Frozen mandrell

[rfenergy]

Just picked up a Standard D with a frozen mandrell.Has anyone had success in freeing these up?
Jim

[phonogfp]

Jim,
Try a penetrating oil like WD-40 on each side of the bearing and let it sit overnight. (Remove the little plug above the bearing and squirt some in there too.) Next day, use your bare hands to rotate the mandrel. At first, it may seem impossible, but it WILL eventually rotate, and it will become easier and easier. Once rotating has become possible, you can start pulling the mandrel and shaft to the right as you rotate. Again, patience is key. (Be sure your mandrel shaft is smooth and lubricated toward the left where it will be inside the bearing.) You'll be tempted to start tapping with a hammer and block of wood, but don't give in - - it's so easy to dent that mandrel. It may take 30 minutes or even an hour of coaxing, but you will eventually pull that shaft free of the bearing. The last one I did came out in about 5 minutes. You never know... Good luck!

[rfenergy]

Thats what I did.After I made the initial post yesterday I soaked the bushings at each end and the lube hole on top of the bushing assembly with penatrating oil. This morning I was able to remove the shaft.I lightly polished the shaft with 800 grit wet and dry sandpaper and and reamed out the bushings with the correct sized drill bit.She runs smooth as silk now. Now I just have to purchase a type H reproducer.In the meantime I will completely dissasemble the whole unit and degrease everything,Relube it and polish the bedplate.Also have to order a replacement carrying handle as the original is missing.The case is in very nice condition.
Jim

[phonogfp]

Nice going, Jim! Sounds like you have at least basic mechanical skills (and a drill press!). Those skills, some common sense, a bit of esoteric knowledge, and patience will enable you to do most anything with these beasts. Now you're ready for a Model D "Home!"

George Paul

[klinkmi]

Oct 29, 2008 9:50:20 GMT -5 phonogfp said:

Nice going, Jim! Sounds like you have at least basic mechanical skills (and a drill press!). Those skills, some common sense, a bit of esoteric knowledge, and patience will enable you to do most anything with these beasts. Now you're ready for a Model D "Home!"

George Paul[/quote

What is the difficulty with a Home Model D ? I have one that is frozen but as of now had never made an attempt to free it or to change the bearings

[phonogfp]

The "Home" D can be a bear - or a pussycat. I had been lucky with earlier examples, but I just did one in October that was a bear. In 2007 I had purchased it in a group of 4 machines, and had checked it carefully for mandrel or upper pulley damage caused by a "handyman" trying to fix it. It looked okay, so it came home with me. A year later, a fellow I knew wanted to buy a 4-minute Edison, and I soon learned the awful truth. That bearing was so tight that even after a week of soaking in Liquid Wrench, WD-40, and another product (in turn), I was able to extract the mainshaft only about 3/4". I couldn't tap the end bearing, as the feedscrew had reached the casting that held the swollen bearing. I worked on it for 2 hours with no progress. I finally entrusted it to a friend who used a torch for far longer (and much closer) than I had - with no bad effects to the paint. After 30 minutes - carefully tapping the mandrel with a block of wood - he had it free. It was then that the damaged gear teeth within the upper pulley became evident. SOMEONE had indeed tried tapping the pulley, and later on it took another hour in my shop with a Dremel tool to fix the damaged teeth. Yet, once assembled and adjusted, that "Home" played like a dream. Great machines - as long as someone doesn't ruin them!

George Paul

[klinkmi]

Thanks for the info. At the present I only own models A &B in Standard, Home, and Triumph and hence have not run into this problem but as my collection grows I am sure to run into this problem at some point.

Thanks Again