Fobco thread sizes

[AstroboyParticipant @111122223354]

I have aquired, cleaned and changed the bearings on an old neglected Fobco Star pillar and am having problems with thread sizes.

I am missing the knurled top bolts that hold the belt cover in place and am looking for a suitable replacement, unfortunately I am a wood butcher and a total noob on thread sizes. Also the grease nipples seem to be a strange pitch?(Pipe thread?).

Any help would be very(very) much appreciated.

If anyone happens to have these spare I would be very interested.

Also is there anywhere the locking handles can be sourced?

TIA Jamie.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Fobco is probnably a British supplier, so think in terms of Imperial sizes, not Metric.

First thing is to measure the OD of the stud, probably 5/16″ at a wild uneducated guess.

If you are a woodworker, you are unlikely to have thread gauges, so must do a bit of “suck it and see”

Try to count the threads over, ideally, an inch, but may have to be less.

Another WILD guess, that the threads will be

1/4″ BSF will be 26 t p i

5/16″ BSF will be 22 tpi

3/8″ BSF will be 20 tpi.

If the threads look to be coarser than these, they may be BSW, in which case

1/4″ BSW will be 20 t p i

5/16″ BSW will be 18 tpi

3/8″ BSW will be 16 tpi.

Knowing what the diameter is, and the pitch of the thread, if you can get a nut of that size and thread, try running down the thread.  Whit or BSF may be hard to find, and expensive.

You might find UNF or UNC at places like Halfords, but probably at a price for just a couple!

It is possible that threads might be Unified, in which case UNF nuts might be easier to come by to try as a gauge.

1/4 UNF will be 28 t p i

5/16″ UNF will be 24 tpi

3/8″ UNF will be 24 tpi.

If UNC

1/4 UNC will be 20 t p i

5/16″ UNC will be 18 tpi

3/8″ UNF will be 16 tpi.

Unified and Whitworth form threads are not interchangeable, the thread form is different, as are some of the pitches..

Grease nipples are likely to be BSP, 1/8″ BSP will be 0.383″ OD x 40 tpi; 1/4″ BSP will be 0.518″ OD x 19 tpi.

Guessing again, the cover retaining nuts may well be knurled rather than hexagon, in which case are MOST unlikely to be available commercially, except POSSIBLY as spare parts. Either way, spares or specially made, costly, no doubt.

HTH

Howard

 

.

[Astroboy]

On 5 May 2024 at 12:58 Astroboy Said:

I am missing the knurled top bolts

 

Also the grease nipples seem to be a strange pitch?(Pipe thread?).

 

Also is there anywhere the locking handles can be sourced?

 

Do you require bolts or nuts? Diagram here: https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/help-fobco-star-pulley-removal.120638/ The items (part 164/168) do not look like bolts to me particularly because parts 162 and 163 are called out separately.

You could buy a knurled nut with a smaller thread (example of the style – better to buy in brass or steel not stainless if you are to tap it yourself https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk/m2-m2-5-m3-m4-m5-m6-m8-m10-knurled-thumb-nuts-a1-stainless-steel-hand-turn-knobs/) and drill and tap it to the correct thread. You could make a top hat washer from delrin (easily turned using a wood lathe and tools).

Grease nipples could well be 1/8″ BSP. You can look up the major diameter and thread pitch of 1/8″ BSP.

For locking handle advice, post a picture of a complete machine and describe which parts you need. Your current words are too vague to offer useful advice.

Buy a cheap set of calipers (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adoric-Vernier-Caliper-Metric-Conversion/dp/B07DFFYCXS) and a set of thread pitch gauges (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Thread-Imperial-Cutting-Measuring/dp/B08MT6KYVW) work out how to use them and tell us your results.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

The knurled cover nuts are threaded 3/8″ BSF, ie 20 tpi. They are normally held captive to the cover itself by a circlip.

Tony of website Lathes.co.uk seems to hold a few Fobco spares. Might be worth asking him. Otherwise, the nuts aren’t too difficult as a lathe job.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I would think the grease nipples are likely to be BSF

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

Someone was selling Fobco knurled screws on HWS recently. They are still up there on page two of the ads. but at a price.

[AstroboyParticipant @111122223354]

I think you are right, time to invest in some more tools! My other half will be pleased… 😉

[DC31k]

On DC31k Said:

On 5 May 2024 at 12:58 Astroboy Said:

I am missing the knurled top bolts

 

Also the grease nipples seem to be a strange pitch?(Pipe thread?).

 

Also is there anywhere the locking handles can be sourced?

 

Do you require bolts or nuts? Diagram here: https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/help-fobco-star-pulley-removal.120638/ The items (part 164/168) do not look like bolts to me particularly because parts 162 and 163 are called out separately.

You could buy a knurled nut with a smaller thread (example of the style – better to buy in brass or steel not stainless if you are to tap it yourself https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk/m2-m2-5-m3-m4-m5-m6-m8-m10-knurled-thumb-nuts-a1-stainless-steel-hand-turn-knobs/) and drill and tap it to the correct thread. You could make a top hat washer from delrin (easily turned using a wood lathe and tools).

Grease nipples could well be 1/8″ BSP. You can look up the major diameter and thread pitch of 1/8″ BSP.

For locking handle advice, post a picture of a complete machine and describe which parts you need. Your current words are too vague to offer useful advice.

Buy a cheap set of calipers (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adoric-Vernier-Caliper-Metric-Conversion/dp/B07DFFYCXS) and a set of thread pitch gauges (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Thread-Imperial-Cutting-Measuring/dp/B08MT6KYVW) work out how to use them and tell us your results.

Wow did not realise this would be so complicated. I will sort out some pictures when I get a chance… thanks for the advice.

[AstroboyParticipant @111122223354]

If you had a lathe 🙁 . I have messaged Tony, i’ll post what comes of it. Cheers.

[AstroboyParticipant @111122223354]

HWS? Cannot find out what website this is? Very interested though…

[Astroboy]

On Astroboy Said:

HWS? Cannot find out what website this is? Very interested though…

Presumably homeworkshop

MichaelG.

.

Ref. https://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

My apologies, homeworkshop.org.uk is commonly referred to as HWS amongst the fraternity.

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

Was quite a while ago but at one time David Anchell from the machinery dealer Quillstar had some new Fobco spares from the factory close down. I bought a complete new spindle assembly and a return spring at very reasonable prices. Might be worth an email or phone call, I seem to remember he had quite a varied stock of parts and it took him a while to locate them in his quite large premises!

[Craig BrownParticipant @craigbrown60096]

Hi Jamie.

I made a batch of the knurled knobs for the belt cover a while ago and may still have a set in stock, I will let you know tomorrow if of any interest. I also made some depth stop nuts which I suspect I still have too.

The grease nipples are pretty standard apart from the one counterbored into the top of the quill, that one has a short head on it to allow it to sit below the level of the counterbore.

When referring to the locking handles do you mean the chromed ball handles? Which ones do you need?

Craig

[AstroboyParticipant @111122223354]

Hi Craig,

That would be awsome, I think you would be saving me a lot of heartache if you did have these.

I have the pair of depth stop nuts, the grease nipples are ok apart from one that seems to have a small dent and does not work so may be ok changing out to another one(the quill grease point seems to work fine luckily).

The locking handle I am missing are the ones for the motor, one seems to have taken a knock and is bent and I am sure it is ready to snap.

The only other thing I seem to be missing is the knurled locking nut for the handle that moves the quill up and down during use although I think I may be able to get my hands on this from a seller.

I am missing parts 164, 168, 139 and 113 in the diagramme below.

Also missing(and I realise this is a longshot) is the locking collar that sits on the column and I am assuming supports the weight of the head. In the pic below it is the collar that is half way down the column, between the head and the table.

I do realise I should have been clearer with what was needed from the get go, but appreciate all the help you guys have offered and realise that this is a wonderful place for info and help 🙂

regards

Jamie.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I think I’d be looking for a new table as well!

[Craig BrownParticipant @craigbrown60096]

Jamie, I will have a look at what I have tomorrow, might have it all, I will message you.The collar for under the head allows you to undo the head, to rotate it, without it dropping.

Bernard, I don’t think that is his drill, just an example

[bernard towers]

On bernard towers Said:

I think I’d be looking for a new table as well!

Haha, thanks Bernard. Yeah I think that would be on my list if that were mine. Mine is in good condition on top but the side has got a piece missing. I can live with it though as the top face is in perfect condition.

And Craig, I do appreciate the help. Just let me know what you have and what you need for it. Thank you…

[Astroboy]

On Astroboy Said:

Also missing is the locking collar that sits on the column

Short term, make a large washer out of plywood. Make it in four half pieces and glue back together insitu to make it 36mm thick (that way you do not need to remove the head to install it). Buy a Mikalor clip of the appropriate diameter for the column to sit under the plywood washer.

[Craig BrownParticipant @craigbrown60096]

Jamie I have sent you a PM but doesn’t look like I could attach a picture so this is what I have and can make some ball handles if you require.

[Craig BrownParticipant @craigbrown60096]

Now with added ball handle

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