Warco BH600G "Clutch"

Now you all know why my projects take so long to reach completion!

I get side-tracked all to easily, but on this occasion, the end result had me shouting:

! WHOOHOOO !

After running into the proverbial brick wall with regards the FeedRod motor, hopefully now solved, thoughts turned to that nifty "Clutch" designed by Ray McMahon and fitted to his BH600G lathe. Details in MEW 88.

Material soon to hand, marked, cut, drilled, tapped, assembled and ready to install.

I didn't have any silver steel to size, so just used BMS.

The slot in the Upper Clamp Plate (Drawing labelled 'Lower Clamp Plate' was quickly done on the Boxford Shaper, after I gave up setting the Tom Senior up.

I found that the corner cutout on the Lower Clamp Plate (Drawing labelled 'Upper Clamp Plate'

A bit of a fiddle getting the frame into place finding it necessary to remove the top Pin, but soon had the two Clamp Plates tightened up against the flange at the base of the Headstock casting.

Top Pin in place and time to check.

Operating lever fitted and bolted in place, so ready steady GO.

VFD drive to the fore, Jog and slow speed selected and Green button pressed.

Now the BIG test.

Hold breath and be ready to stop if anything sounds graunchy.

Operation of the "Clutch" time, so grab the black ball handle and push/swing it upwards.

Well what can I say except "WHOOHOOO! again.

It works perfectly and easily as well, without any belt grab at all.

The only thing I will need to rectify is the tilt of the frame, as the top pin is touching the belt ever so slightly when the "Clutch" is disengaged. It's so slight, however, I may just keep a check on wear first though.

I can see this 'mod' being up there with all those things in life that have you asking "How the heck did I manage beforehand?" as was the case after fitting VFD drives.

No doubt this could be added to all those generic 12"(9"x24"/36" belt drive lathes.

New Album added.

Geoff - What next? Keep watching this Forum!

Edited By OuBallie on 23/08/2014 14:43: Trying to get the YouTube video to show as a frame!

Edited By OuBallie on 23/08/2014 14:50:31 Removed the %#^# winking s@d

Edited By OuBallie on 23/08/2014 14:51:23

Nice clutch solution and nice work Geoff. Is there room for a small oilite bush or similar that will roll over the belt and prevent the belt rubbing on the pin while the spindle is running?

Thor

Thanks for the suggestion Thor.

I think I will wait and see for now, plus I haven't yet checked the lower pin to belt gap to see if they are touching.

Did notice two words missing at the end of this sentence:

'I found that the corner cutout on the Lower Clamp Plate (Drawing labelled 'Upper Clamp Plate' ' wasn't needed.

Geoff - SciFi novel time.

Where the blue blazes do those winking idiots come from, when not needed!?

Geoff - Grrr time. Finger problem?

Geoff, punctuation marks, and brackets that's what causes the "winking idiots"

Ian S C

Drawing labelled 'Lower Clamp Plate' was quickly done on the Boxford Shaper, after I gave up setting the Tom Senior up.

I found that the corner cutout on the Lower Clamp Plate (Drawing labelled 'Upper Clamp Plate'

A bit of a fiddle getting the frame into place finding it necessary to remove the top Pin, but soon had the two Clamp Plates tightened up against the flange at the base of the Headstock casting.

DMSGDT