Southbend 9"x36" carriage won't engage, Help!!
 

Not too long ago I bought this metal lathe, I would think there is something wrong within the mechanism inside the carriage because it won't close/open the split nut nor will travel as I spin the chuck and gears are engaged. :confused: I do not know much about it but for now I need to be able to move the carrier back and forward by hand.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

Sounds like your carraige feed is engaged. The star wheel in the middle of the carraige turn it to the left a few times and see if that helps. Also check for a carriage lock (sq nut) on the right side of the carraige...Bob

Also to add to above post
 

In order to use the half nut on these, besides turning the little Star wheel
(clutch) as said above on the right of this star wheel the lever must be in
neutral in the middle. Also check to see if the carriage feed tumbler is
engauged due to sometimes doing a lot of drilling or facing, us old timers
will put the feed in neutral, no need for all those gears turning. I dont know
what model you have its an A make sure the gear box is in gear cause
sometime you have to turn the leed screw by hand so it is in mesh.
If all above is ok you should be good.
After reading the problem again are you saying that you cant move the
carriage with the hand wheel? Again thats two things the half nut is
stuck closed, or the carriage feed lever isnt in neutral and if this lever is
in gear and the star wheel is turned clockwise, then the clutch is stuck.
As far as the half nut (I should know this by heart but) I got 3 machines
their all different I think putting the lever down is closing it. I hope this
is some help. I dont think its serious.
Make sure the saddle lock is not locked

typo error
 

my error, the half nut is engauged when the lever is up.