Colchester Chipmaster disassemble

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Hi

After selling a few unwanted bits, I have managed to buy a Colchester chipmaster.

problem is there is no way I can get it round to my garage in one bit, so I have to break it down into manageable bits. If I can keep it as simple as possible, ie saddle assy, headstock, gearbox, bed, variator, motor, and cabinet. My question is, does the manual as seen on eBay in pdf cover disassembly, or enough for me to break it down.

any help much appreciated can’t wait to get it home

atb

jay

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Jason What are problems preventing you from moving it yo your garage.

David

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Posted by David George 1 on 07/03/2021 21:42:25:

Hi Jason What are problems preventing you from moving it yo your garage.

David

Hi David

I have a S bend uphill front path quite steep and bendy, no chance of pulling a half tonne machine up it.

Then a narrow side path to get to back garden

atb

jay

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Jason

Join this iO Colchester Group and you can download the Manual that shows exploded views of the Chipmaster.

**LINK**

Emgee

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Thanks for that, it will help out lots.
is there any particular order in stripping it down,or things to look out for?

atb

jsy

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I think that back in those days things were built simply. Bits added in logical order. Reminds me of my Landrover Series lll – you just start taking pieces off until you get to the bit you wanted. Simple logic.

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

The best thing to remove to lighten a Chipmaster is the variator and motor.

The tailstock is easy but light. Unwind the cross-slide off the back of the machine. The motor door is surprisingly heavy and bulky.

After that, it is a lot of work for very little gain. Saddle and apron negligible weight. Gearbox maybe. Headstock from bed then means you have to realign on reassembly. Bed from cabinet to me is not worth it.

A Chipmaster is easily mounted on three castors using M12 or 1/2" bolts: one at tailstock end and two in motor cabinet, very close to edge (holes are already there).

Consider using a winch (US 'come along&#39, anchored low down on the machine and pull it up the slope, chocking on the downhill side every foot.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

When stripping down and reassembling, due to bad memory, I've found it useful to:

• Take many photos step by step as it comes apart. Then I can refer back to what it looked like before I got at it.
• Take notes. These record the order in which it came apart, which is important sometimes.
• Put related small parts like nuts, bolts, springs into small bags and label them!
• Try to keep parts assembled together, or taped in position so you don't have to remember.
• Don't take stuff off unless it's absolutely essential.

Booby traps. Don't ask how I know!

• Assembly that must be done in a particular order so you don't end up finding an untightened bolt behind the motor, which is hidden behind a cabinet, etc. etc.
• Items where it's unclear which way round it goes, and it turns out to matter!
• Small parts like washers, handle keys, terminal screws etc, dropping unnoticed to the floor.
• Not all washers are the same thickness. using the right one for correct spacing is sometimes important.
• Non-obvious grub screws, pins, or dowels locking parts in position so you break something getting it apart.
• Previous owner was a gorilla who tightened nuts up by hitting a spanner extender with a hammer.
• Watch out for minor details, for example gibs are often dimpled to accept the adjusting screws. They have to be put back the right way up, the right way round, and with the diimples aligned to their screws.
• Never lift with the spindle and don't lift heavy objects by their delicate protrusions. Although lathes are generally robust, it's easy to accidentally bend a lead-screw or break a shear pin. They don't like being dropped either.
• Wear steel toe-caps (near miss, thank god.)
• Over confidence.
• All the other booby traps I haven't fallen for yet…

Much more likely to go wrong the first time you do it. Once you know about details like gibs and dimples they're easy. But it can cause a lot of grief if you get small details wrong.

Don't panic. It's certainly all doable, but try to be organised. How difficult it is depends on the machine and how good you are at spotting problems: previous experience helps. Some machines are straightforward, others are a bit fussy. I need to take more care than others because I'm not a mechanical natural, but you might sail through it. Always good to share experiences like this with the forum. How you tackle it and what went well or badly will help others – please share!

Dave

 

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 08/03/2021 08:27:57

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Thanks all that’s a great help. Is there any tricks to removing the saddle/apron. I’m going to give it a bit of a refurb so it will get stripped down eventually anyway.

atb

jay

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Remove cap screws from tailstock-end shaft support bracket. Two 2BA threaded dowel pins locate it. Remove them. Slide out leadscrew, feedshaft and bracket. Nothing impedes them at gearbox end.

Block of wood under apron to drip tray. Four capscrews to remove. Two dowels locate it. Saddle might then slide off back. If not, maybe six capscrews total front and back to remove retaining strips.

Try not to disturb the feed auto-trip mechanism adjustment (leave the worm on its shaft) during refurb.

Download the Harrison 10AA manual from the nemes site as it complements and extends the Colchester one.

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

thank you, that helps alot. will get some pics up when it arrives. the one thing i know that is missing is the tool post.

any ideas as to what size i need or anywhere selling them. ideally quick change but not essential at the moment.

atb

jay

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Hi

well, I’ve got the tail stock, Chuck, main cover, lead screw and saddle off.

im a bit stuck as to how to attack the head stock, and how the belts come off.

atb

jay

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Undo bolts holding yellow frame to cabinet. Lift motor/variator/frame to create slack in vee-belts. Alternatively, undo variator bolts and lift it slightly.

Slowly rotate thin timing belt, pulling gently towards you. It will work its way off the lower pulley.

No need to touch short, wide timing belt to remove headstock

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Thanks, that makes sense. I’m a bit baffled by the 2 centre gears at the back, these just free spin. Am I missing a gear on the bottom right spline which these link to? The ones on the swing frame.
atb

jay

Edited By jason evans on 13/03/2021 15:17:45

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Posted by jason evans on 13/03/2021 15:13:30:

Am I missing a gear on the bottom right spline which these link to?

Yes. Look in the cabinet or contact the seller.

Standard imperial Chipmaster has a 66t gear, a 33t gear and a 55/65t double gear (used for metric translation). The 33t is not there.

I was under the impression you had a manual. A thorough perusal of the exploded diagrams would tell you what parts are supposed to be present.

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Posted by DC31k on 13/03/2021 16:06:17:

Posted by jason evans on 13/03/2021 15:13:30:

Am I missing a gear on the bottom right spline which these link to?

Yes. Look in the cabinet or contact the seller.

Standard imperial Chipmaster has a 66t gear, a 33t gear and a 55/65t double gear (used for metric translation). The 33t is not there.

I was under the impression you had a manual. A thorough perusal of the exploded diagrams would tell you what parts are supposed to be present.

Yes just had a look at manual, and I’m missing the 33T. Nothing in cupboard, and that’s all that the seller had with it

Not sure where I’m going to track that down.

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Well I’ve tracked down a 33t change gear so all good there. I have started stripping the apron as it is completely bogged up with swarf and grease. I can’t get power feed box out, I know there is a hidden pin but any ideas as to where it is?

thanks

jay

Edited By jason evans on 16/03/2021 08:41:03

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Has the gear you have found come directly off another Chipmaster? Or is it a generic 33t change gear? I hope it is the former.

When you are talking of the power feed box, are you still speaking of the apron assembly?

There is a slightly domed steel blanking plug on the headstock end of the apron, near to the half nut lever that needs to be removed. It is a little bit like a core plug in a car engine block. Behind it is the interlock rod that stops you engaging power feed and half nuts at the same time.

Once more, a close study of the exploded diagram in the manual will assist you in your work.

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Hi

yes it is a 33t off a Chipmaster. And yes the feed box with lever on the apron.

well I’ve looked at the apron diagram and can not see any plug, is it removable or does it need drilling out

atb

jay

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

It should not need drilling. Remove all paint covering and surrounding it and at about 5 o'clock looking towards the tailstock, it should be possible to tap in an old wood chisel and ease it out.

You are right that it is not shown in the manual. In the early manual diagram (BAN/9/64) the hole is shown but no plug. In the later manual diagram (CHIP-11-70) even the hole is missing. It is also missing in the Harrison 10AA manual.

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

I’m presuming this is it, bugger is tight in there

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

That's it. The way your photo is rotated, you need to attack it at about 7:30 (am or pm does not matter).

[jason evansParticipant @jasonevans10206]

Posted by DC31k on 16/03/2021 19:11:10:

That's it. The way your photo is rotated, you need to attack it at about 7:30 (am or pm does not matter).

Cheers will wait 5 mins then go for it lol

[Author]

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