CB4500 thread guide mod

[MADMAX22]

The original thread guide didn't have enough material on the outside of the hole so I couldn't round it over to smooth it out. 

Ground the original down flush then silver soldered on a shaped piece of hard brass. Drilled original size hole and opened up the top some and smoothed it all out. 

Seems to be working pretty nice now with less thread wearing. 

[garypl]

Just curious - was the problem with the original part that it had a rough edge that was fraying the thread as it fed through?  Do you think this could have been a manufacturing defect or possibly wear over an extended period of time?  I'm looking at buying a machine in the near future and it is good to know about these types of issues.  Thanks!

[MADMAX22]

48 minutes ago, garypl said:

Just curious - was the problem with the original part that it had a rough edge that was fraying the thread as it fed through?  Do you think this could have been a manufacturing defect or possibly wear over an extended period of time?  I'm looking at buying a machine in the near future and it is good to know about these types of issues.  Thanks!

I think most are fine, I only have one machine. The problem was the hole that was drilled on mine was pretty close to the edge from the start so it had a pretty sharp edge around the top of the hole toward the edge that the thread guides over. The part doesn't wear thru per say very easily, on mine the portion that had the hole drilled in it wasn't hardened and there was no appreciable wear on it. The thread guide itself is hardened (probably case hardened) but the part that sticks out with the hole in it was easily cut with a file which tells  me it wasn't hardened or had a very poor hardening in that specific area. I think it would have been fine had it had some more meat on it so I could of rounded that edge over however on mine that was not the case.

The Brass (maybe bronze) that I used for this is pretty hard, I got it in a unmarked rod and it behaves like brass just a little harder then what your typical brass rod would be. Not saying it will last forever or anything but Ill keep an eye on it to see how long it holds up. If it starts to wear thru I may look at making one out of stainless next time.

Edited March 24, 2017 by MADMAX22

[brmax]

Interesting tip, thanks

my cobra has a flat ledge at bottom sticking out maybe? an 1/8" with a small thread hole. Versus the ring band as your photo which looks to have plenty room. Looks like a great mod. Good day

Floyd

[SolarLeatherMachines]

 

22 minutes ago, brmax said:

Interesting tip, thanks

my cobra has a flat ledge at bottom sticking out maybe? an 1/8" with a small thread hole. Versus the ring band as your photo which looks to have plenty room. Looks like a great mod. Good day

Floyd

Floss your hole with Mitchell's abrasive thread #51.  It will smooth out the edges and enlarge the hole slightly.  It a long time mechanic's Pro Tip.   All of the machines here at Solar are flossed like this to prevent burrs and chafing.  

https://www.amazon.com/Mitchell-Abrasives-Abrasive-Aluminum-Diameter/dp/B0034G67RW/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1490371016&sr=1-1&keywords=mitchell+abrasive+51 

[gottaknow]

Nylon thread cuts stainless, case hardened steel, anything it rubs against. In a home or hobby machine, you can replace it with about anything and it will last a long time. In a factory, I stock replacement eyelets for everything along the thread path. It's always amazes me what even poly/cotton thread will cut through. For years, Reece used porcelain eyelets on many of their automatic machines. It lasts a very long time and stays smooth throughout it's life.

Regards, Eric

[MADMAX22]

1 hour ago, gottaknow said:

Nylon thread cuts stainless, case hardened steel, anything it rubs against. In a home or hobby machine, you can replace it with about anything and it will last a long time. In a factory, I stock replacement eyelets for everything along the thread path. It's always amazes me what even poly/cotton thread will cut through. For years, Reece used porcelain eyelets on many of their automatic machines. It lasts a very long time and stays smooth throughout it's life.

Regards, Eric

Yep totally agree, all of my older machines the thread tension assemblies the stainless steel disk all have thread grooves cut in them.  Usually go thru and flip them around before buying more. My 441 I didn't feel like ordering a new thread guide attachment so will see how long this last, with my output lately probably quiet a while.

That porcelain sounds cool, gives me some ideas I am going to look into.

1 hour ago, SolarLeatherMachines said:

 

Floss your hole with Mitchell's abrasive thread #51.  It will smooth out the edges and enlarge the hole slightly.  It a long time mechanic's Pro Tip.   All of the machines here at Solar are flossed like this to prevent burrs and chafing.  

https://www.amazon.com/Mitchell-Abrasives-Abrasive-Aluminum-Diameter/dp/B0034G67RW/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1490371016&sr=1-1&keywords=mitchell+abrasive+51 

I tried that initially but on mine there wasn't enough material to form a rounded lip if you will, it basically just kept sharpening it in a way. My CB4500 is from around 2009 I think so Im sure (would hope) they have made several improvements over that time period.

[Chayse]

Just an idea, should the brass/bronze start to wear, you could probably modify an eye from a fishing pole to work...being a diehard Bass fisherman, I have some vintage rods from the 70's (my father's) that I still use today. They show no signs of wear and I strictly use PowerPro braided line. 

Just my .02

 

V/r,

 

Chayse

[MADMAX22]

24 minutes ago, Chayse said:

Just an idea, should the brass/bronze start to wear, you could probably modify an eye from a fishing pole to work...being a diehard Bass fisherman, I have some vintage rods from the 70's (my father's) that I still use today. They show no signs of wear and I strictly use PowerPro braided line. 

Just my .02

 

V/r,

 

Chayse

Yeah that's a great idea. Thanks

[garypl]

I appreciate all the knowledgeable comments - I want to know which questions to ask when looking at machines!