Southbend 7" shaper question.

[ltlvt]

I have a Southbend 7" shaper that is in near new condition. How ever the auto lube is pumping oil in 3 of the 4 lube points . When looking from the front of the ram the right side is not getting lube. I have verified that the pump is pumping oil to all 3 points and followed the procedure of adjusting the screws on the pump manifold and still no lube on the ram way on the right side. So, the only course of action is to do the old Rotor Rooter trick with some wire and solvent but the ram must come off to get to the lines. There is a square head set screw at the bottom of the rocker shaft that needs to be loosened in order to drive the shaft out and let the rocker arm lower enough to slide the ram off the machine. I can get my hand inside the round hole and feel the set screw but very little room to actually get a wrench on the square head of the screw. Has anyone done this before and if so how did you get the screw loose? thanks in advance.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

I have not performed the procedure yet I have a suggestion-
If you have a source of compressed air, isolate the oil passage the best you can and push some squozen air through -it may or may not unblock the flow, but it may be worth a shot.
Secondary, but a bit more dangerous due to hydraulic pressure- isolate the blocked passage, if there is a threaded fitting you could adapt to a grease zerk and use a grease gun filled with oil (grease will work too) and use the force of the grease gun to possibly push the blockage out .

You could possibly construct cylindrical adapter bored in the center , and threaded to match , inserted into the oil passage, and construct a close fitting piston .
Fill the adapter with oil and use a hammer on the piston to create the hydraulic force- be careful, this is where it can get dicey- too hard with the hammer + really stuck/plugged fitting = cussing and despair

 

[C-Bag]

This might sound stupid or already done but did you try closing the three that are working to see if you can force the 4th one to work?

 

[ltlvt]

This might sound stupid or already done but did you try closing the three that are working to see if you can force the 4th one to work?

yes

 

[ltlvt]

I have not performed the procedure yet I have a suggestion-
If you have a source of compressed air, isolate the oil passage the best you can and push some squozen air through -it may or may not unblock the flow, but it may be worth a shot.
Secondary, but a bit more dangerous due to hydraulic pressure- isolate the blocked passage, if there is a threaded fitting you could adapt to a grease zerk and use a grease gun filled with oil (grease will work too) and use the force of the grease gun to possibly push the blockage out .

You could possibly construct cylindrical adapter bored in the center , and threaded to match , inserted into the oil passage, and construct a close fitting piston .
Fill the adapter with oil and use a hammer on the piston to create the hydraulic force- be careful, this is where it can get dicey- too hard with the hammer + really stuck/plugged fitting = cussing and despair

The only access to the passage is to first remove the ram. Thus I need to get a wrench on the screw.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I have a Southbend 7" shaper that is in near new condition. How ever the auto lube is pumping oil in 3 of the 4 lube points . When looking from the front of the ram the right side is not getting lube. I have verified that the pump is pumping oil to all 3 points and followed the procedure of adjusting the screws on the pump manifold and still no lube on the ram way on the right side. So, the only course of action is to do the old Rotor Rooter trick with some wire and solvent but the ram must come off to get to the lines. There is a square head set screw at the bottom of the rocker shaft that needs to be loosened in order to drive the shaft out and let the rocker arm lower enough to slide the ram off the machine. I can get my hand inside the round hole and feel the set screw but very little room to actually get a wrench on the square head of the screw. Has anyone done this before and if so how did you get the screw loose? thanks in advance.

Been there, done that - four or five times before I got those lines pumping properly and I have fairly large hands and my left wrist is arthritic.
But you  can get your hand and a wrench in there.
It helps if you hold your mouth just right...