Thread: Wadkin LP Boring and Recessing Machine.

After ten months in storage, the LP made it home on Saturday evening.

aLP 50.jpg Nope, it only did the last 10km in that trailer - with insufficient air in the tyres .

Many thanks to a friend who went out of his way to collect it.

It'll be on that trailer for another 3 weeks until my son and I are both free on a weekend. In the meanwhile I'm lightening it a little. First I removed the non-OEM motor bracket. Then the table raise/lower "piston".

aLP 51.jpg aLP 52.jpg

The piston shaft is hollow, but was blocked with woodchips and shavings.

aLP 56.jpg aLP 57.jpg

Originally Posted by Vann

...there is a collar (shown) which again is fixed by a grub screw with a pin. Finally, at the left end of the shaft is an 8" diameter cast-iron handwheel - this time held on by two grub screws with a pin.

Or it should be, but there was only one grub screw present, and it didn't align with it's hole either...

Well in all those woodchips were two nuts, a screw, a washer, and (trumpets please) the missing grub screw. A small victory .

aLP 58.jpg

I also have managed to get the taper pin out of the foot pedal, and the foot pedal off. The spindle still has me stumped and the spindle counterweight won't come out unless I lay the machine on its side.

Cheers for now, Vann.

Great machine ! Cant wait to see it done up and hear what you think of it Vann .

Rob

Did you manage to get the table column out, I tried on mine when I first got it but couldn't raise it enough with the head spindle in place.

Originally Posted by wallace1973

Did you manage to get the table column out, I tried on mine when I first got it but couldn't raise it enough with the head spindle in place.

Yes it came out with a bit of a fight, but not too much.

Mine may be different to yours, because of the four LPs known, unfortunately only mine does not appear to have the rotating table . I'm not sure how the rotation takes place on yours. Is there a turntable at the top of the column/piston, or does the rack slide on the column like a modern drill press table?

Anyway, assuming yours is similar to mine, there's nothing on the bottom to stop it coming out (just gravity). I'd already taken the side handwheel and mechanism off back in January. There was also a small casting at the top of the rack (held on by 2 bolts) to remove. Then it was just a matter of getting enough leverage under the column to lift and pack - there was sufficient friction to stop it dropping back after each lift. When I found the right spanner, the chuck came out easily, giving sufficient room to get the column out (the spindle was at it's lowest possible point and was lifted a little by the column over the last inch or two).

The whole assembly (column with table support, and rack) was fairly heavy, but manageable. I was able to pick it up and step down out of that trailer, then walk it the 30m to my workshop/garage without problem

aLP 52.jpg

aLP 59.jpg Bottom end of column and rack.

Cheers, Vann.

I think mine is similar to the LQ where it has some round ways and you can slacken a clamp to rotate by hand

It's been a productive weekend. I got most of the spindle out (haven't yet figured out how to get the pulley section out of the top), disassembled and degreased.

aLP 60.jpg

Now to de-rust and repaint where applicable.

The bottom end bearing is a Hoffman marked M12 V3 on the outer race and MS12 V3 on the inner race. Interesting, because Matty found he had an RM10-MB self aligning bearing on his.

aLP 61.jpg

It feels to be in good condition, and might yet get re-used. I believe Wadkin frequently used Hoffman bearings, so this might be the original. I believe there are two smaller bearings at the top end.

Cheers, Vann.

I managed to get the LP off the trailer by myself. I collapsed one of the pallets under the LP to lower it. After that I made a ramp out of a couple of 4” x 4” fence posts, then used a single pipe roller to inch it off the trailer and down the ramp onto the garage floor (with about 2” clearance under the door).

In a succession of lifts, first one end then the other, I removed all the timber that was bolted and screwed underneath.

Then last weekend I decided to tip the frame onto its side (with the help of my son) in order to get out the vertical counterweight that lurks inside the back column of the frame. It was awkward to get the pivot pins out – especially the one at the top where there is minimal clearance. It will be a sod to get that one back in.

LP 61.jpg

The counterweight is a link in the mechanism that allows the operator to lower the spindle via the foot pedal. It’s a solid length of ø2⅝” steel or iron bar, and weighs over 57lbs (26kg). Under all the sawdust stuck to it, it was black. It’s now red (just ‘cause I’ve got spare red paint).

LP 62.jpg LP 63a.jpg It goes waay up in there .

A lot of guys seem to paint the inside of their Wadkins red, though I’m sure it should be red oxide (a very brown red). Anyways, this should be black, so I can’t point the finger.

At the top end of the counterweight is this lever...

LP 65.jpg

...which pivots in the centre and is connected to the spindle housing at the front (RH) end. It, and the little “H” pivot casting are now in what I call “early Wadkin grey” – a much darker grey than the RAL 7011 used on more modern Wadkins (can 1936 on, be called modern?). Also derusted and repainted is the foot pedal. However, the foot pedal pivot shaft and the arm from the shaft to the counterweight are still stuck in the frame. Their removal will have to wait until it’s upright again.

LP 64.jpg

Cheers, Vann

The counterweight is now ready to go back into the frame, with the painting now finished and pins cleaned up. The pins have some wear, but this is not a precision linkage so I'll reuse them.

aLP 66.jpg

Here's how it all links together.

aLP 67.jpg

The whole assembly pivots on the "H" link (centre of top horizontal lever), and at the bottom (left-hand end of foot pedal). The vertical casting (top right-hand) is a sleeve that fits into the head of the frame and has the spindle fitted inside it.

The missing arm is still in the frame (below).

LP 64.jpg

The counterweight is connected at the fork in this arm (bottom - needs rotating ~80 degrees clockwise) and the footpedal connects to the shaft in the centre of this pikkie (other end) with a large taper pin.

Cheers, Vann.

After plenty of wondering (and consulting a rare few old catalogues) I’d concluded that the LP was probably released about 1922, or 1929 (with the earlier date being the more likely). I’d also established that mine was not quite one of the first (that being obvious from the serial number anyway) as it is not to the original format – mine has the slightly larger table with a square bar (not the original round bar) across the front.

aLPt1.jpg Original table.

aLPt2.jpg Modified table - as fitted to my LP.


I’m now in possession of a copy of the test sheet for LP 410, which tells me mine was tested on 1^st September, 1925 – so it celebrated it’s 93^rd birthday just a week and a half ago.


LP 410 Test Sheet.jpg

This makes it my oldest (powered) machine - by 13 months (my RB buzzer dates to October, 1926). Nice .

Thanks Mr. Wilson.

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Vann

I’m now in possession of a copy of the test sheet for LP 410, which tells me mine was tested on 1^st September, 1925 – so it celebrated it’s 93^rd birthday just a week and a half ago.

Now there is an awesome piece of provenance!

How on earth did you manage to score that lovely little item?

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

...How on earth did you manage to score that lovely little item?

I got it from the people who acquired Wadkins records. I'm just double-checking to see if I can say more.

Cheers, Vann.

While working on the linkage, I’ve also been working on the table raise/lower mechanism.

aLP26.jpg aLP25.jpg

All the parts, cleaned, de-rusted, and repainted.

aLP 68.jpg

The shaft for the gear wheel rides in steel bushes – each retained by a ¼” BSW grub screw. The grub screw is pointed and locates into a dimple in the bush.


aLP 69.jpg Grub screw before being driven home.

The gear wheel is retained on the shaft by a 1¼” long ♯3 taper pin. There's ~2mm side play between the gear wheel and it's housing. I'm sure I haven't lost a washer/spacer, but I'm not the first to take this machine apart. Leaving that much play spreads the wear on the steel gear teeth I suppose .

aLP 70.jpg aLP 71.jpg

The handwheel is retained on it’s shaft by a 2¾” long ♯5 taper pin.

There are two lubrication holes in the top of the housing. One has a brass cover and is for lubricating the screw/handwheel shaft. The other is open and is for lubricating the gears. I think I might make up a wooden bung for this one.

aLP 72.jpg

All assembled and waiting to be put back on the machine.

aLP23.jpg Before.

aLP 73.jpg After.


Cheers, Vann.

Looking very special Vann!!

Looking good Vann !!
Melbourne Matty.