How much weight do you think it can handle?

[protrxrptr17]

I have a Van Norman 26 SU milling machine. Here is a link to the specs:http://home.att.net/~JEKasunich/vannorman/VN_Models.htm

They don't list specs for the SU model but it should be the same as the regular 26. Anyway, I need to mill out 2 broken bolts on the bottom of a John Deere winch from a 648 skidder. I'm guessing this winch to weigh between 2000 and 3000 lbs. I can dissassemble the winch if I have to, but I'm trying to leave it together. I will turn the spindle to run in the horizontal position, because of the size of the winch. I will only be machining in the Y axis. I can support some of the weight of the winch with an overhead crane while machining. Do you think it can handle the weight or should I dissassemble the winch? I know it can handle the bare housing, but it will be ALOT of work to take all apart.

[ViperTX]

Have you tried other extraction methods...drilling the center of the bolt and then welding a bolt into the center of the bolt that you want to remove?

[protrxrptr17]

Originally Posted by ViperTX Have you tried other extraction methods...drilling the center of the bolt and then welding a bolt into the center of the bolt that you want to remove?

Well, the customer has aready tried that. Both bolts are broke off about 2 inches below the surface. They drilled one bolt way off center. They tried to weld a bolt to the other one and ended up welding the bolt to the housing. And ruining the remaining threads makink it impossible to back it out. Some people.....

[Adobe Machine]

The customer got themselves in the jam there in. Don't be a " Nice Guy" and possibly ruin your equipment to save them a buck.

Disassemble the critter, clean it up and charge them the time...Even with the unit disassembled it will be a difficult fix after they welded to the housing ( is it steel or cast ?).

We did hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly with the mines and construction companies,with some of the same issues your facing. I refused to let dirty equipment in the shop, hence I charged them for steam clean and clean up, I refused to let them tell me how to use my equipment. They always assumed it was "an easy fix", will only take a "few moments" etc. Very few, if any walked off, and when we were done the job was done right with out possibly destroying my equipment. All parties were much happier, my shop stayed clean, we made more money.

That Van Norman is a stout piece of equipment, but it would cost more to repair your machine than the JD assembly is worth.

Adobe (old as dirt)

[miljnor]

I agree 100% with AM!

Don't let the customer tell you/sucker you into an "easy job"! do it the right way or not at all. it isn't worth destroying your equipment on a hair brained customer thought plan!

And don't forget Murphy's rule number 1, there is never time to do it right but there is always time to do it over!

Don't know how many times I've shot myself in the foot trying to do it the "easy way" when I was a kid. Some people I guess are slow learners! (thats me! )

[keebler303]

if you have access to a knee mill you could swing the ram 90 degrees and machine it while it sat on the floor or on cribbing from the floor. I'm not sure what kind of machining you will have to do but if you are just plunging a mill in there to clean it out I would think that would work as long as it would fit.

Matt

[protrxrptr17]

Well, I went ahead and disassembled the winch. It really wasn't as complicated as I thought. I had to cut the old cable off. It was knotted around the spool somethin' fierce. Probably how the bolts got broken off. Operator tied it to a tree and tried to jerk out the tangle. I haven't got it up on the table yet, but I think it will hold it without much problem.

If I did break something on this old machine, I probably couldn't find a replacement. Definitely not worth it.

[awright]

How big is the broken bolt and how hard is it? Apparently it is readily drillable?

I've never worked on really large broken studs, but take a look at the technique I describe in the thread in this forum: (http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28184).

Might be a lot easier than getting that peice up on your mill and risking damage to it.

awright