VN-12 Removing Saddle and Knee

Hey folks. I've searched for info on this subject on many sites, can't seem to locate what I need. I've got a VN-12 that I've partially dissasembled, and want to get it stripped down a bit further for clean up and paint. Have removed the ram, table, motor, and now going after the knee and saddle. I've got the machine manual that shows the assembly breakdown, but not clear enough to define how to remove these. I've attempted to remove the feed screw with no success having removed the 4 screws and putting a puller on the shaft and the part that sits right behind the graduated dial. Got it to move a bit, but did not want to force the issue. Decided to ask those who may have been there and done it, instead of continuing onto dead ends. So can anyone please provide advise on the best approach for removing the saddle and knee on this machine. Thanks.

OK, so I was able to remove the saddle. Theres 4 or 6 screws that hold the gib in place which I easily removed. THen there is a lock screw that has to come out otherwise the gib is held in place. Issue for me was the lock screw could not be removed cause the handle interfered with the knee casting. So I had to remove the handle so it could unscrew, and that was a bit of a chore as it was frozen in place even after removing the set screw. Anyway, once I was able to remove the lock screw, and remove the gib,which slid out towards the front of the machine, the saddle removed easily with help from an engine crane. So thats half the battle.

I still need to remove the knee so if anyone has advice on that, I would appreciate it. Otherwise will continue to ponder this mystery.....

Glad you had some success there, and let us know. You never can tell who you may be helping later on when someone has the same issue. That's why it's important to follow through and post your results.

I'd like to know how to get the knee off myself.....I cranked it all the way up, thinking I could just pull it off with my crane, but decided to wait. Now I can't get it back down. The screw will not "re-engage" the nut enough to start puling it back down. I think the nut is worn just enough to not bite in to the screw.

drivadesl said:

Hey folks. I've searched for info on this subject on many sites, can't seem to locate what I need. I've got a VN-12 that I've partially dissasembled, and want to get it stripped down a bit further for clean up and paint. Have removed the ram, table, motor, and now going after the knee and saddle. I've got the machine manual that shows the assembly breakdown, but not clear enough to define how to remove these. I've attempted to remove the feed screw with no success having removed the 4 screws and putting a puller on the shaft and the part that sits right behind the graduated dial. Got it to move a bit, but did not want to force the issue. Decided to ask those who may have been there and done it, instead of continuing onto dead ends. So can anyone please provide advise on the best approach for removing the saddle and knee on this machine. Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have done it myself- twice, but cannot recall off the top of my head how. I removed it in one piece. Look under the table feed mechanism. There is a gib there as I recall that must be released. Then you can slide it off after you release the long feed screw down to the base. Have an engine hoist ready- this weighs well over 100 pounds. Be very careful not to damage the feed screw. If you want, I will look at my disassembled one down my basement and refresh my memory on how I did it.


:tiphat:Nelson

Nelson said:

I have done it myself- twice...

:tiphat:Nelson

Click to expand...

Here's my photo-journal of the teardown:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-3-L6p6tw2AEgOdfgL8fFesc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DFHl-k7JI1JB3T0AHZTSUOsc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DFHl-k7JI1JB3T0AHZTSUOsc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directli
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TsPChliOvXVGRqcvqWzWZ-sc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CTrQ0boA632EI1mpc6ypwOsc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZlDO0njHpvxtWcKUJRon9-sc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tQjZlPnzMkBw02RQTrNGR-sc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/f7GvZxzUhtd5Eyp_2p08Q-sc3tGe6eOGAG5vHp7AEgQ?feat=directlink

My best recollection is that there is a gib under the table feed mechanism that has to be released, and once you get it, you can carefully lift the entire knee using a hoist. It's heavy, and you don't want to damage the long screw that lifts it up and down from the base. I didn't remove the screw because I didn't see any need to- you can get to it and clean it fine while attached to the knee.

These experts can contradict me if I've screwed up here.
Cal and Frank, what do you guys think?


:tiphat:Nelson

franklynb said:

Here's my photo-journal of the teardown:

Click to expand...

Oops! Those are saddle breakdown photos. Sorry about that.
http://franklynb.home.mindspring.com/_vn/saddle-knee-base.jpg
Loosen the gib screws to enable the knee to slide more easily. Don't remove the gib
clamp entirely, as this will allow the knee to tip off the base.

Remove the two mounting screws attaching the lead screw anchor to the base casting.

Lift the knee off from above. It weighs around 300#, from memory, so plan accordingly.
You may want to remove the gib and and cap before re-assembly.

You may also do it the hard way: remove the drive screw by first pulling the bevel gear,
which is set-screw pinned to the lead screw shaft, and then sliding the screw and bracket out of the
hole. You can then get access to the driven gear on the vertical shaft, although you will
be laying upside down trying to find the pins in 50 years of dirt and grease -- not ideal.

Its much easier to disassemble the knee internals after they've been cleaned. You should
also order a copy of Orrin's CD or purchase a parts list so that you have a copy of the
document below as well as all the other 3D schematics. I'm assuming you don't have it;
hence the question.

hth.

--frankb

Thanks for the replies and friendly advice, and the photos were very helpfull. I finally got around to working on this again tonight. Removing the knee is actually pretty easy, once you see how its done. I followed Franklynb's instructions pretty much. Left the drive screw and gear intact, removed the two bolts holding the screw to the base, removed the gib screws, loosened the gib clamp and away she went. The hardest part was finding a way to attach the engine hoist to it. Theres no convennient bolt holes or casting holes to secure to, so I ended up spanning across the top ways onto the side of the casting with a large C-clamp, tied it off and lifted her off. It was heavy, though without the saddle and table, it wasn't bad, I could lift it up by hand about an inch.



So now its off, and I have to decide how much more dissasembly I want to do to prep for painting. May end up removing the gearbox depending on how tough that looks.

I'll update when I get further along. Thanks for the help!

drivadesl said:

Thanks for the replies and friendly advice, and the photos were very helpfull.... May end up removing the gearbox depending on how tough that looks.

Click to expand...

drivadesl,

Always nice to hear a success story. The transmission is easy, too; remove the clamps, the anchor screws for the adjuster screw
and the ram stop; and just slide it off to the front of the machine.

Remember to remove the little reference plug underneath, if it still exists, so it doesn't get crushed when you place the head
on the floor. With the head still mounted, which is the easy way, its an extremely unstable load, so a 3 point sling method to keep it
from spinning/flopping in your hoist pick will be needed.

HTH.

--frankb