Thanks for the tips TrickyRicky! I was hoping to find a dealer as I dont know of an Australian supplier although they are a copy of an English machine. The right tools for the job is just the problem, from memory you need a c-spanner, but how to torque using one of those? I like your idea to mark the nut position - if only I had thougt of that before. Oh well cant win them all.

I am also interested to make it a CNC machine - at least on the x and y axis. But llike most things that has been delegated to the "one-day" pile while more pressing things get done... The Z-axis is a bit too difficult for me, but one lives in hope.

BTW, does "WD-Hearn" have a web site? Ill keep it on file if I need any bits...if you dont mind can you please let me know what the spring would cost? Maybe I should get one as backup. How about some photos when you finish your conversion to CNC?