Thread: Needing Help with Stanley No4 Plane

A couple of things spring to mind. If your plane is a more recent model, the 'wheel' may be ferrous metal, not brass as on the planes of last century, so the seized thread could be simply due to corrosion. A good dose of your favourite solution for loosening stuck threads should be all you need.

If the adjuster wheel is brass, corrosion shouldn't be the issue, it's more likely the thread on the stud has incurred some minor damage, which is an occasional problem, especially if someone has used pliers or multi-grips to tighten the stud in the frog. Minor damage is usually pretty easy to fix. All you need to do is tidy up any damaged thread on the stud. The typical way to do this is to run it through a die nut. Unfortunately, the thread of the stud that the adjuster wheel runs on is both non-"standard", and a left-hand thread to boot, i.e. it runs the opposite way to a typical thread, so the dies are both rare & costly.

The next best bet is to use a thread-file, but they aren't cheap & it would be silly to buy one to fix a single stud, so the alternative I'd turn to is to (very) carefully clean the damaged area with a needle file. The angle of a 3-square needle file won't match the thread angle exactly, but it's usually just the tips of the thread lands that are burred, & all it takes is a gentle swipe or two of the file to get rid of the burr.

To unscrew the seized wheel, hold the stud in a vise fitted with either aluminium or wooden jaws so you don't create more damage, and screw the wheel off after you have removed any damage in the direction you want to move it.

Cheers,

Many thanks for your support and advice Ian.
I decided to go to our local Men Shed in Toronto NSW.
They were very helpful and with wisdom and the right tools they loosened the Adjustment wheel and cleaned the thread both on the main thread holding the adjuster wheel and within the frog.
I am going to replace the adjustment wheel and thread with the assistance of Scribbly Gum
There is still slight damaged to the thread in the frog and only time will tell if it holds up once reassembled and in use.
Thanks again and I will keep you up to date.
Michael

Looks like you're in very good hands & well on your way to a functioning plane.....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by MichaelGT

Many thanks for your support and advice Ian.
I decided to go to our local Men Shed in Toronto NSW.
They were very helpful and with wisdom and the right tools they loosened the Adjustment wheel and cleaned the thread both on the main thread holding the adjuster wheel and within the frog.
I am going to replace the adjustment wheel and thread with the assistance of Scribbly Gum
There is still slight damaged to the thread in the frog and only time will tell if it holds up once reassembled and in use.
Thanks again and I will keep you up to date.
Michael

Just an update Michael - I have a wheel adjuster that fits Stanley, but the threaded rods/posts are from other planes it seems. They are definitely not Stanley - some are too thick, others too narrow and others have a different thread.
So it's wheel only I'm sorry to say.
Tom

That's alright Tom I appreciate all your help.
Michael

Originally Posted by MichaelGT

That's alright Tom I appreciate all your help.
Michael

No worries Michael.
Do you still need the wheel adjuster?
I have one for you if you do - send me your address details if so.
Cheers
Tom