Thread: Douglas Shaper Eccentric Pin Question

Take the clapper box off first.
The square bolt is on a cam,it only releases a little so that the tool head can be rotated.
When the clapper box is reinstalled you adjust the fit between it and the ram so the square bolt pulls up tight,and releases enough to rotate it.

Hi Rodd,
Welcome to the club lol
You say Eccentric then you say unscrews. That confuses me a little so starting with the easiest first.
That pin is a cam not a thread. On my shaper its held in with a grub screw but I really see no need for it. Are you trying to lift it out or unscrew it?

I'm pretty sure one of the guys here has one of those.

Stuart

To remove the eccentric pin, loosen it and lift it out. The tool head will be unsecured then.

Jordan

Hi guys,

Thanks for the input.

Happy that I was heading down the wrong path trying to 'unscrew it'.

The pin tightens / loosens across about 1/2 a turn. Irrespective of tight / loose the head is incredibly hard to rotate.

I had a quick look and I don't see any grub screw holding it in? Had a little scratch around as well and cannot find anything securing it in either?

Tried to lift it out (not a lot to get purchase on) but it seems to be fairly well secured. I tried to get a lever under the pin (from inside the ram) to push the pin out without success.

Any suggestions on how to help it out if it is a little stuck??

Have you either removed or released the clapper box/vertical from the ram.

Sorry - forgot to mention - the clapper box / vertical height assembly is off the ram

Have you taken the vertical slide of by screwing the handle (off the dovetails) or by unscrewing the complete head assembly off the cam adjusting bolt.

Originally Posted by Rodd Perrin

The pin tightens / loosens across about 1/2 a turn. Irrespective of tight / loose the head is incredibly hard to rotate.

Long shot, but I've noticed that the tool head spigot on mine is a very close fit. It's not interference, but unless it's carefully slid out nice and straight, it tends to tilt over and jam. Could it be that's what's happening with yours? Maybe try tapping it back in with a soft faced hammer, and try again.

Jordan

Thought a photo of where I am at may help.

I have tried to get the head assembly off the cam bolt, but it seem pretty stuck. Currently drowning in WD40 to try to loosen things up (bolt on the assembly and the interface between the ram and the angle scale)

Jordan: I agree, I think it is a *very* close fit (and/or gummed up with dried oil). There is no play in it what so ever!

Rodd.

In future if you want to get the slide/clapper off it will come off in one piece.

You may have to lower the table to clear the handle.

This would of been a bit easier if the ram was still on the machine.

When you turn the square do you see the degree head move,it should move forward creating a gap between the ram and the round degree dial.

This gap is caused by the eccentric action of the squared headed pin.

If for some reason when you rotate the square pin the degree head does not move,it will require a tap/hit to break the seal it has with its mating face/spigot.

To know when you can hit it,rotate the square pin from side to side noteing where it stops both times,then put it in the centre of these marks and hit it,you will have to hit it untill the seal breaks between the face/spigot.

Once you see a gap you will then have to rotate the degree head 2 to 3 full turns,maybe less,by doing this you will eliminate the effect of the eccentric.

(You can continue to unscrew the degree head from the front of the ram if you wish.)

Once you have the gap between the degree head and ram the square pin can be fully rotated.

The square pin is held into the ram by a reamed hole ,this hole is blind.

THERE IS NOTHING SECURING/HOLDING THE SQUARE PIN IN THE RAM.

If you cant turn the square pin a full 360 degrees you will have to use a suitable means of either penertate or force untill you can.

If the need arises you can use a lever of some type to lift the square pin,be mindfull if you do this to work around the square pin evenly.

Hi Pipeclay,

Thanks for the reply - will try tonight/over the weekend.

There is little (no?) play in the whole head assembly / ram interface.

When the head moves, the degree scale does rotate (so something is happening!)

I will pop the ram back on the machine and tighten up the gib to hold it secure while try to rotate the head.

Thanks for the ideas so far

I'll report back on my progress.......

Rodd

These are not ideas its, what you will have to do to get it off.
If the degree head turns ,keep turning untill the action of the cam dosent work,you will need a clearance of around ..060"/.080" to achieve this.

Hi Rodd, and welcome,
I have mine in bits at the moment and went and took some photos for you. If you look at the pictures and read Pipeclays reply it should show you show it works.

Dave

Hi Pipeclay and Dave (et al)

Success!!

Pipeclay - thanks for the detailed instructions.

Dave - thanks for the pictures, they really helped me understand what is now blatantly obvious.

The eccentric pin pulls the clapper housing / vertical assembly into the ram locking in the angular setting. Loosening the eccentric allows you to change the settings

Took less time to do than write the reply.

Thanks for the information - gota love the forum

Rodd