Lifting Mildred's Spirits

[cutter]

Oh, just for the record, these sprockets came from Tractor Supply, mostly because it was the only place I could buy them on a Sunday.
Wilson had a wonderful time shopping there that afternoon.

Now there was a bit of a problem dealing with the sprockets.
I was too busy bailing my way of it to bother with pictures but the snake I plowed up involved the little 10 tooth sprocket after trying to weld it to the hub with a mig where it probably should have been tigged. I just got too sloppy.
I managed to spread the wealth around to the teeth so I got to spend an hour or two cleaning it all up.

1. There is some remaining evidence of it in this picture.
By the way, this hub & shaft requires a 3/16" key and I could not remember to buy one while I was out running around over the last couple of months. I was about to give up & make it one night when I remembered one last place where I might have stashed one & by golly, there it was.

The 30 tooth sprocket was no problem to weld on but upon removing the crank I discovered that it had 2 set screws to match the pair of flats on opposite sides of the shaft.
So I had to drill & tap another hole in the hub. But I didn't need a second key so it was kind of a wash.

2 & 3. There was some delay in getting the hub to fit the crank shaft on the mill. The bore was just a hair too small.
I had to break out my redneck flap stick & polish it out.

4. Then the hub would slip on and the set screws will keep it there.

5. At this point, I could start sighting in the alignment. There was enough play in the positioning on both shafts to allow for me to adjust that closer.
I really just had a bit of good luck there though I was prepared to mill a little bit off the inside of the drive sprocket if needed.

[cutter]

It was now time to start playing with the chain.
In keeping with what seems to have become a tradition around here, I did not have to buy it because Old Man sent me a 5 gallon bucketful of dirty roller chain about 4 years ago, by way of Judge Bob. I would have preferred to use #40 but Tractor Supply didn't have the sprocket pair that would work.
They did have #50 and there was plenty of it in the bucket, so #50 it is.
Thanks, Jerry. One more time.

1. I still haven't washed this chain. Oh well. I'm not planning to paint it either.

2. The next order of business was to figure out how much of the base plate overhang I needed to notch out to allow the chain to clear.

3. Like this. I wanted to leave a small tab just in case of the unlikely event that I someday get a rush of concern & decide to build a chain guard.
The remaining tab would make a handy spot to anchor the lower part of it but that's all in the imaginary future.
Considering that this chain will be in slow-motion maybe 5 minutes in an average week ..... I am not very inclined to screw with it.

4. Back in the real world. Had to break the chain to a useful length; got the pleasure of doing that twice.
Remember that old slab of steel? I call it my first anvil. used to use it when I was a kid on the farm to work on a sicklebar mower.
I snagged it after my dad sold the farm.
Thanks, Percy. One more time.

5. Chain in place for the first time.

[madam X]

Originally Posted by cutter

Lunch break.

There is a genuine Nathan's hot dog down there under the cheese & chili, along with a little bit of relish & mustard.

Nathan's hot dogs are the best!

[cutter]

Originally Posted by madam X

Nathan's hot dogs are the best!

Yes, they are but they're still better with chili and cheese.

1. Side shot of the dirty chain installed for the first time.

2. Then I took the slack out of it. Oooops! Don't look now, Jack.

3. One of the best things about this whole shootin' match is that I can use Mildred's table drive controller to run the new dc motor.
All I have to do it install another DPDT switch and run the wires to the motor.
I also have a nice old DPST switch from an antique store that I plan to install on the other side, in front of the nuts, as a fallback safety switch to remind me to loosen those nuts before I try to move the head.

I actually went to the nearest Radio Shack yesterday to buy a little plastic box for that switch but there were 3 employees on duty, all 3 tied up with cell phone sales and not one of them would make eye contact.
I stood there with the box & money in my hand for 20 minutes, finally put the box back on the rack and came home.

4. Therefore I am using test leads for the initial trial runs.

[cutter]

I probably left out an amount off detail equal to what I have posted thus far.
Mostly, I have left out a bunch of hit & miss - that didn't work so try it this way - hmmm, maybe I can do it this other way - frustrating bullshit that usually goes with my building from the picture in my mind.
Which just happens to be the only way I can do anything.

Bear in mind at this point - I undertook this little project with no clear idea of whether it would work.
Only a general assumption that this motor could turn the crank.

So, does anybody want to see if "the going up is worth the coming down"?

[digr]

Great job well planed That hand cranking is pain. As far as the pistol is concerned if I left it laying around like that I would never be able to find it if I did need it I have a long gun always leaning in the same spot.

[milomilo]

Ya gotta love show and tell, even at my age. Nice build Rod.

[SmokinDodge]

Rod I don't have a damn thing constructive to say but I am watching intently.



Sent from my ipotato

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by cutter

3. One of the best things about this whole shootin' match is that I can use Mildred's table drive controller to run the new dc motor.
All I have to do it install another DPDT switch and run the wires to the motor.

I was wondering about this. I recall the thread when you powered up the crossfeed. I don't know much about those DC motors, except not to plug them in....The current draw must be low, and it is handy not to have to have two power supplies and speed controls.

[dubby]

Great write up, and that'll be a lot of help. She'll be going up and down all the time now.


However, I did notice my own failure...why didn't you remind me that the boy and I were going to adjust that TV?!? I'm ashamed of myself but flat out forgot.