Member postings for Chris Evans 6

I bought a Mitutoyo 0 to 1" tenths reading micrometer with carbide anvils in 1971. Poo Pooed by the older toolmakers as rubbish and a waste of my £4.50. I only took it out of use last year when it was replaced with one from MSC for less than £20. At 73 I will not ever need another imperial micrometer, although my machines are all metric the metric measuring equipment stays in the drawer as all my old motorcycle work tends to be imperial. I find the digital offerings to be bulky and heavy in use to get a good feel.

I found that a lot of scales will not work with older readouts. I have had a Newall on my lathe break and a Heidenhien on the Bridgeport mill break. In both cases I found second hand parts, if I had not found them it would have been a cheaper option to replace completely.

Look at a 9/32" x 40 ME Tap. could be close enough ? 0.275 is 7mm so maybe a metric 0.6 pitch if such a thing is made ?

When you make them be sure not to run the tap all the way through to prevent the studs hitting the bottom of the tee slot in use. If you have already tapped through place a ball pein hammer hammer on the bottom of the tapped hole and wack it with a hefty copper mallet.

Welcome along Michael from an adopted Brummie. (born in Worsestershire, now in Staffordshire but live 50 + years in North Brum). What are your interests ?

Welcome along to the forum Steve from another lifelong motorcyclist. Time is a great healer an in years to come you may be using your machinery for old bike restoration.

Mine is a gear head machine. No problem running all speed ranges up to the maximum. The static inverter would not run my Bridgeport mill for long without tripping out, a VFD is now installed on the mill.

Thiel ? certainly older than anything I have used.

I run my 3HP 14"x40" lathe from a Transwave static box. The motor does not have star/delta windings and I do not know how to find the star point to enable use of a VFD. The only downside I find with the Transwave box is lack of soft start and starting the lathe is a bit fierce at times, if ever it sounds unhappy turning off and restarting usually works.

If the motor ever fails I would look at a motor and VFD package and sell the static inverter (converter ?) but until then I am happy to use the Transwave.

I buy mine from RS Components. Always choose the "All Hard" rather than the bi-metal flexible type, I've tried the flexible ones and can not cut straight with them and they do not last as long.

Gordon, many thanks for the advise. I will look at Parkinson's UK and take the consultants advise .

Chris

Many thanks for all the replies, I am awaiting official confirmation but my Daughter (a GP) is convinced as I tick a lot of symptom boxes.

Gordon, I noticed a downturn in mental agility over a year ago finding myself using a calculator more and more instead of mental maths. I put this down to a stroke at the time but now not so sure. I will start the medication and see how I get on. The thoughts of not being in the workshop making things and spannering the bikes fill me with dread.

Chris.

Has anyone been diagnosed as having Parkinsons Disease ? If so how did it impact day to day in the workshop ? I realise severity will differ from each individual but do not want to rush into disposing of the machinery if I have years to do so.

Edited By Chris Evans 6 on 07/11/2021 10:12:46

Welcome along to the forum Peter, from another motorcycle nut. (Pre-war stuff for me). I do get over to Northern Ireland a few times a year when covid regulations allow. Wife's family and the road racing are the prime reasons as well as the countryside.

The thread is 7/32x40 for the cable adjuster so 1/4x40 may not give enough wall section for thread depth. I will look at 7mm or 9/32" depending on which taps and dies I have. Thanks for the input.

Thanks Michael, I doubt there would be a market for them. Brass inserts will do the job.

Are helicoil inserts available in ME thread ? I have some Amal carburetor tops to repair 7/32x40 tpi. If not available I will make brass inserts and Loctite in position, my searches so far have not found ME inserts.

I seem to recall that it is 5 post's.

Andrew, for future reference next time I visit my friends workshop I will try and remember to ask re seat cutter. It is all motorcycle work that he does. I did have a valve refacing machine but gave it away as it was unused for many years.Age and health now mean that I take on very little work.

Google leadscrew and look at the suppliers. I used "Automotion Components" (am I allowed to say that ?) for my 14"x40" lathe. You will need to know pitch required and left or right hand. I bought 1 metre of trapisoidal leadscrew and a bronze nut that could be adapted to suit for around £60 Had enough to make three screws.