- Joined
- Feb 2, 2013
- Messages
- 3,903
in some of my work i run into relatively large and strange fasteners.
sometimes how machines are assembled will dictate how repairs and service are performed.
sometimes the use of special tools are a prerequisite to attempt some operations.
sometimes you can copy a special tool, if you are lucky, from a drawing or picture.
sometimes you have to wing it....
Which is what brings me to my point of sharing this story, i need a special jam nut wrench for a 1 1/2" nut.
the wrench had to be relatively short and very thin to avoid a week or so of disassembly, reassembly, retiming and readjusting
of a packaging system. the owners were desperate to get this machine operational as quickly as possible and requested my assistance.
i loaded up the rig with all my ordinance ready for the battle. welders (stick,flux core,and mig), plasma cutter , and all my other normal battle gear.
when i got to the call, the tension was high to get it operational, like yesterday...
A couple cam followers had frozen and kept tripping the main motor breaker as a result.
one of the cam followers is difficult to get to, the other is impossible with a normal wrench without removing other assemblies.
i was able to change out the first follower in about an hour and a half, the second was going to be a challenge because the wrench i had was too thick and a few inches longer than i could get into the space.
i made my own wrench out of scraps i had on the truck, some stainless sheetmetal and a 3/4" x 3/8" hot rolled steel flat and my lincoln stainless mig set up...
a couple pictures.
after assembling Frankensteins' wrench, i went back to work on getting the last follower out.
it was a PITA, but eventually i got it.
it cost them a few hours OT for me and i get to keep the wrench for another time.
sometimes the tools you make are the right tools.
thanks for reading, feel free to post your inventions and tooling solutions.
sometimes how machines are assembled will dictate how repairs and service are performed.
sometimes the use of special tools are a prerequisite to attempt some operations.
sometimes you can copy a special tool, if you are lucky, from a drawing or picture.
sometimes you have to wing it....
Which is what brings me to my point of sharing this story, i need a special jam nut wrench for a 1 1/2" nut.
the wrench had to be relatively short and very thin to avoid a week or so of disassembly, reassembly, retiming and readjusting
of a packaging system. the owners were desperate to get this machine operational as quickly as possible and requested my assistance.
i loaded up the rig with all my ordinance ready for the battle. welders (stick,flux core,and mig), plasma cutter , and all my other normal battle gear.
when i got to the call, the tension was high to get it operational, like yesterday...
A couple cam followers had frozen and kept tripping the main motor breaker as a result.
one of the cam followers is difficult to get to, the other is impossible with a normal wrench without removing other assemblies.
i was able to change out the first follower in about an hour and a half, the second was going to be a challenge because the wrench i had was too thick and a few inches longer than i could get into the space.
i made my own wrench out of scraps i had on the truck, some stainless sheetmetal and a 3/4" x 3/8" hot rolled steel flat and my lincoln stainless mig set up...
a couple pictures.
after assembling Frankensteins' wrench, i went back to work on getting the last follower out.
it was a PITA, but eventually i got it.
it cost them a few hours OT for me and i get to keep the wrench for another time.
sometimes the tools you make are the right tools.
thanks for reading, feel free to post your inventions and tooling solutions.
