Ok, I give up. It's dark and 25 degrees out, and my plan to get the Abene VHF3 broken into its major components and lowered into the basement tonight just isn't going to happen. Snow is coming though, and the temperature swings are causing flash rust on spots where the LPS rust preventative rubbed off so I need to get it moved.
Anyone have any hints on removing the ram? Going by the parts diagram it looks like it's a simple matter of undoing the 4 bolts that hold the ram to the lower casting, but that's not working. Lifting it just a tad I see a giant bronze nut on the screw with a round section pushed into the ram, but it was unwilling to move at all. Is it held in place from the other side (under the spindle motor)? I tried pulling the motor to see, but the pulley didn't want to budge. Which meant no pulling the motor. FWIW, this machine is a later version where the screw/crank for moving the ram is in the main lower casting rather than in the ram itself.
Also, is it possible to pull the knee/saddle/table in one piece by going upwards off the dovetail? That looks to be the easiest way.
Thanks!
-aric.
EDIT- this is all the parts diagram has to say on the matter:
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EDITx2- Snuck an inspection camera in there and not sure if that's a nut or that the pin coming from the bronze nut on the screw has a keyway on it (for what purpose I have no idea...). Sorry about the crappy pic... Bitterly cold out and lots of wires in the way.
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Guess I'll have to find a way to pull the spindle motor tomorrow. Which will likely be a pain, as the wires were cut short to the point the wiring block in back won't pull out of its access hole.
Anyone have any hints on removing the ram? Going by the parts diagram it looks like it's a simple matter of undoing the 4 bolts that hold the ram to the lower casting, but that's not working. Lifting it just a tad I see a giant bronze nut on the screw with a round section pushed into the ram, but it was unwilling to move at all. Is it held in place from the other side (under the spindle motor)? I tried pulling the motor to see, but the pulley didn't want to budge. Which meant no pulling the motor. FWIW, this machine is a later version where the screw/crank for moving the ram is in the main lower casting rather than in the ram itself.
Also, is it possible to pull the knee/saddle/table in one piece by going upwards off the dovetail? That looks to be the easiest way.
Thanks!
-aric.
EDIT- this is all the parts diagram has to say on the matter:
EDITx2- Snuck an inspection camera in there and not sure if that's a nut or that the pin coming from the bronze nut on the screw has a keyway on it (for what purpose I have no idea...). Sorry about the crappy pic... Bitterly cold out and lots of wires in the way.
Guess I'll have to find a way to pull the spindle motor tomorrow. Which will likely be a pain, as the wires were cut short to the point the wiring block in back won't pull out of its access hole.