strange allen bolt on crossslide handle

I have a strange allen bolt on my cross slide handle . I was trying to un screw the handle which wont budge and noticed this what seems to be an allen bolt. I can find mothing that fits it but wonderif it undoes bll or handle , Can ayone help?

I wonder - could it be a grub screw, preventing the handle from unscrewing? If the machine is from UK or US, it is likely to be an inch-sized hex socket.

Cheers, Tim

PS by grub screw I mean a fitting with a thread and a socket in the end, but no enlargement for the head. I think some call them Set screws (which we don't).

Edited By Tim Stevens on 30/09/2017 16:00:51

Martin,

it was an Allen bolt but it's been abused over the years...

best thing to do is find an allen key that's close to fitting but a little tight and then I'm afraid u'll have to tap or hammer it in.... with the shock of the tapping u should find u can undo it..........no real easy way I'm afraid.....

I get this on tractors all the time......luckily the older allen bolts were made of good steel......

good luck Clogs

I have a couple of these weird in between metric sized hex sockets on my myford, I think the above is correct, and they are an imperial sized socket. Just try some hex bar of imperial sizes until you find a match, then make your own wrench with that sized hex bar.

Ive seen this sort of thing on spinning handles, where the handle you hold has a groove in it on the end and a ball bearing underneath the allen screw. When the allen screw is just right the handle can spin but the handle is also prevented from coming out. They are often seized up.

Sorry about the crappy sketch

Edited By mark smith 20 on 30/09/2017 16:27:59

Edited By mark smith 20 on 30/09/2017 16:29:43

Inch sized Allen keys are easy to find on the web, a set will cost you no more than a drink or two. When you CAN get the right tool, there is less need to bodge. And if that is on a Myford, you will certainly find uses for other sizes in the set.

Tim

Thanks Tim, if I'm honest I haven't looked for a set yet. I was just thinking about how I'd go about it if I can't find the correct size 😊

On Hardinge lathes, the handle is held on by an allen headed screw in the ball end of the handle like that one. As to finding a key that fits it, if neither standard Imperial or metric keys fit it, then it's a case of using an abrasive stone to trim down the nearest over-size one to a good fit.

As usual, it would help if the machine was identified. There may be a reader that has that same model.

.

Just a wild guess ... It's probably his 'Drummond B'

**LINK**

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_photo.asp?a=39532&p=767252

MichaelG.

Should we be guessing? I don't think so. Nor do I think many should be hunting elsewhere for the information. It is so easy to include useful information, at the beginning, for the benefit of readers.

.

Just trying to help

MichaelG.

.

In case it wasn't obvious:

Clicking on the photo in Martin's opening post will disclose its address:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_photo.asp?a=39532&p=767252

The final part of which is the image number ... 

It took much less time to find it, than to post my message.

... It's in this album:

 http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=39532

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 01/10/2017 09:18:23

Good on yer. Like I said, hunting for information is often the 'usual' and is just not necessary if the OP gave the info up front.

Keep posting.

I think Michael's offerings are in the same spirit as mine, though he's better at it than I am.

My posts are intended to help, and, I try to ensure they are evidence based. I indicate quality issues by using words like 'guess', 'think', 'reckon', 'risk', 'probably' or 'suggest' so the reader can make his own mind up. For example:

'Guess' means I've thought about the problem and spotted what might be a reasonable way ahead. I'm not claiming to be right, and won't be surprised if someone else comes up with a better answer later on.

'Think' means I'm more confident but still not certain. For example, I may have identified a mathematical formula and misapplied it or botched the calculation. I am delighted to receive corrections!

Where I'm on more solid ground - not relying on my faulty memory, logic and diagnostic powers - I quote references so that someone else can check them. References are good, but not necessarily conclusive. The interweb is a mix of good and bad. Books can be out of date. Again, I'm very pleased to be put right.

I try very hard to avoid generalisations, over simplification, and drawing conclusions from limited data. For example, I although I personally have never seen a fatal road accident, I do believe that they happen.

One feature of engineering I like is making improvements. That involves open exchange of ideas and experiences. Keep those posts coming, they're all good.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 01/10/2017 11:45:15

A suitable Torks bit often works on mangled hex sockets. Just wack it in. I have not checked if suitable for hardings or myfords, but works on most things.

Wow great sketch Mark wonders if this is all it is for? Have been through all my allen sets and nothing fits it.

Should this whole handle just come of on a screw thread then . Is there any simple ways to unscrew it from the slide screw? Is it the same as top slide ad it just needs some force to unscrew it?

Martin :D

If you really can't get the right key (which is of course the proper job), then wrap a couple of turns of aluminium foil tightly round the nearest smaller key.