Millers Falls No 2

[Andy Kev.]

Good Evening All,

I've recently acquired a Millers Falls No 2 eggbeater and have been cleaning it up. I want to dissemble the chuck head (Lord alone knows if that is the correct term) the base of which is fitted with two holes for a pin wrench. It's mightily resisting my efforts to remove it and it occurred to me that the base of the chuck head might be fitted with a reverse thread. Does anybody know if this is the case? I've had a look around the internet but can find no specific info on this matter.

If it's just a bit solid with age (there does not appear to be any rust), is there something in which I should soak it prior to having another bash at getting it off?

 

[marcros]

I have a number 5, and it just unscrews. have you tried a good soaking in some penetrating fluid, or even parafin?

 

[AndyT]

You need Wictor Kuc!

His excellent website includes, amongst many other good things, four pages on the chuck used on these drills as well as a 14 page master class on how to restore one. He's done over 500!

http://wkfinetools.com/hUS-borTools/MillersFalls/tools-chucks-McCoy/springLessChuck1.asp

http://wkfinetools.com/hUS-borTools...No2-1903-Anatomy/mfHD-No2-1903-Anatomy-01.asp

 

[Andy Kev.]

Thanks for the replies gents.

My Nr 5 has the small side screw and Mr Kuc was my first port of call. He shows the side screw too. Unfortunately my No 2 has got a completely different construction i.e. the two holes for the pins in the base of the chuck. I don't think I could have overlooked the screw but I'll check again tomorrow.

 

[clauskeller]

Andy,

its a normal right handed thread. Just a tbit thight from age and dirt. Soak it in oil, petrol, WD40 ..., put the body in a vice with lined jaws and use a pipe wrench to unscrew the top.

Claus

 

[Andy Kev.]

Thank you for the tip Claus. I had it in a Proxxon vice while I was trying the pin wrench but I will try it your way after it's had a soak.

 

[finnberg]

As much as I agree with Claus about dirt and grime being the actual cause of stubbornness, just go gently with the chuck. It is very easy to marr the chuck with a pipe wrench. I have had half a dozen of this model and when I've had trouble removing the chuck I have lubricated the chuck just like Claus suggests but clamped the chuck in a wise with aluminium or fiber padded jaws and gently rocked the drill while securing the gear wheel.
Another method is to see if you can remove the chuck she'll first. It can normally be removed separately which provides better access to the spindle and chuck base, but it can also be stuck because of rust and dirt. A few raps with a mallet or wooden hardwood scrap can help to release the shell but you need to make sure you don't bend the spindle in the process.

 

[Andy Kev.]

Hello Finnberg,

the chuck has come off the spindle quite easily. The problem is getting the chuck itself open. Unlike the chucks shown by Mr Kuc which are taken apart just by removing a screw from the side, this one has a base which screws into the chuck housing and their are two 1/8 inch indentations in the base which are clearly meant to be used with a pin wrench. That is the part which is resisting my efforts. I'm going to soak the base of the chuck in degreaser for about 24 hours. Then I'll give it a couple of knocks as you suggest and with a bit of luck it will open.

 

[finnberg]

Sorry Andy. I misread you. Yes, you are correct about the pin holes. I have had success with making a pin wrench from a piece of hardwood and some steel rods but if you have such a wrench that is of course the better tool to use once the soaking has done it's job.

 

[Vann]

I made a chuck-shell-clamp by boring a hole in a piece of softwood (pine). The hole was maybe 1/8" smaller in diameter than the chuck. I then cut the wood along the centreline of the hole. The chuck was inserted between the two halves and the lot was tightened in the vise. This grips the chuck in four places (rather than two when using soft jaws) reducing - but not eliminating - the chance of crushing the shell.

To unscrew the base from the shell I drilled two holes in a piece of 3mm mild steel plate (or was it 5mm?) that I had laying around. The holes were the same diameter (approx.) as a 4" nail, and the same distance apart as the two indents in the chuck base. I cut a 4" nail in half and poked half through each of the holes. This made a very crude pin spanner - crude, but it did the trick.

I don't recall, but I think I probably ran the shell under hot water for a minute or so immediately before attempting to undo it - to try to expand the shell just enough to break any bond.

HTH.

Cheers, Vann.