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Leg levellers siezed up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark

Hi guys, on one of my machines the leg levellers are seized up. It isn't a big problem as they are pretty much where I need them anyway, but I would like to be able to adjust them in future if I need to.

I've tried WD40, and using mole grips to try and twist them round, but nothing - they won't budge!

Any idea what else I could try? I have a new set of levellers I could use, but need to get the old ones out first. If I saw off the old ones and drill them out, I guess I will ruin the thread in the legs and be unable to use my new feet?

So, I guess this is a common problem - how should I go about resolving it?

Thanks, Mark
 
Do you have a blowtorch? Heat the leveller up and then try and twist it out with your mole grips....bit of heat generally does the trick with seized up stuff like this :)
 
Thanks guys, good point Steve - to be honest initially I left one of the nuts on so it is a good question, but sadly even with the nuts off it still will not budge :(

Hi Ron, I don't have a blowtorch but at the moment the legs aren't on the machine so I'm wondering if I could hold it over the gas hob to get a similar effect. Will let you know how I get on :)

Thanks again,

Mark
 
I'm wondering if I could hold it over the gas hob to get a similar effect. Will let you know how I get on :)
Click to expand...

Should have the same effect, you need to get enough heat into the leveller to expand the metal a bit. Just watch your hands ;) :D
 
The last ones I did, had to drill them out unfortunately, gradually upped the drill sizes until got close to the tapping size
the remains then were easier to remove. I have a tap to re-thread the leg you are quite welcome to borrow if wish Mark

regards johnnyo
 
I have many times,used the heat method,have used many of the heat methods-heat guns,blow torches so I see no reason why the gas hob would not work.Just use a vice to hold the leg to ensure all your torque will go into the leveller whilst trying to remove it.
 
And if you don't have a vice to hand... :rolleyes: I find that it helps if you leave the leg connected to the machine (set up or folded). If it's set up then you'll need something to lift the table off the floor as you do this. Then use a suitable spanner on the base of the adjuster. :)

Forget WD40 - that shouldn't be in the same house as a pin! :eek: Silicon spray works wonders though.... :D
 
Moonraker said:
And if you don't have a vice to hand... :rolleyes: I find that it helps if you leave the leg connected to the machine (set up or folded). If it's set up then you'll need something to lift the table off the floor as you do this. Then use a suitable spanner on the base of the adjuster. :)

Forget WD40 - that shouldn't be in the same house as a pin! :eek: Silicon spray works wonders though.... :D
Click to expand...

Tho if mega tight the leg CAN just twist and fook the leg up
 
Thanks guys, great advice as usual!

Although I had forgotten about it I do have a tap, as I bought one to sort out a leg plate once. I hadn't thought about partially drilling the bolt then using the tap but that is a good plan as it would hopefully preserve the thread in the leg.

However, I am also intrigued by the heating method (I always like playing with the bunset burners at school!) so might try the heating method first. I am thinking I wil use the kitchen gas ring, then run to the shed where I have a vice set up and will give it a good twist.

Good point about fooking up the leg by twisting it :) I noticed when it was on the machine when I first tried that the whole leg was twisting, but hopfully if I clamp it lower down in the vice it should not be so bad.

Agree about WD40, and it is not something I use often especially around pins (I once bought a Hurrican where the previous owner had tried to "fix" the ferrris wheel by spraying with copious ammounts of WD40! Horrible stuff, in the end I bought a whole new mechanism and belt as I could not get it all off! Put me off WD40 for life -lol.

Thanks again,

Mark
 
Ha ha, ok maybe I didnt think that through. I should have said "almost" put me off for life -lol
 
WD40 has only one good use. Spray it on metal that is going into storage, knowing you will then need to clear the stuff off in a few years time and have to not rub the protective gunk but wash it carefully.
Also I think you can set fire to it so that is fun.

Get yourself a blow torch, a good self lighting one as they have so many uses. Anything metal that won't move, that should move and any more attempts to make it move could result in it being damaged, get the blow torch on it. ;)
 
Calimori said:
WD40 has only one good use. Spray it on metal that is going into storage, knowing you will then need to clear the stuff off in a few years time and have to not rub the protective gunk but wash it carefully.
Also I think you can set fire to it so that is fun.

Get yourself a blow torch, a good self lighting one as they have so many uses. Anything metal that won't move, that should move and any more attempts to make it move could result in it being damaged, get the blow torch on it. ;)
Click to expand...
+1 With Geoff on this, go out and buy a gas torch. They arn't expensive and it will come in for plenty other jobs as well.
I can see so much going wrong, holding a pin leg over a gas hob then running down to the vice in the shed to try and get the leveler out.
Safety first dude.
 
wd40 only had one good use... starting an old car engine (with Carbs) after an engine swap out... Couple of squirts into the carbs and off it roars :D
 
Ha ha, I see what you mean, I suppose there is plenty of room for things to go wrong with my "laurel and hardy" method of heating it on the gass hob and running to the shed. I have always thought I would need a big gas canister for a blow torch and I dont have a lot of storage space, but I agree it would be a useful thing to have.

Would something like this be any good? SOLDERING WELDING GAS REFILLABLE BLOW TORCH COOKING GUN + 4 BUTANE REFILLS FREE | eBay

If would only be used occassionally so I dont want to spend too much.
Cheers, Mark
 
It has a self ignitor so looks like the sort of thing you need but you don't need four canisters if you are going to rarely use it.
Mine is really just the head with the nossel and it screws onto the canister and has been going for years. I probably bought it from Halfrauds but as they have the worst search engine ever, I can't find it on their web site to show you.
"You entered 'blow torch' but we searched for 'glow torch' , which found 78 Results"
"You entered 'blowtorch' but we searched for 'bluetooth' , which found 60 Results"
This is not made up:
"Search Results - 'crap web site' 22 Results"
 
Calimori said:
It has a self ignitor so looks like the sort of thing you need but you don't need four canisters if you are going to rarely use it.
Mine is really just the head with the nossel and it screws onto the canister and has been going for years. I probably bought it from Halfrauds but as they have the worst search engine ever, I can't find it on their web site to show you.
"You entered 'blow torch' but we searched for 'glow torch' , which found 78 Results"
"You entered 'blowtorch' but we searched for 'bluetooth' , which found 60 Results"
This is not made up:
"Search Results - 'crap web site' 22 Results"
Click to expand...

Search Results - 'piece of crap' 200 Results

that's not a surprise.... ;)
 
just been thought the same issue but mine was no where near level so couldnt be left, one was siezed on, nut and lug, managed to get the nut off but even with heat i could not budge the lug from the bolt, in the end i had to cut it off and replace.
 
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