Has anyone taken one apart to clean it? I am the type of person that when i get a new machine id like to give it a deep clean and start out fresh. Once i get it dirty i dont care but it sure is nice to start with a clean machine. Should i pop the mag chuck backing plate off and clean anything i can or should i just clean the outside and degrease it and call it a day.
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Magnetic chuck
- Thread starter Brento
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Messages
- 10,086
If it works OK, don't f--- with it.
I took mine apart. It did not activate easily before. I remade the linkage, crank arm, and shaft. I put it back together with grease and a little RTV on the seam. It’s very smooth now.
It had a bow once I was done. I had not measured it before hand as it was pretty rough. I shimmed the ends, ground the top, milled the bottom, then ground the top. It seems good now.
I do agree, however, that if it works okay (smoothly enough), I would not disassemble.
It had a bow once I was done. I had not measured it before hand as it was pretty rough. I shimmed the ends, ground the top, milled the bottom, then ground the top. It seems good now.
I do agree, however, that if it works okay (smoothly enough), I would not disassemble.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2019
- Messages
- 41
I came across this guys blog post about how he completely disassembled, cleaned and put his back together. He has great info including pictures of the process. https://fimbulvetrknifeworks.com/2019/01/17/fixing-a-mechanical-magnetic-chuck/
Be careful (obviously). The key for me was to use some of my longer wood clamps to slowly slide the magnets off of the top plate sideways. I've heard/watched some folks hitting it with a deadblow to move it but the clamps worked and I didn't want to beat on a magnet.
I did the same with mine. The improvement was marginal but in my case I believe it's because of the relatively lower quality of the design. The magnets were not encased in epoxy and the rubbing had caused a pretty good amount of fine magnetic particles that was very challenging to remove. In the end, I also probably used the wrong lubricant (#2 grease). I should have used a graphite based lubricant. I may do that at some point.
Be careful (obviously). The key for me was to use some of my longer wood clamps to slowly slide the magnets off of the top plate sideways. I've heard/watched some folks hitting it with a deadblow to move it but the clamps worked and I didn't want to beat on a magnet.
I did the same with mine. The improvement was marginal but in my case I believe it's because of the relatively lower quality of the design. The magnets were not encased in epoxy and the rubbing had caused a pretty good amount of fine magnetic particles that was very challenging to remove. In the end, I also probably used the wrong lubricant (#2 grease). I should have used a graphite based lubricant. I may do that at some point.
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2017
- Messages
- 2,437
This guy did it in 6 videos, and is reasonably well done:
he also had to rebuild some of the linkage IIRC.
he also had to rebuild some of the linkage IIRC.
One thing you wanna check when you take it apart is the lever stroke of the magnet. The linkage holes will get oblong from use and no maintenance. I had to make a new linkage arm and bushings for mine. You want to make sure when engaged it’s putting the mag in the correct place same for disengagement of mag so your part will release.
I finally got to disasemble the old walker CeraMax 6x18
It half worked and half released you could feel the slop in the arm.
Good thing is nothing is broken and its not any where near as bad inside as I seen some.
The pivot shaft is definitely worn.
Using my pin hole guages the cam holes seem to be pretty round.
Im going to guess the shaft is the weak or sacrificial part.
Im just a little off on how to proceed to fix it.
I figure I will need some sort of bushing through the cast body and a way to repair the out of round stub on the shaft.
It half worked and half released you could feel the slop in the arm.
Good thing is nothing is broken and its not any where near as bad inside as I seen some.
The pivot shaft is definitely worn.
Using my pin hole guages the cam holes seem to be pretty round.
Im going to guess the shaft is the weak or sacrificial part.
Im just a little off on how to proceed to fix it.
I figure I will need some sort of bushing through the cast body and a way to repair the out of round stub on the shaft.
