Looks like I messed up my Magma Star sizer resizing a linotype 30 cal boolit

[475/480]

I was resizing a Linotype 30 cal boolit last night and on the downstroke to resize a boolit something broke on the lever , I have lost all power to resize a boolit.It still moves up and down but NO power to push a boolit down into the die.
Help appreciated


Sean

[dverna]

A couple of pictures might help

I have done thousands of .38 cal Linotype bullets in a Star and bent the handle a bit but never broke anything...yet.

[Rickf1985]

I bought one of those sizers years ago and it was cracked where the two cast aluminum tubes meet together Check there, I think that may be a weak spot when really forcing things.

[Eddie Southgate]

I'm no help , I have Ideal #1's , Lyman #45's , RCBS I , RCBS II , and an older SEACO but have never broke one . Can't say I ever cast or sized any straight Lino bullets though , wheel weights has always been the hardest alloy I have ever needed.

[Tatume]

I never liked the handle on my Star and replaced it with solid steel.

[475/480]

Pic #1 (pin pointer) shows the shaft that just turns
Pic #2 (pin pointer) I THINK something broke inside OR a keyway or rollpin broke
I see NO cracks on the cast aluminum, I have to think it is in the (housing) where the shaft goes into on the left side. I can see the shaft turning seperate from the housing on the left (pic #2)

IMG_1933.jpgIMG_1934.jpg


Sean

[rbwillnj]

If I understand what you are saying, when you operate the handle the aluminum casting that holds the bullet punch does not go up and down, or slips when it encounters the force of sizing the bullet. If that is the case, it suggests that your crankshaft (#116) is broken. Never heard of that happening, but I guess it's possible if there is a casting flaw in the crankshaft. If it is broken you could check with Magma Australia to see if they have one. Make sure you check the diameter of your shaft. The vintage Star and Magma lubesizers used different diameter crankshafts. Although you said you have a Magma Star sizer, it looks like it might have been assembled from vintage Star parts.

Hate to say it but with Magma closed and Magma Australia not up to speed, you might just be SOL.

[475/480]

Thank you,

Sean

If I understand what you are saying, when you operate the handle the aluminum casting that holds the bullet punch does not go up and down, or slips when it encounters the force of sizing the bullet. If that is the case, it suggests that your crankshaft (#116) is broken. Never heard of that happening, but I guess it's possible if there is a casting flaw in the crankshaft. If it is broken you could check with Magma Australia to see if they have one. Make sure you check the diameter of your shaft. The vintage Star and Magma lubesizers used different diameter crankshafts. Although you said you have a Magma Star sizer, it looks like it might have been assembled from vintage Star parts.

Hate to say it but with Magma closed and Magma Australia not up to speed, you might just be SOL.

[GLL]

Sean-
Have you separated the linkage from S116 and tried to push the assembly through the housing? Does the end piece on your machine have the hole at the end? My San Diego machine does but none of my Magma versions do.
IMG_1232.jpg

Jerry

[imashooter2]

People guessing from afar is nice and all, but they are just guesses. You have the press and it isn’t a very complex mechanism. Disassemble it until the problem becomes apparent. You will have to do that to confirm any guess anyway.

[475/480]

No hole , I have not taken the link apart, Will have to try and see if the pin unscrews or pushes out.

Sean

Sean-
Have you separated the linkage from S116 and tried to push the assembly through the housing? Does the end piece on your machine have the hole at the end? My San Diego machine does but none of my Magma versions do.
IMG_1232.jpg

Jerry

[rbwillnj]

No hole , I have not taken the link apart, Will have to try and see if the pin unscrews or pushes out.

Sean

The pin is pressed in. It's not to difficult to punch it out but make sure that part of the crank shaft is supported so you don't break the casting. Of course if its already broken it's sort of academic, but just in case it isn't already broken you don't want to break it now.

Later Magma sizers used a slip-in pin with a hitch pin to hold it in place.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I am curious how the crank arm is attached to the crank shaft?
I'll guess that is where the problem is.
It might be an easy fix.

[rbwillnj]

I am curious how the crank arm is attached to the crank shaft?
I'll guess that is where the problem is.
It might be an easy fix.

It is one solid piece. It is cast they the shaft is machined. If it is broken it would be very unusual and I think only possible if there is a flaw in the casting. Pure speculation on my part, but if it's broken that's the only thing that makes sense.

I have rebuilt quite a few of these and use to have spare crankshafts. I have seen crankshaftrs bent (twisted) but never broken. All my spares went out the door shortly after Magma closed. I'm pretty sure that by the time Magma closed they didn't have any spares either. I could be wrong. I know I looked at all of the auction lots and didn't see any spare lubricator sizer parts other than dies. Maybe they were held back from the auction because they were committed to Australia.

(That little "hole" in the end of the crank is so the whole assembly can be mounted between centers on a lathe so the shaft can be turned.)

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

It is one solid piece. It is cast they the shaft is machined. If it is broken it would be very unusual and I think only possible if there is a flaw in the casting. Pure speculation on my part, but if it's broken that's the only thing that makes sense.

I have rebuilt quite a few of these and use to have spare crankshafts. I have seen crankshaftrs bent (twisted) but never broken. All my spares went out the door shortly after Magma closed. I'm pretty sure that by the time Magma closed they didn't have any spares either. I could be wrong. I know I looked at all of the auction lots and didn't see any spare lubricator sizer parts other than dies. Maybe they were held back from the auction because they were committed to Australia.

(That little "hole" in the end of the crank is so the whole assembly can be mounted between centers on a lathe so the shaft can be turned.)

Thanks for that info, I've used a Star for 10+ years, and never had to take one apart (knock on wood).
.
I'm not a manufacturing genius or anything, but I have worked in manufacturing for 35 yrs. It seems like the crankshaft and arm would be considerably easier to make/machine if it was two pieces, instead of one?
That's my 2¢

[GLL]

It is one solid piece. It is cast they the shaft is machined. If it is broken it would be very unusual and I think only possible if there is a flaw in the casting. Pure speculation on my part, but if it's broken that's the only thing that makes sense.

I have rebuilt quite a few of these and use to have spare crankshafts. I have seen crankshaftrs bent (twisted) but never broken. All my spares went out the door shortly after Magma closed. I'm pretty sure that by the time Magma closed they didn't have any spares either. I could be wrong. I know I looked at all of the auction lots and didn't see any spare lubricator sizer parts other than dies. Maybe they were held back from the auction because they were committed to Australia.

(That little "hole" in the end of the crank is so the whole assembly can be mounted between centers on a lathe so the shaft can be turned.)

I thank you as well. I have several Star machines and have luckily never had to remove the crankshaft for any reason. Being a single part indicates that there was a lot of machining involved in its production. Newer machines even had the "little hole" machined off the crank end.
When I size linotype bullets I pre-size on an old A2 or CH Champion using push through dies rather than stress the Stars (no bent handles).

Jerry

[475/480]

Hi all, Thanks for the help.
The shaft and bracket are 2 pieces, I will post pictures tomorrow.There is a tiny weld ( very small) that broke that attached both pieces , The weld covered about 50% of circumference were both pieces come together.It took 20 years of use to snap. I will probably use jbweld to fix but will clean it well before applying.

Sean

[GLL]

Sean- Please post a few close-up photos (before&after)of your repair.

Jerry

[475/480]

Looks like a weld to me ,I do not want to try a small weld so I will use jbweld on end of crank shaft were it inserts into arm.
Any suggestions welcome.

Sean

[rbwillnj]

That's definitely Not the way Star did it. I took one of my recently rebuilt units apart to take these pictures.

Star 116-1.jpg

Star 116-2.jpg

star 116-3.jpg