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Project Journals => User Journals => RossW => Topic started by: rossw on January 13, 2012, 11:14:17 pm

Title: Running Repairs - (Line Trimmer). We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: rossw on January 13, 2012, 11:14:17 pm

This is a story from November 2009. One of those "horrible hack jobs" you sometimes have to do because... well, not doing them is just too painful.

My wife has (or had) an inexpensive line trimmer. My geared head Stihl is too heavy and too mean for her. Anyhow, she comes up to me looking all dejected while we're out working in the "garden" this saturday afternoon. Her line trimmer is busted. Seems the head fell off.

Hmm. The "head" came off because the perculiar nut that holds it on had somehow come loose. And where that was by now was anyones guess. In several acres of long grass... we'd never find it. Doesn't look like it's the first time it came loose either.
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3934.JPG)

Bit hard to get a thread-gauge down here to see what pitch the thread was too:
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3937.JPG)

Called the store, of course that one is out of production now. No, they don't have spare parts, but we can buy a whole new trimmer. (yeah, right, thanks!)

So I made a guess. Turns out it was a good enough guess. But (of course), I didn't have a die that pitch. Some non-standard thing.
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3938.JPG)

This was an offcut of 4140. Pretty hard stuff. But turned the head I needed ok
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3941.JPG)

I didn't have a vertical milling adaptor for the lathe then, so I had to make do holding the part in the toolholder. Machinists everywhere are cringing about now... I can feel it!
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3945.JPG)

OK, so it's a bit wonky. But it's good enough.
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3949.JPG)

But it fit fine...
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3953.JPG)

And the thread was long enough to attach
(http://house.albury.net.au/01nov2009/100_3954.JPG)

And she was back at work in about 15 minutes. At least I got a coffee out of it.

Title: Re: Horrible Hacks. We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: Watt on January 14, 2012, 01:02:12 am

Nice job Ross.  That's the way to geter' done.  How long did that take you?

Title: Re: Horrible Hacks. We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: rossw on January 14, 2012, 01:21:35 am

Quote from: Watt on January 14, 2012, 01:02:12 am

How long did that take you?

Not much longer than it took herself to go in, boil the kettle and make the coffee. Perhaps 15 mins?

Title: Re: Horrible Hacks. We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: Wolvenar on January 14, 2012, 02:05:55 am

Damn your good

Title: Re: Horrible Hacks. We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: Ax3s on January 14, 2012, 02:35:46 am

That's really good

Title: Re: Horrible Hacks. We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: jlt on January 16, 2012, 11:43:04 am

 Wish I could that .Your very talented .   


JLT

Title: Re: Horrible Hacks. We've all had to do 'em.
Post by: Rover on January 16, 2012, 03:43:54 pm

Think "Horrible Hacks" is not appropriate for what you did. Cool :)