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BROWN & SHARPE UNIVERSAL DIVIDING HEAD
- Thread starter BROCKWOOD
- Start date
I've got to go back & absorb [U]benmychree[/U]'s input here - Always on point Sir!
I put together a pic that may be of use to purchasers of the B&S DH gearset in box. It's a simple box that, as has been pointed out, can become a puzzle. There are simple blocks of varying height that raise each gear up to the same uniform height (I'll call them risers). Because only a portion of the risers popped loose, I went with what made sense. The results are completely useful, but I had to understand where I went wrong - the part that may be of use to you all. Forgetting the risers for a bit, the dividing pieces can actually go together without modification in 2 ways. Green in the pic = correct while mine is the example on the right. Really, if I had to do it over it would be better to just wreck all the risers out & put them in last. I assumed that what was still glued together would lead the way. No matter - it works! Happy hunting!
I put together a pic that may be of use to purchasers of the B&S DH gearset in box. It's a simple box that, as has been pointed out, can become a puzzle. There are simple blocks of varying height that raise each gear up to the same uniform height (I'll call them risers). Because only a portion of the risers popped loose, I went with what made sense. The results are completely useful, but I had to understand where I went wrong - the part that may be of use to you all. Forgetting the risers for a bit, the dividing pieces can actually go together without modification in 2 ways. Green in the pic = correct while mine is the example on the right. Really, if I had to do it over it would be better to just wreck all the risers out & put them in last. I assumed that what was still glued together would lead the way. No matter - it works! Happy hunting!
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Facinating thread and thanks John for the tip on the Brown &Sharpe book. It's great it's available in pdf and I've started through it. I've contemplated an indexer but since I already have a rotary table it's been on the back burner. But this thread has sparked my TAS and as fate would have it then this popped up. Is it basically complete and would you say $250 is a fair price?
C-Bag, the 1 you found is missing the simple dividing plate off the front & there should be 2 more indexing plates for the side. Here is a pic of the plate that goes on front. I hesitate to give dimensions for the plate not knowing which version you have there. It doesn't have the extra shaft & gearbox on the side like the no2. I like the price for what it is. If you're not trying to get into all the extras like John has & I'm after then go for it.
This is for C-Bag as it refers to the BS no0 DH. I think you may have found a no1. The jest of it is the expense of piecing these together vs buying a complete DH from Grizzly. Also, it is good to note that some of the minor parts from Grizzly will fit the older B&S.
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Thanks BROCKWOOD, that straightened me right up. After looking at all the stuff you've gone through and seeing that that divider is missing the simplest part, I don't want to get into another hunt for parts. Like a chuck, divider plates, tailstock and who knows what else. eBay is full of the same size divider complete with tailstock and chuck for less than $300. Yeah, it's Chinese and not on par with the real BS, but if I really need to do something it would probably do if it's not to precise. But it also might be a mess 
Cursed if you do and cursed if you don't.
Cursed if you do and cursed if you don't.In order to get a tailstock, though being fairly open minded, I had boiled my search down to 2 candidates. I'll show the best 1st. Price was fare & the gears in box were complete. My gears had not arrived yet.
Unfortunately, that set sold while I was talking to another seller. All I wanted was the tailstock, after all. So I bought this: Got a very nice tail stock & the DH is missing the side transfer case - though the screws are still awaiting it's return. The seller & likely the estate it came from have no clue. We are dealing with items up to 100 years old. Educating just those with an interest is a large challenge. Trust me on this, I'm the student.
So, now I have the even larger challenge of finding basic parts for strictly the DH itself. I had a look in the Grizzly catalog & found the BS-2 version was no longer offered in 2013 (I had discarded the previous catalogs). What is today thought of as a complete set, the BS-2 with gears, dogleg & chuck from China will set you back nearly a grand.
Unfortunately, that set sold while I was talking to another seller. All I wanted was the tailstock, after all. So I bought this: Got a very nice tail stock & the DH is missing the side transfer case - though the screws are still awaiting it's return. The seller & likely the estate it came from have no clue. We are dealing with items up to 100 years old. Educating just those with an interest is a large challenge. Trust me on this, I'm the student.
So, now I have the even larger challenge of finding basic parts for strictly the DH itself. I had a look in the Grizzly catalog & found the BS-2 version was no longer offered in 2013 (I had discarded the previous catalogs). What is today thought of as a complete set, the BS-2 with gears, dogleg & chuck from China will set you back nearly a grand.
Last edited:
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Good hunting BROCKWOOD.
Thanks for posting those pics and all the great info and background.
The way my universe works now that at least i have a clue, not right away but somewhere sometime something like this is going to pop up. Usually when least expected and when I have no $$$. But doing this on a shoestring budget makes me be really patient. Luckily it doesn't cost anything to shop.
Thanks for posting those pics and all the great info and background.
The way my universe works now that at least i have a clue, not right away but somewhere sometime something like this is going to pop up. Usually when least expected and when I have no $$$. But doing this on a shoestring budget makes me be really patient. Luckily it doesn't cost anything to shop.
Hello all,
New here to the site. I came across this thread when searching for info on a B&S -2 indexer I am picking up tomorrow. I have a full set of change gears as well as both gear mounting brackets. I am missing the “ shaft drive”.
John, is it possible to get a copy of this part. I wanted to ask publicly rather than just emailing you directly. Also would be interested in purchasing one of the special handles if still available. This looks to be a really cool site and plan to contribute. I am sure I will probably be asking many more questions as I try to get my B&S No 2 A universal fully equipped, including questions about coming up with measurements for the outer support brackets,and bracket holder. I would like to try to come up with some patterns to send to be casted. I am also happy to offer any help or give any answers to questions concerning the B & S machine I have.
Thanks,
Kirk
New here to the site. I came across this thread when searching for info on a B&S -2 indexer I am picking up tomorrow. I have a full set of change gears as well as both gear mounting brackets. I am missing the “ shaft drive”.
John, is it possible to get a copy of this part. I wanted to ask publicly rather than just emailing you directly. Also would be interested in purchasing one of the special handles if still available. This looks to be a really cool site and plan to contribute. I am sure I will probably be asking many more questions as I try to get my B&S No 2 A universal fully equipped, including questions about coming up with measurements for the outer support brackets,and bracket holder. I would like to try to come up with some patterns to send to be casted. I am also happy to offer any help or give any answers to questions concerning the B & S machine I have.
Thanks,
Kirk