06-05-2014, 08:00 AM
Hi,
I'm pleased you finally got the guide bar out Bob; many such items tend to "freeze" through lack of use/lubrication but once they move the slightest amount the seal is broken and as you say once free it makes you wonder why they were stuck in the first place?
I always have plenty of off-cuts of metal such as angle iron and channel iron; I also have lengths of threaded rod in stock (cheaply available from Screwfix in metre lengths) so it's not a problem for me to rig up pullers etc; rigging up a suitable puller takes time but better than ending up with a broken casting. It's incredibly simple to cause damage whilst taking one of these old machines to pieces so a bit of patience goes a long way.
It's easy to miss the ring nut which secures the top band wheel especially if it is covered with old grease and dirt once the dust cap is removed. The easiest things to miss are grub screws and roll pins.
Good question regarding the variation in main frame castings Bob and one I don't know the answer to but it's possible Wilmac being a small company experimented a bit because its easy to modify a casting plug; many years ago I made a wooden casting plug when I intended to experiment making my own lathe head-stock for a woodturning lathe; the subsequent castings were substantial to say the least because I added plenty of depth to allow for two back to back front taper roller bearings at the nose end and a plain bearing the other end. On a lathe adding taper bearings at each end of the mandrel is a problem because once the mandrel/bearings warm up accuracy can be lost? At that time I owned a big Colchester lathe and was going to experiment with line boring. I no longer have the two castings but making the plug and getting the castings poured was an interesting project in itself. I remember both castings cost £80 about 14 years ago. In America there are lots of back-yard foundries and lots of discussions on forums.
You should now be able to make rapid progress with your Wilmac restoration Rob; have you decided on the paint and colour yet?
Kind regards, Col.
I'm pleased you finally got the guide bar out Bob; many such items tend to "freeze" through lack of use/lubrication but once they move the slightest amount the seal is broken and as you say once free it makes you wonder why they were stuck in the first place?
I always have plenty of off-cuts of metal such as angle iron and channel iron; I also have lengths of threaded rod in stock (cheaply available from Screwfix in metre lengths) so it's not a problem for me to rig up pullers etc; rigging up a suitable puller takes time but better than ending up with a broken casting. It's incredibly simple to cause damage whilst taking one of these old machines to pieces so a bit of patience goes a long way.
It's easy to miss the ring nut which secures the top band wheel especially if it is covered with old grease and dirt once the dust cap is removed. The easiest things to miss are grub screws and roll pins.
Good question regarding the variation in main frame castings Bob and one I don't know the answer to but it's possible Wilmac being a small company experimented a bit because its easy to modify a casting plug; many years ago I made a wooden casting plug when I intended to experiment making my own lathe head-stock for a woodturning lathe; the subsequent castings were substantial to say the least because I added plenty of depth to allow for two back to back front taper roller bearings at the nose end and a plain bearing the other end. On a lathe adding taper bearings at each end of the mandrel is a problem because once the mandrel/bearings warm up accuracy can be lost? At that time I owned a big Colchester lathe and was going to experiment with line boring. I no longer have the two castings but making the plug and getting the castings poured was an interesting project in itself. I remember both castings cost £80 about 14 years ago. In America there are lots of back-yard foundries and lots of discussions on forums.
You should now be able to make rapid progress with your Wilmac restoration Rob; have you decided on the paint and colour yet?
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
