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Coventry Die Head

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Bill Pudney01/08/2010 04:44:55
622 forum posts
24 photos
In amongst a load of bits and pieces, I have scored a Coventry Die Head.  Its about 45mm (1.75") diameter, the spigot at the back, for fitting to a tailstock or turret etc is 0.625" diameter.  I can't see any recognisable identification marks, although it is a bit dirty so any marks may be hidden.  Sadly there are no chasers.
My question is are these things fairly easy to dismantle, it seems to be fairly smooth in operation, but stiff.  My first (and second) thoughts are that it needs at least a good clean.
Does anyone have any advice, hints, tips, even a book of instructions with pictures??
cheers
Bill Pudney
Adelaide, Australia
Ian Hewson01/08/2010 12:25:56
354 forum posts
33 photos
Hi Bill
Go on to google and put in coventry die head manual, the second post should answer all your questions on die heads. 
mick01/08/2010 17:27:50
421 forum posts
49 photos
Hi. Bill.
           If its working don't even think about stripping it down, a good squirt of penertrating oil should be all it needs.
    These heads work by positive stop, that is, the tail stock travel has to be stopped at a precise point.    This action allows the body to twist and open the chasers, to allow the head to be withdrawen.   These heads can be used on a lathe, but were intended to be used on the Capstan, or Auto lathe.    You have to be quick if you use them on a lathe, as its easy to crash the head into the shoulder of the thread, or even worse the chuck. 
Bill Pudney02/08/2010 01:11:39
622 forum posts
24 photos
Fair enough a good squirt of penetrating oil it is.
I had googled "Coventry die head" "coventry die head manual" and found that there are lots of companies selling chasers, but only a couple with any maintenance information.  They were both fairly old links and were broken, hence my posting here.
I remember using one of these a million years ago, in the '60's, and its unlikely that I would ever use this one.  However I would like to get it cleaned up and usable, so that I have the option!
cheers
Bill Pudney
Adelaide, Australia
Ian Hewson02/08/2010 08:26:09
354 forum posts
33 photos
Hi
Link was active yesterday, I checked before posting.
Gives usage instructions.
I have used my die head on the lathe by drilling a hole through the mounting spindle and just helping the loose tailstock along.
This produced long lengths of 6 & 7 ba studding for use on building my Double Tangye engine. www.threadtools.com/Files/Coventry%20technical%20info.pdf
Bill Pudney03/08/2010 02:31:57
622 forum posts
24 photos
Hi there,
I changed web browser from Mozilla to Explorer, googled again and Bingo!!
I've downloaded the multi page manual and it seems to have all the information required.
A final question....why don't "they" write manuals like this these days??  Nowadays manuals seem to be full of beware, beware, danger, danger.
 
Anyway thanks folks I should be ok from here!!
cheers
Bill Pudney
Adelaide, Australia
Bill Pudney08/08/2010 02:52:12
622 forum posts
24 photos
I have started the cleaning and tidying up.  Underneath the crud of years imagine my surprise when I found in tiny (about 1.4 to 1.6mm high) etched letters the following, only legible with a loupe
 
"SUTTON T & O
MELBOURNE
5/16" DIEHEAD"
 
Comparing mine with the illustrations in the Coventry  manual it's similar but not quite the same, I would think that its either a straight copy (surely not in Australia?), or made under licence.  So I wrote to Suttons in Melbourne asking if they had any information.  Surprisingly I heard back from them today (Sunday here) via email with a "No, too old, no data".
So there we go
cheers
Bill Pudney
Richard Parsons17/08/2010 11:13:45
avatar
645 forum posts
33 photos
 

Bill,

Be aware that there should be a ‘stop’ inside the die head. When the work piece hits the stop the chasers in the die head fly open and release the work piece so the die head can be retracted.
Before you can cut another thread with it you have to 'reset' the head.

There are at least 2 types of head. One the Herbert pattern and the other made by some American outfit. The chaser are very different and cannot be interchanged.

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