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Dividing head de-crustification

As usual, it took far too long for me to recognize that there was a simple answer. I mentioned before that the spring-loaded pin didn't have a way to stay in the retracted position. When I needed to crank the handle multiple turns, I had to keep pulling the handle out or it would snag on the sector arms or even lock into a hole.

I had dreamed up a couple of solutions involving springs and knobs and whatnot. I actually started working on one when I happened to look yet again at the existing threaded hole in the handle. Duh!! This time, the handle happened to be turned so that I could see the longitudinal groove milled in the inner piece. I already knew that there was a slot milled around the circumference so that an inserted pin would hold the pin in the retracted position like I want. The two slots meet up.

All I need is basically a dog-point screw. With it, I just need to pull the handle back and twist slightly to lock the pin in the retracted position. Twist again and I can lower the pin into the next hold. Feel really dumb for not inspecting earlier. My only defense is that everything was quite rusted when I got it. Nothing but crud was visible in the hole. For a long time, I thought this hole was for lubrication--like the others on the dividing head.

55 fix pin retraction IMG_5174.jpg


Anyway, the handle functions properly now.

Craig
(Brass FTW!)
 
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I use car bumper wax on my machined and ground surfaces on my tools and machines. I think it is Meguires?

All the Brown and Sharpe type dividing heads I have used have a Brown and Sharpe taper in the spindle, usually a 9 B&S, little ones have a #7 B&S.
 
buckbrush said:
All the Brown and Sharpe type dividing heads I have used have a Brown and Sharpe taper in the spindle, usually a 9 B&S, little ones have a #7 B&S.
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Yeah, I finally figured out that it really is a Brown & Sharpe #10 taper. After I got the crud cleaned out, I could see that the Morse taper sleeve I was using for testing was not engaged at the small end.

Anybody have a spare B&S #10 centre? I did more than a little online searching and there seem to be few options available. One was a 'ground to order' type of shop. No prices listed but I suspect they'd want more than I paid for the entire dividing head.

Craig
 
@trlvn I've got a question about this head for you. Do you recall what the spindle threads are? Because, and I really hope I'm wrong, they measure out at 55 degrees... making them....whitworth [style] threads!?!?!?! They also measure at 2.280" / 57.912mm, so that's different. Who built these things?
 
That-Guy said:
@trlvn I've got a question about this head for you. Do you recall what the spindle threads are? Because, and I really hope I'm wrong, they measure out at 55 degrees... making them....whitworth [style] threads!?!?!?! They also measure at 2.280" / 57.912mm, so that's different. Who built these things?
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I thought it was 2-1/4 inch diameter by 4-1/2 threads per inch. I remember checking the threads with a 60 degree 4.5 tpi gauge and I thought it fit properly. I'd expected it to be 2-1/4 by 8 tpi. I remember it was 4.5 tpi because that is not a thread pitch that my lathe is listed as being capable of. However, since the lathe will do 9 tpi, I though it could also do 4.5 by substituting one of the gears in the train.

Can you not make use of the backing plate that was with it?

Craig
 
Thanks for getting back to me. I can and will make use of the backing plate, I just wanted to find a few more. I've got a few chucks/collet holders I want to use with it.

I can cut 4.5 TPI on my lathe, I've just never heard of such a beast. Maybe I missed it in the hand book. All the dimensions just threw me for a loop. I'll double check today with a better thread gauge.
 
Susquatch said:
You need to take some time off and come help me fix farm stuff. Lots of huge stuff in that world!
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Never seen it on any of our stuff! We are HP limited by field size around here. Biggest clear field we've got is only 42 Acres, and we farm a bunch as small as 1.2. Biggest we've got is 112HP at the moment, with slightly undersized implements to match... We seem to do it the very hard way! lol.

And if I'm ever down your way I would GLADLY come give you a hand. I feel I could glean a lot of knowledge from someone such as yourself.
 
That-Guy said:
Never seen it on any of our stuff! We are HP limited by field size around here.
Click to expand...

Not quite that bad here, but my own machinery is prolly the same as yours. My big tractor is 125HP. So my stuff is prolly similar to yours. But I don't just fix my own. I am the local machinist for the entire township. When new parts cost 10 grand, the stuff the old guy makes looks pretty darn good!

Don't know how I missed that you farmed! I've added that to my mental picture of you..... LOL!

I know you are in Southern Ontario. I think I recall Guelph or so. Where abouts are you?
 
Susquatch said:
Not quite that bad here, but my own machinery is prolly the same as yours. My big tractor is 125HP. So my stuff is prolly similar to yours. But I don't just fix my own. I am the local machinist for the entire township. When new parts cost 10 grand, the stuff the old guy makes looks pretty darn good!

Don't know how I missed that you farmed! I've added that to my mental picture of you..... LOL!

I know you are in Southern Ontario. I think I recall Guelph or so. Where abouts are you?
Click to expand...
I'm in Haldimand County.

They word has yet to get out that I have the machines I do, otherwise I feel I'd have a few more visitors!
 
Just saw this, about the de rusting of your unit, made me think that Id heard that one can soak something in cocacola and it will de rust.
Has anyone had any experience with this or is it just a myth?
Thanks
 
wmetfab said:
Just saw this, about the de rusting of your unit, made me think that Id heard that one can soak something in cocacola and it will de rust.
Has anyone had any experience with this or is it just a myth?
Thanks
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Soaking in Coca Cola is a popular method of de tarnishing and brightening up old Beryllium Copper golf clubs. Never heard about it being used for de rusting steel, But I wouldn't be surprised if it's been tried before.
 
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