onondaga
01-26-2011, 07:13 PM
They get stuck pretty bad sometimes and I like to disassemble, clean and lubricate the sprueplate pivot screw once and a while:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/rhymeswithwhat/UnstickJig.jpg
This simple jig arrangement works for me, When I can't turn the screw out or am worried about forcing it and ruining the Phillips slots in the screw with a slip-up, I hold things together with a large "C" clamp. I use a small ratchet, a Phillips bit and a Hex to 1/4 inch drive adapter so the ratchet can turn the screw.
Put the mold block and ratchet in the "C" clamp on a table and snug up the clamp. Don't muscle this. Get good alignment so nothing will tip when you turn the ratchet. About 1/8 turn will do it, but if you need more to be able to unscrew the screw, then loosen the "C" clamp a tad and take another 1/8 turn as you go. Don't keep unscrewing without backing off the "C" clamp or you could strip the threads in the aluminum mold block.
Others members here have posted about this subject and I've seen drilling out and re-tapping mentioned to fix a stuck sprueplate pivot screw. That will certainly work. Some casters may not have those tools for tapping or would like to try a more conservative method that might just do the trick on the spot when the stuck screw dilemma hits. .
I figured this method out as a young boy and suddenly it came back to my memory with a stuck screw keeping me from disassembling a mold easily for maintenance..
I hope this helps someone here and hope that this post hits the sticky list to be saved for others with the problem.
Gary
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/rhymeswithwhat/UnstickJig.jpg
This simple jig arrangement works for me, When I can't turn the screw out or am worried about forcing it and ruining the Phillips slots in the screw with a slip-up, I hold things together with a large "C" clamp. I use a small ratchet, a Phillips bit and a Hex to 1/4 inch drive adapter so the ratchet can turn the screw.
Put the mold block and ratchet in the "C" clamp on a table and snug up the clamp. Don't muscle this. Get good alignment so nothing will tip when you turn the ratchet. About 1/8 turn will do it, but if you need more to be able to unscrew the screw, then loosen the "C" clamp a tad and take another 1/8 turn as you go. Don't keep unscrewing without backing off the "C" clamp or you could strip the threads in the aluminum mold block.
Others members here have posted about this subject and I've seen drilling out and re-tapping mentioned to fix a stuck sprueplate pivot screw. That will certainly work. Some casters may not have those tools for tapping or would like to try a more conservative method that might just do the trick on the spot when the stuck screw dilemma hits. .
I figured this method out as a young boy and suddenly it came back to my memory with a stuck screw keeping me from disassembling a mold easily for maintenance..
I hope this helps someone here and hope that this post hits the sticky list to be saved for others with the problem.
Gary