Member postings for HughE

My first job was with company that started in the watch and clock business. There were still a few old hands that grew up in the trade who used to give me friendly advice, I learnt a lot of useful engineering tricks from them. They recommended cleaning parts in a solution of distilled water, ammonia and soft soap. Never use household detergent as it contains other ingredients that stain brass and leave a residue, this was drummed into me using the 4x2 method!

Clock springs were always cleaned in a ultrasonic bath using a special fluid, which I can't remember the name of .

I obtain special ultrasonic cleaning fluid from my local chemical factors (Wessex) in Verwood East Dorset.

Hugh

Well said Dave.

I agree documentaries now in the UK are poor, over dubbed with music so you can't hear what's being said. Trouble is the average person has the attention span less that an goldfish so the producers adds in rubbish and all they are interested in is viewer numbers. I blame the cop out degrees of media studies that were all the rage over the last few years. Was James Burke any better though?

Having just retired from 45 years in engineering (electronic comms) I was exasperated by the lack of vision and forward planning that the senior management showed in the last few years with no youngsters taken on in the last 5 years. When the exodus of 60 to 65 year olds happen they started to panic.

Gripe over

Hugh

Madhatter,

If you have access to laser printer the heavy duty Avery labels are self adhesive and very durable. They are available on an A4 sheet in white or silver. I have used these on various pieces of equipment with great success, for example I made a label showing the belt routing on my mower, stuck on the grass cutter tray. It was good as new 9 years later before the mower packed up.

Hugh

Madhatter,

If you have access to laser printer the heavy duty Avery labels are self adhesive and very durable. They are available on an A4 sheet in white or silver. I have used these on various pieces of equipment with great success, for example I made a label showing the belt routing on my mower, stuck on the grass cutter tray. It was good as new 9 years later before the mower packed up.

Hugh

Sorry about the predictive spelling errors arrrhhh !

Hi Andrew,

If its the same as mine the collet should have a grove which is then located in the screw (assume this screw fits on to the spindle nose). To do this the collet is placed in the tube to close it so it can fit it in the screw . It is released by pushing the smaller tube/rod into tube with the collet, this then releases collet. The collet then screws onto the spindle. Assume I have interrupted your OP correctly. A photo would help.

Hugh

Be careful a lot of plastics such as nylon 6.6 absorb moisture which is then released when the air dries out. I an drawer this then condenses on any colder metal object. Learnt from bitter experience.

Hugh

I purchased one from Bangood for about 12 GBP . As XD351 says it comes part assembled. If you go this route the fiddly bit is to ensure the pin headers are aligned correctly before soldering. I fitted mine to different case to include a battery. There is useful info on various forums about improving performance. I have been pleased with mine as its very portable. I do have an ex us navy Tektronic which is bulky which I use most of the time. Space may dictate that I get rid of it an go for a Pico.

Hugh

I think there was an article in an early MEW about making one of these belly busters for renovation work on a locomotive

Hugh.

Neil,

hope you told them that they are cheaper at Trago Mills

Welcome Andy,

There are couple of clubs in our area, Bournemouth at the littledown centre and Wimborne. I am just converting my Myford S7 to 3 phase with VFD from Transwave (Peter Moss was very helpful), set it up on the bench worked first time, the manual for the Jaguar CUB is available on line. PM me you want a copy.

Hugh

Ahh! But was it advertised as antique or was it just in the shop left by a workman ! Remember the story about the electrician who had his tools sold off while working in a charity shop when out for gasper

Hugh

Hi Piero,

Robbo's reply made me think again, so I went and looked at my S7. I have fitted a 33 inch belt as this is all I could get at the time. I noticed that the motor is at it highest position for tensioning and that the boss on the pulley is very close to the casing. The spare belt I got from Myford years ago was the 33.5 inch (851mm), this would allow the motor shaft to sit centrally in the casing. So both 33 and 33.5 inch belts would work it just means you will need to adjust the position of the motor to suit. The Myford belt is marked "Z872 Ld / 10x850 Li Z33 1/2".

Re John's suggestion to use a linked belt. I have a linked belt between the countershaft and spindle as it saves dismantling the spindle and shaft to fit a replacement. They are more expensive. When tried the same on the motor drive it hummed which drove me nuts as it was low pitched so I got rid of it. As you do not need to dismantle anything to replace this belt its not worth extra cost.

Simplybearings are a good source of info regarding belts etc

Hugh

Pierio,

The manual specifies the inside length as 33.5 inches with a z profile.

Hope this helps

Hugh

I had a similar problem with screws on a window hinge that sheared. The only hollow drills I could find were from USA at a high price. Somebody on a woodworking forum suggested using an old golf club shaft. By chance I had one that I broke earlier.

I ground some teeth and it did a great job but I would think they would not last to long!

Hugh

I second Iains choice of reading . Lindsey Davis Falco series are great read, 15 odds books, Silver Pigs is the first in the series. When finished visit Rome and following in his footsteps. Don't expect to visit the workshop for at least 6 to 8 months whilst "er indoors" produces a list of jobs to be done! It took 18 months before I did any serious work. Converting my S7 to VFD,. I wish I had retired at 60.

Hugh

Nige,

If you are taking it apart, make sure you mark it so the same holes are used. Centre punch the backplate and chuck body so they can be realigned.

Hugh

Nige,

Details for v belts can be found in Tubal Cain's ME Handbook section 13. The width at the top for A profile is given as 13.29mm.

Hope that helps.

Hugh

Andrew,

Details for v belts is found in the Tubal Cain's Model Engineer's Handbook section 13. The pitch dia l belive is the correct method of measuring belt size/length.

Hope this helps.

Hugh

Andrew,

According to the Myford S7 manual the belt from the motor to clutch is 33 1/2" and the counter shaft to spindle belt is 29 1/2". Both inside measurements.

I have just made a pulley for a new metric motor VFD conversion and found that this was Z profile. The countershaft to spindle belt looks like A profile.

Hugh