5C fixture repair

[Spruewell]

My 5C fixture gave up on me. Of course it happened on a Friday afternoon just as I was finishing a setup for a job that needs to ship Monday. The eccentric pin that moves the collet closing sleeve finally rounded off to the point where it no longer worked.


In the process it also ruined the part of the sleeve that it moved against



Since I did not have the luxury of being able to wait a week for a reasonably priced one and I did not have the desire to spend way too much for one that would arrive sooner, but still not soon enough, I had to get creative:


1-3/4” - 12 thread and a jam nut



machine 1/2” off the face of the fixture body


Thin down the nut, true up the contact faces and drill-tap for handles (I used a 1/4-20 bolt)



Re-assemble and presto! Fully functional dead-length 5C collet fixture!

 

[Dualkit]

Awesome, sometimes you have to use that old school talent to keep the car on the track. I really think a lot of those Nascar pit crew skills are going by way of the dinosaur. I worked for a guy who would always hound me "What are you doing?" How long is it going to take you, those only cost $75. I always asked if he could get me one before I finish. The reply was, of course not it is Friday afternoon.

 

[Spruewell]

I think I’m going to have to run some lapping compound in the threads. The nut was a little rough inside and it takes a bit more torque than the little lever can deliver. It seems to be smoothing up a little already. For now I’m using a 24” crescent to lock it down. It doesn’t take that much torque, but it was all I had handy to fit the nut.

 

[Dualkit]

On quick fix I always try course Scotchbrite, for O.D. stuff on threads and with I.D. stuff mount the part in a lathe and stuff Scotchbrite in it's mouth.
You can also try wire wheels. I have 4 bench grinders, one with wire wheels, one with Scotchbrite, one with grinding wheels. and the other with diamond wheels. On I.D. threads I also have a collection of wire wheels for a drill motor.

 

[Kustomizer]

I often lube the threads , screw on the nut then work the nut over from every direction with a brass hammer