Druidic Dabblings and General Twaddle !!

[Diggerdavey]

getting right at home .....
View attachment 71496 View attachment 71498 View attachment 71497 View attachment 71499 View attachment 71500

think I've found a donor for some brushes sadly i don't think the whole assembly'd go straight in -- best i've found yet though
View attachment 71501 View attachment 71502

Replacement Starter Brush Gear Set 497605 Fits For Briggs and Stratton | eBay UK

Briggs & Stratton 497605, 691293, 110634, 110635, 391423, 392749, 394808. The part is compatible with the starter codes listed below. Wai 69-700. United Tech 6095740. Stens 435-803. Rotary 10562. Johnson Electric 6095740.

www.ebay.co.uk

Looks like you’ve won that’s cats trust! They can soon work out who will be kind to them

 

[V8Druid]

Looks like you’ve won that’s cats trust! They can soon work out who will be kind to them

think it helps that he seems to be a youngster - not had a lifetime's (possibly bad) experiences

 

[V8Druid]

hoping to get a completion date on Vicki's old house down the village very shortly, (like next week, hopefully), so had to get my butt down there and clear out the remaining 'odds an' sods' (no one else seemed keen on getting motivated) "vacant possession" is just that !! and didn't want any 'hiccups'
hooked up the 10 x 5 ....

only to find I'd got no brake lights - was fine when I last took it up to Ross for some oil drums
easiest solution was

as I could NOT get into the old plug (which ain't that old really) .. screws seized solid - quick answer - cut the damned thing off and fit a new one ... twice - forgot the bloody shroud as I was just assembling the case around the inner

good job I took the 10 x 5 .. the supposedly empty attic was far from it .... all delivered to Vicki's garage, by half five and I gained a n other barrow (after fitting a new tube last night) and a new Sony sound system for me tool box which was supposedly U/S and was destined for the tip --- sod all wrong when I connected it all up and plugged in me iPod to it this morning
me feet were dying last night though
had to mow the lawn again this afters - growing like hell - and the bits on the side of the drive i can get away with on the Countax ...Then got the Dane out and started on the rest and it just wasn't driving right, so thought I'd better get off the bank, whilst I could -- shot back to me boxes on the patch and had the lid off the oil res. and although it was showing pretty well, I managed to pour a good litre into it ('s only a piece of 2 x 2 square box about 15" tall ) so must've been going into the hydrostatic pumps .. drove a lot better after, anyway, but a bit close to tea time, so burnt all the rubbish (nice little S Westerly breeze) and a couple of bin-fuls of leaves -- yes there are still more to collect and dispose of - nice and dry though, considering the couple of wet nights we've had recently
tea time was a welcome interlude, but after that......
The Dane-ing could wait 'til tomorrow

 

[V8Druid]

The Dane goes a hell of a lot better for a litre of oil in the hydrostatic drive system
as said, was visible in the res. so assumed it was correct .. wrong - no dipstick/level sussing device ... just keep pouring it in 'til it rises a little - running or not didn't seem to make much difference ..
no issues on the banks today though

 

[V8Druid]

had a bit of a jolly out this afters - been shopping cheapest one i've ever come across on FBMP or anywhere else and for what the little horizontal came for, I could not leave it there - never seen one like it before and no idea what breed it is? ran like a swiss watch though and will clean up very nicely - solid, straight and un-abused - ditto the vertical

So after some negotiating - they were coming home with me .... Young Jake who was selling 'em was a great young fella, easy to have a sensible deal with and wish he was closer - could see us getting on real well - who couldn't like a guy with two traction engines in his workshop

yes I resorted to a couple of 'rat-s**t' straps on this one - the 5 tonner over the top pulled it down onto the bed very nicely and the two 2,s were gonna stop it 'lurching' anywhere, along with plenty of rope. -- didn't move an inch all the way home

he buys/sells/clears/re-firb.s machines and does a bit of repairs/welding - got a lovely spot and some great sheds ...

If I was still working I'd have bought this in a heart beat - never seen another like it and smooth as silk in operation ..
power clamps in all motions - press the 'off' button and it just glides about to where you want it - let go the button and it's rock solid -- I was in love/lust -- would've made a lovely beam drill in my old shop and like new

I think he's well underselling this - pix don't do it justice

been a stunning 27C day here and nice to be in an air-conned car for an hour on the way there (and back) .... tea time by the time we got home and the sky was not looking promising, so shot back up the patch after tea and threw a sheet over it all, in case - not had any wet stuff yet, but'll be surprised if it doesn't thunder tonight - parked up for the night, ready for some attention in the a.m. ...
been looking for a nice Startrite upright for a looong time and they're usually north of a grand, for just about anything that works - couldn't believe this coming up and close to home was a bonus

got a.n.other bit of kit I've been looking for, for ages, come up recently .. but that's in Telford .. and about the right money - guy let slip yesterday that he's had to vacate the premises he's got it in (lease was up) and reeeeeealy needs it gone , so there is gonna be some real 'kicking in the nuts' when I go eyeball it next week -- if he doesn't sell it to me he's gonna have to shift it anyway -- and I would reeeally like to have it -- do not come up often .... more on that anon

 

[Rob65]

All ya need now is a shed to put these new toys in.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

All ya need now is a shed to put these new toys in.

Someone had to say it.

 

[Lancs Lad]

Someone had to say it.

Yeah we need somewhere dry to stand for the great Planttalk auction

 

[V8Druid]

Someone had to say it.

of course

Yeah we need somewhere dry to stand for the great Planttalk auction

All ya need now is a shed to put these new toys in.

 

[Rob65]

Someone had to say it.

Or are the new machines to be used to cut the steel for the new shed?
Druid always has a plan and they are not always immediately obvious to us lesser mortals.
He has just sold a house after all.

 

[V8Druid]

having spent the day dealing with all the usual tish - grass, etc., and performing a miracle repair on the pond pump with some JB weld to rebuild the very worn bearing / rotor shaft / spindle hole yesterday, today was time to unload the spoils from Thursday's 'lil 'shopping trip'
horizontal first

followed by the vertical Startrite

and park 'em ready for some attention

well pleased with the 'haul' ..... cheapest pair of bandsaws I'm ever likely to find

easy one first for a damned good clean and sort the few small odds an' sods ... hoovered some sort of dust out of the chute and motor/gearbox enclosure -- cleaned up real well though

next was a delve into the electrical panel, looking for the source of the wiring to a broken switch, so's I could replace it with one of RS's best

blade welder is all still intact

and connected - unusual - usually died a death long ago on most saws you see about ... having found the lead tails, was easier to get at 'em from the push button aperture, once I'd gotten it off ...

one dead one out and new one installed .. job did .. checked out the brooks motor and wound for star/delta - 220 or 380/440v so'll happily run on VFD with a bit of linkage juggling and a rewired supply - job for anon but'll be nice to be able to just plug it into a 240v, 3 pin .... Would still need a 3ph supply for the blade welder though - not gonna be an issue to re-juggle
this saw has not seen a lot of action and appears to have come from a large company's shop - got all the paperwork and test stickers attached

then some attention to the little horizontal ....
that was a bit of a bigger clean up
doubt this has seen any TLC in a looong time .. had to chisel a lot of the solidified swarf out of various places

the sump/coolant reservoir was something else
2" of jellified oil/swarf and coolant .... took some scraping out and cleaning, then de-watered it and gotten all the last of the crud out and into a bucket - sludge and rags're gonna burn well

having dealt with all the accumulated crud I could get at/to 'twas time for some grub before tackling the crud I couldn't get at with out some effort ......

 

[V8Druid]

the first bit of effort required ... took some pulling off, but had to have it to get at the accumulated crud behind it, that was binding the idler wheel

bearings're both good in it ... but this was not helping with free rotation - or tensioning ......

will strip the slider adjuster tomorrow (after I've had me hamster juice in the morning) - that's all solid swarf, that's accumulated and solidified over years of no TLC .. drive wheel off next, as it's bound to be the same
I really do like this little saw .. very nicely made, but have no idea who's it is - never seen another like it - really nicely thought out set of blade guides on it - all roller bearings, which're gonna need some attention - soaking in WD for the night.
didn't like the look of the sky after I'd had a major tidy up so threw a sheet over the Startrite .. the little 'un'll stand a bit of damp tonight if we get any, but got a proper starry sky ATM, so can't see it happening and deffo not forecast to see any for at least ten days

looking a bit cleaner and cared for already

I also like the descent control on this - way better set up than the Meba's controls.

this also has a star/delta wound motor so can well see this getting a VFD too - be real handy to be able to just plug it into 240v and not a lot of re-juggling required in the leccy spaghetti dept.

these arrived yesterday ..... used me last spare the other day on a trailer board ... always kept all the bulbs from all the SD,s I've broken over the years and haven't bought a bulb in decades ... this pack of 50 (yeh I know it's a lorrabulbs) was only two quid dearer than a box of ten crazy - but !! surprising what you find when you have a good ratch through Fleabay's listings .... will almost certainly see me out

 

[V8Druid]

little bit more done this afters ... God knows where the morning went, other than two hours for me 'hamster juice' ????
got the puller on the drive wheel first off and came off significantly easier than the idler -

right decision - as much behind it as the idler had

and went in the bucket in one piece

but didn't stay that way long
scraped the enclosures clean, wire brushed 'em and sorted the tensioner slider's action, so it's now smooth as silk then gave it all a damned good coat of hammer finish - pretty waterproof finish and should keep it in reasonable fettle, going forward ... looked a lot better than the rusty finish it had
scraped, brushed and cleaned the wheels off - gave them a coat and then got them back in situ ... driver went on fairly easily -- the idler had to be wound back on with an ever decreasing in length, series of M10s, 'til it was fully home

then turned my attentions to stripping, scraping, brushing and fettling the vice components ... few new bolts for re-assembly and was gliding nicely ...... also managed to get the stop bar out, cleaned and back in

and it was tea time - again .. cleared up after tea and locked up ... blade guides're next on the list and then some electrickery

 

[V8Druid]

up an hour 'an a 'alf earlier than the alarm was set for (6.45) " Gra - the cat's just chucked up " (in the middle of the bedroom doorway-bloody great fur ball) !! why 5.15 FFS Squeak ???? only just gotten back to sleep after a 3.15 'wake up for a pee'

 

[Routy56]

little bit more done this afters ... God knows where the morning went, other than two hours for me 'hamster juice' ????
got the puller on the drive wheel first off and came off significantly easier than the idler -
View attachment 71907

right decision - as much behind it as the idler had
View attachment 71910View attachment 71909

and went in the bucket in one piece
View attachment 71908
but didn't stay that way long
scraped the enclosures clean, wire brushed 'em and sorted the tensioner slider's action, so it's now smooth as silk then gave it all a damned good coat of hammer finish - pretty waterproof finish and should keep it in reasonable fettle, going forward ... looked a lot better than the rusty finish it had
scraped, brushed and cleaned the wheels off - gave them a coat and then got them back in situ ... driver went on fairly easily -- the idler had to be wound back on with an ever decreasing in length, series of M10s, 'til it was fully home
View attachment 71906

then turned my attentions to stripping, scraping, brushing and fettling the vice components ... few new bolts for re-assembly and was gliding nicely ...... also managed to get the stop bar out, cleaned and back in
View attachment 71904
and it was tea time - again .. cleared up after tea and locked up ... blade guides're next on the list and then some electrickery
View attachment 71903

What a supper project Gra. Shall follow this with interest 'cos I want one
And will follow your recommendations on a VFD because a 3 phase converter will open up a whole range of more robust machine to add to my collection of 'big boys toys'

 

[V8Druid]

What a supper project Gra. Shall follow this with interest 'cos I want one
And will follow your recommendations on a VFD because a 3 phase converter will open up a whole range of more robust machine to add to my collection of 'big boys toys'

vertical or horizontal Dave??
the thing to remember with the VFDs is they won't work on all 3ph stuff.....
if it has a neutral and runs 440v only it won't work
the motor needs to be wound for star/delta operation - 220/430/440v so that you can configure the windings for op on 220v, which the VFD supplies separately to the various windings - running off true 3ph / 440v the links are configured as per "direct on line", below - to run 220v off the VFD,s supplies the links need to be configured as " Low voltage" below - these are found in the motor's connection box - not all motors are wound both ways and if it's running a neutral it won't be suitable - so needs to be pure 3 phase/3 wires only AND suitable for 220 or 440v -- BUT not all of them have the ability -- I have some kit with a neutral and some with pure 3ph (440v) only, so have to run off the genny

I've a couple of these and seem very good - the one has been faultless (he says touching wood) for a few years

1.5kw Variable Frequency Drive Inverter VFD Single to 3 Phase Device 8a 220v for sale online | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1.5kw Variable Frequency Drive Inverter VFD Single to 3 Phase Device 8a 220v at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

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will run up to 3hp .. just about to order some more for these two saws
the paperwork with these however is non-existent - they have all sorts of facilities that I am yet to work out - another thing worth remembering is that all existing switch gear needs to be by passed as these will only stand being used as a principal controller (so emergency stop buttons, etc. have to be wired out) and this needs direct connections straight to the motor.
there are sever 'aux' connections in these but sod all description of how to use them - I presume that some of these would provide for remote control of the stop/go buttons, etc. ... I really need to have the cover off one and see if I can't suss it

oh and they're not waterproof, in any way, so need to be kept dry

 

[Routy56]

vertical or horizontal Dave??
the thing to remember with the VFDs is they won't work on all 3ph stuff.....
if it has a neutral and runs 440v only it won't work
the motor needs to be wound for star/delta operation - 220/430/440v so that you can configure the windings for op on 220v, which the VFD supplies separately to the various windings - running off true 3ph / 440v the links are configured as per "direct on line", below - to run 220v off the VFD,s supplies the links need to be configured as " Low voltage" below - these are found in the motor's connection box - not all motors are wound both ways and if it's running a neutral it won't be suitable - so needs to be pure 3 phase/3 wires only AND suitable for 220 or 440v -- BUT not all of them have the ability -- I have some kit with a neutral and some with pure 3ph (440v) only, so have to run off the genny

View attachment 71958

I've a couple of these and seem very good - the one has been faultless (he says touching wood) for a few years

1.5kw Variable Frequency Drive Inverter VFD Single to 3 Phase Device 8a 220v for sale online | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1.5kw Variable Frequency Drive Inverter VFD Single to 3 Phase Device 8a 220v at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

View attachment 71959
will run up to 3hp .. just about to order some more for these two saws
the paperwork with these however is non-existent - they have all sorts of facilities that I am yet to work out - another thing worth remembering is that all existing switch gear needs to be by passed as these will only stand being used as a principal controller (so emergency stop buttons, etc. have to be wired out) and this needs direct connections straight to the motor.
there are sever 'aux' connections in these but sod all description of how to use them - I presume that some of these would provide for remote control of the stop/go buttons, etc. ... I really need to have the cover off one and see if I can't suss it

oh and they're not waterproof, in any way, so need to be kept dry

Thanks for this useful information. It opens up a whole new ball game of machines to me.
May even get a 2 or 4 post lift but don't tell SWMBO
And the link to a VFD that works for you is very useful. May get one in and start playing about with it soon....

 

[V8Druid]

Thanks for this useful information. It opens up a whole new ball game of machines to me.
May even get a 2 or 4 post lift but don't tell SWMBO
And the link to a VFD that works for you is very useful. May get one in and start playing about with it soon....

wish I'd never sold my 4 poster

 

[Stroppymonkey]

wish I'd never sold my 4 poster

I plan to obtain and fit a 5ish ton one in the new shed…. Just need walls and floor and electrics first

 

[V8Druid]

so - where were we yesterday ?

Pam likes the place for some reason - I think it has the feel of an impoverished Brecon - sod all there, yet ppl rave about this little backwater town, miles from anywhere --- went through on the way home and took Pam on roads she's never been on/knew existed, (much to her surprise), with some spectacular scenery and views

few more hours on it this afters - pulled the blade guidance to bits to sort it out -- rollers off for a shufty - 60% of them are bolloed

so new ones bought this afters- all 18 of 'em

took a bit of cleaning to suss the edge roller's fixings

usual set up for the blade thickness adjustment .... off set by a mil. gets you plenty of tolerance/adjustment

couldn't do much more with the rollers so got the sliders out to clean 'em up

and then back together, ready for some bearing's arrival later in the week

and this'll be just about sorted - need to find a suitable pump then to set up a coolant system, as whatever was originally installed in the sump is long gone - doesn't need to be anything spectacular - just circulate coolant..... think I've found summat on fleabay that ought to do the job
electrics after that for both this and the vertical - get some VFDs installed as they'll be much handier on a 13A plug

finally for tonight .. have had this set 50 years .. bought them when I was 18 as part of my tool kit to take to Redland teacher training college in Bristol -- only come out when I need a really good ended allen key, or some imperials, as most of my other sets're metric