9 replies to this topic

[cheesebadger]

Hi,

 

I am starting to refurb my hydro radius arms as part of a larger restoration.

 

I have access to presses and lathes at work, so would like to change the bearings and bushes myself.

I have done plenty of research on this, and it seems like I need either the original bmc tool (18G588?) or a 13/16" reamer and a lathe.

 

I think that buying the official reamer is out of the question, but does anybody close to me have one that I could come and use in exchange for beer tokens? I live in Welwyn Garden City, work in Milton Keynes and I am travelling back to Bristol soon to catch up with some uni mates; so I have a large ish travelling area...

 

Any help appreciated, particularly any advice from anyone who has gone down the reamer plus lathe route.

Thanks,

Rich

[Fast Ivan]

I have the tools and you can certainly borrow but I'm in Southampton

[Ethel]

You can pick up 13/16ths reamers, I got one from Tracy tools (online) that's a good length. If you have access to a lathe you can knock up a guide for it that sits in place of the roller bearing in the other end.

[cheesebadger]

You can pick up 13/16ths reamers, I got one from Tracy tools (online) that's a good length. If you have access to a lathe you can knock up a guide for it that sits in place of the roller bearing in the other end.

 

I need to have a look through the machine shop at work later this afternoon to see if I can find a 13/16" reamer, if not I will buy one later this week.

I am thinking get a hand reamer, but don't use the lathe under power; just use it to make sure everything is true. Thoughts?

 

Also, do you think that the old pin could be mounted in the tailstock to be used as a suitable guide?

As always, any advice appreciated...

 

P.S. I plan to drill and tap the inboard end of the stub axle where the helper springs attach, as one side is worn out; and no one seems to have any replacements 

[nicklouse]

 

As always, any advice appreciated...

 

P.S. I plan to drill and tap the inboard end of the stub axle where the helper springs attach, as one side is worn out; and no one seems to have any replacements 

 

loads of  dry ones out there. was a common switch to allow the use of rear shocks.

[Fast Ivan]

It's a 13/16" long series parallel hand reamer you want, in place of the correct tool that is.
The shank is also 13/16" so will centralize on the roller bearing. I've not done it on a lathe before but I think there may be a centre hole in the reamer that you could use a running centre on in the tail stock. You may find that you will need to take a little more out to get the correct clearance.

[midridge2]

loads of  dry ones out there. was a common switch to allow the use of rear shocks. 


But if you use normal shocks is it not the wrong way round as the original helper springs pulls the arm back up.
 

[cheesebadger]

Yeah. I think people used to fit front shocks to wet cars, but not seen or heard of anyone fitting rear shocks to wet cars.

 

I was planning to drill and tap the stub axle to accept a shoulder bolt to hold the helper spring, then I can just replace them when they wear out :)

 

Thanks for all your advice so far...

[Ethel]

There has been at least one topic on diy reamers. Searching google images with the site: prefix would be a good way to find info.

 

Since getting the bearing and bush concentric is the main aim, I'd be inclined to work out a way of doing that. Like I said, I made up a dummy bearing that centres the reamer and can be removed to fit the bearing. Others have turned a pin in to a nose extension so the reamer can be fed in from the bush end.

 

Could you not knock up an adapter collar to convert a stub axle from shocker to spring fitment? 

[cheesebadger]

There has been at least one topic on diy reamers. Searching google images with the site: prefix would be a good way to find info.

 

Since getting the bearing and bush concentric is the main aim, I'd be inclined to work out a way of doing that. Like I said, I made up a dummy bearing that centres the reamer and can be removed to fit the bearing. Others have turned a pin in to a nose extension so the reamer can be fed in from the bush end.

 

Could you not knock up an adapter collar to convert a stub axle from shocker to spring fitment? 

 

Yeah, I have done plenty of Google searching using the forum prefix, normally pretty successful. Which is what gave me the idea of the manual lathe.

 

Regarding the helper spring pin, sadly a collar would not work, as the wet pin diameter is smaller than the dry. The other obvious approach is to machine a dry pin to mimic the wet pin, but my current wet pin is otherwise in good condition.