Chris Crew | 27/03/2023 16:00:32 |
418 forum posts 15 photos | After watching the MrCrispin Coventry die head video on YouTube I decided one might be a novel addition to my workshop. I found the items advertised on eBay and put several in my watch list. One was for a job-lot of three for which it stated they all appeared to work and I received an offer price. I was actually going to reject this offer and the items but, being a weak-willed and spineless character, I pressed the accept button. However, I may have to wear the donkey's ears for a couple of weeks because when the items arrived none of them appear work and all of them will need some remedial work to a lesser or greater extent, or so it appears given a cursory 'once-over'. So, the questions are these: does anyone have an exploded diagram of one of these devices, is there any company in existence that can supply parts (apart from the chasers which appear to be easily sourced) because I assume these devices have not been manufactured since Alfred Herbert's demise and has anyone else refurbished one of these devices before and could provide some advice? I am hoping that I can salvage at least one working die-head from the three almost identical ones that I bought and put the rest down to experience. |
Andrew Johnston | 27/03/2023 16:29:16 |
7061 forum posts 719 photos | Wiseman Threading Tools do a wide range of spares. Andrew |
Rob McSweeney | 27/03/2023 17:08:42 |
98 forum posts | "The Book of the Coventry Diehead" has all the info. There is a downloadable version online somewhere. |
bernard towers | 27/03/2023 17:28:38 |
1221 forum posts 161 photos | Best of luck Chris your problems are only just starting, wait till you start collecting die sets,I hate to think how much I spent. Good thing to make for them is the internal stop which is a must when making batches of Bolt/Screws. I have just made a batch of 5mm sq headed bolts and they were threaded at 300rpm and the head clicks off at the came place every time,Magic. Thoroughly recommend the book Rob mentioned. Edited By bernard towers on 27/03/2023 17:29:30 |
noel shelley | 27/03/2023 17:31:25 |
2308 forum posts 33 photos | Hi Chris, What sizes and types have you got ? Rob has mentioned the book, it comes in many editions I think mine is ed 25. Noel. |
Chris Crew | 27/03/2023 17:39:11 |
418 forum posts 15 photos | Noel, They were sold as being 1/2", not sure if this is correct as I am new to this type of device and until I acquire the book/manual I have no idea from where this dimension is taken. Many thanks to all for the responses, thus far. |
Tony Pratt 1 | 27/03/2023 17:53:42 |
2319 forum posts 13 photos | Chris, were they sold as 'working'?, if they don't work send the lot back at the sellers expense. Tony |
Oldiron | 27/03/2023 17:56:33 |
1193 forum posts 59 photos | Chris you have a PM regards |
Chris Crew | 27/03/2023 18:55:41 |
418 forum posts 15 photos | Posted by Tony Pratt 1 on 27/03/2023 17:53:42:
Chris, were they sold as 'working'?, if they don't work send the lot back at the sellers expense. Tony Tony, unfortunately the seller stated 'no returns accepted'. I knew it was punt when I purchased the items, fortunately I elected to use PayPal's 'Pay-in-Three' facility so the financial damage has been spread. At least it has presented me with a challenge to sort out the issues, I actually enjoy repairing and refurbishing bits and pieces so I will now view my purchase as a project. |
peak4 | 27/03/2023 19:19:40 |
2207 forum posts 210 photos | This Site may have some useful info as well |
bernard towers | 27/03/2023 20:50:13 |
1221 forum posts 161 photos | Usually if its a 1/2' head that's the max size thread dia, although in later years oversize sets were available. |
Oldiron | 27/03/2023 20:51:00 |
1193 forum posts 59 photos | Chris. The seller can say "no returns" but if you report to YT as not as described you can still get a refund. Distant selling regulations apply on YT so goods have to be fit for purpose. regards |
Chris Crew | 27/03/2023 21:04:16 |
418 forum posts 15 photos | I have actually got one of these things working in a fashion, it was bunged up with old grease and dirt, but the return spring that rotates the 'scrolls' seems very weak although it may be that a stripping down and really thorough clean and lube may improve things. One of the others seems completely 'dead' and the third is in pieces on my bench. At the moment I have no idea how to re-assemble it but someone has been kind enough to send me a PDF of the manual so I am hoping to know a bit more before I go back into the workshop tomorrow. If I can resurrect at least two of them I will make some new levers with plastic knobs to smarten up their appearance. I will also make MrCrispin's clamping sleeve to fit a device to the Myford tail-stock. All good clean fun! |
Emgee | 27/03/2023 21:27:20 |
2610 forum posts 312 photos | I have a couple of heads, 1/4" and 5/16" sizes, both of them are difficult to use as the dies don't stay closed other than holding the lever in position, doesn't seem to latch as it should. Any tips most welcome. Emgee |
peak4 | 27/03/2023 21:40:00 |
2207 forum posts 210 photos | Posted by Chris Crew on 27/03/2023 21:04:16:
I have actually got one of these things working in a fashion, it was bunged up with old grease and dirt, but the return spring that rotates the 'scrolls' seems very weak although it may be that a stripping down and really thorough clean and lube may improve things. One of the others seems completely 'dead' and the third is in pieces on my bench. At the moment I have no idea how to re-assemble it but someone has been kind enough to send me a PDF of the manual so I am hoping to know a bit more before I go back into the workshop tomorrow. If I can resurrect at least two of them I will make some new levers with plastic knobs to smarten up their appearance. I will also make MrCrispin's clamping sleeve to fit a device to the Myford tail-stock. All good clean fun! Which book have you been sent? |
Chris Crew | 27/03/2023 21:45:37 |
418 forum posts 15 photos | Bill, The book I have been sent is the 24th Edition which is a 128 page PDF. |
JohnF | 27/03/2023 22:25:38 |
1243 forum posts 202 photos | Here are a couple of sites that may be of interest. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/4688/21649.pdf http://www.namco-tooling.com/coventry-dieheads-chasers.html John |
Alan Donovan | 28/03/2023 06:55:09 |
81 forum posts 41 photos | +1 for Oldiron. If you choose to ask for a refund, ebay have a complaints/dispute procedure you can use. Details of how to proceed are on their website.
Edited By Alan Donovan on 28/03/2023 06:58:57 Edited By Alan Donovan on 28/03/2023 07:04:49 Edited By Alan Donovan on 28/03/2023 07:24:18 |
Bantam Bill | 28/03/2023 10:08:58 |
13 forum posts 1 photos | They are easy to strip down and rebuild, there is a manual available on the interweb. I was given a very rusty seized up 1/2” head, once stripped, cleaned and a few new parts from wiseman it works a treat, you might need to make an adaptor to fit the tailstock.
|
William Howcroft | 30/03/2023 17:22:03 |
12 forum posts | http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/pubs.aspx |
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