12-03-2014, 08:11 PM
Hi,
Another interrupted day here in paradise; British gas was here at dinner time to service the central heating boiler; not a problem but again concentration shattered whilst trying to work on the Lorch; I'm just a simply guy who can only do one thing at a time so am easily thrown off my intended course.
This morning I set about installing the idler pulley; the shaft was de-burred and the grease hole cleaned out as was the grease cup. New grease was added to the cup and forced through the hole in the shaft so now I know the idler will be well greased. Next I cut a strip of old tea towel to act as a sling because the the idler didn't allow space to get my hands in to align it which at the time I thought an excellent idea; pity though because the gap between the bed ways was insufficient to allow the idler to enter; I had forgotten that the idler pulley had been removed from below; drat it the bed has to come off the stand again? I protected the new paint on the tray with old bed sheets then tipped the bed over allowing the idler to be installed but the cloth strip actually worked a treat as an aid to alignment. The shaft end was located in the outer end of the bed then pushed through just enough to locate the first collar; the idler was added next followed by the second collar.
Everything was generously greased during assembly then the set screws were nipped up; one set screw secures the shaft to the bed two more secure the locating collars allowing slight end play in the idler; two set screws were nipped directly from above but the inboard set screw was nipped at an angle through a slot in the rear of the bed; a strange arrangement but this is how it was when I stripped it.
This small job took me up to midday; the gas engineer arrived bang on midday as arranged so I hung around in the garage tidying up then we had a later dinner. After dinner I wandered into the garage again and started cleaning the two drive rods for the carriage one of these being the lead screw. A very dirty job indeed but slowly I found the parts under the dirt making a good job of them; I had to knock off when my right elbow became too painful but all in all another big step forward in this restoration. I've not got a plan of action but each time I go into the garage I just get stuck in because however I do it all the items will end up being restored so at this stage order doesn't really matter because I'll get there in the end.
The pictures don't really show just how dirty the items were but what a transformation and I'm delighted at how the idler pulley now looks; I re-filled the grease cup and added more grease until I could see excess grease being discharged at the idler ends so I know this won't be seizing up for want of lubrication.
If I could get a few straight days on this restoration without lots of interruptions then I could move it forward quickly; as I sit here typing a card has just landed on our carpet advertising bathroom fitting; don't these people ever give up; they pester us morning noon and night; fair enough they are only trying to make a living and good on them for that but there is no let up living here?
I expect much the same tomorrow as I've had today; jerked around with Virgin Media and more interruptions but at least I'm still kicking and getting glimpses of enjoyment out of retirement. I'll add the picture again of the idler before I went to work on it for comparison.
Kind regards, Col.
Another interrupted day here in paradise; British gas was here at dinner time to service the central heating boiler; not a problem but again concentration shattered whilst trying to work on the Lorch; I'm just a simply guy who can only do one thing at a time so am easily thrown off my intended course.
This morning I set about installing the idler pulley; the shaft was de-burred and the grease hole cleaned out as was the grease cup. New grease was added to the cup and forced through the hole in the shaft so now I know the idler will be well greased. Next I cut a strip of old tea towel to act as a sling because the the idler didn't allow space to get my hands in to align it which at the time I thought an excellent idea; pity though because the gap between the bed ways was insufficient to allow the idler to enter; I had forgotten that the idler pulley had been removed from below; drat it the bed has to come off the stand again? I protected the new paint on the tray with old bed sheets then tipped the bed over allowing the idler to be installed but the cloth strip actually worked a treat as an aid to alignment. The shaft end was located in the outer end of the bed then pushed through just enough to locate the first collar; the idler was added next followed by the second collar.
Everything was generously greased during assembly then the set screws were nipped up; one set screw secures the shaft to the bed two more secure the locating collars allowing slight end play in the idler; two set screws were nipped directly from above but the inboard set screw was nipped at an angle through a slot in the rear of the bed; a strange arrangement but this is how it was when I stripped it.
This small job took me up to midday; the gas engineer arrived bang on midday as arranged so I hung around in the garage tidying up then we had a later dinner. After dinner I wandered into the garage again and started cleaning the two drive rods for the carriage one of these being the lead screw. A very dirty job indeed but slowly I found the parts under the dirt making a good job of them; I had to knock off when my right elbow became too painful but all in all another big step forward in this restoration. I've not got a plan of action but each time I go into the garage I just get stuck in because however I do it all the items will end up being restored so at this stage order doesn't really matter because I'll get there in the end.
The pictures don't really show just how dirty the items were but what a transformation and I'm delighted at how the idler pulley now looks; I re-filled the grease cup and added more grease until I could see excess grease being discharged at the idler ends so I know this won't be seizing up for want of lubrication.
If I could get a few straight days on this restoration without lots of interruptions then I could move it forward quickly; as I sit here typing a card has just landed on our carpet advertising bathroom fitting; don't these people ever give up; they pester us morning noon and night; fair enough they are only trying to make a living and good on them for that but there is no let up living here?
I expect much the same tomorrow as I've had today; jerked around with Virgin Media and more interruptions but at least I'm still kicking and getting glimpses of enjoyment out of retirement. I'll add the picture again of the idler before I went to work on it for comparison.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
