was placed on the valve face, the valve installed, the tools suction cup placed on the valve head, turning the crank handle provided a reciprocating motion lapping the valve agaist the seat. -- The other common, and cheaper, tool was just a stick with a suction cup on the end which you moved back and forth between your hands like a fire starting stick. Warmed the hands :-)

[Harry O]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Zim-All-Steel-Valve-Grinder_W0QQitemZ110279114667QQcm
dZViewItem?hash=item110279114667&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3
A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZIM-Hand-Valve-Grinder_W0QQitemZ250283129286QQcmdZViewItem?h
ash=item250283129286&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%
3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

..............Buckshot

Neither one of these match what I have. Not even close. It is actually a lathe, although a very small one. It is set up to machine valves only. The cutter looks like an ordinary 1/4" lathe cutting tool used on a real lathe. The cutter is offset at an angle (looks like about 45 degrees) which I assume is the correct angle for valves. It is set up for cutting, not lapping. It has a hand crank. but can also be hooked up to a drill motor. It is in the original box it was shipped in and has an oil soaked, but readable single-page instruction sheet.

[Buckshot]

..............Ya got me as to what it would be worth Harry O. Probably not very much except to a collector of automotive repair arcania :-).

..............Buckshot

[MtGun44]

How large/small a valve stem and/or head diameter would it cut?

If you are going to dump it, I work on lawn mowers some and might
take it off your hands to fiddle with.

Bill

[Harry O]

I found it. It looks like it is still being produced, although this one must be at least 20 years old.

http://www.midwesttechnology.com/Small-Engine/Small-Engine-Tools/Valve-Refacing-Lathe/Zim-Valve-Refacing-Lathe/p-13967-14162-14892-52401/

[Pavogrande]

Quite a difference between that one and the one I had some 50 years ago -- The valve was in the position of the chuck and shaft, the crank handle attaching to the valve stem. It was adjustable for 30 degree and 45 degree valves. Not as robust a base either, but then it only cost a few dollars. Seems like a small chinese lathe would be a better tool for this purpose today.

[xyrth]

$200 to $300 ish. all the new ones use nice wheels, and cut valve faces/tips much smoother than the lathes. normally machining equipment loses value if it's worn out or thee is newer technology, age isn't as much of a concern.

the new ones look like this : http://www.purvisequipment.com/serdi-refac.html

they use stones, much more consistent & smoother than a lathe cut surface, and very very simple to use.