Table drive shaft update

[pat]

Hi as you know we just broke another table drive shaft. We have 1974 model machines or so. On the table drive there is a bearing and housing at the gear box side and then one by the clam shell.

I know that on the more recent model machines there is no bearing housing on the gear box side of the table drive shaft.

I know that someone has made a conversion to make this use only one bearing and still support the drive shaft whe then gear box is removed.

Have any of you performed this conversion? Who makes one? How can I order one? About how mus does this cost.

Thanks in advance for the help.
Pat

[Lampie]

Re: Table drive shaft update

Vantage shaft plate V070-006-765

I have the plates and the bearings.
In two years I had 4 cracked table shafts on the machines with that plate and none on the ones with the extra bearing.
Coincidence???
I don't know.
Martin

[BowlEquip]

Re: Table drive shaft update

Plates and bearings here, too; 1978 production. Had a rash of broken drive shafts soon after I started at this center in 1987, but they were repeats of the same machines done by the previous mechanic. I attributed it to improper alignment and/or improper setting of the locking collar at the bearing.
My experience uncovered that replacing a gearbox can alter the alignment of the shaft. I like to lift up on the bottom of the gearbox with a pry bar prior to tightening the bolts, thereby taking the strain off the bolts. The old style double-bearing setup doesn't require this. I'm looking into the possible reality that two bearings are better, if installed properly.
On my next front end rebuild, I'm going to try to install the smaller bearing/housing assembly on the outside of the motor mounting plate of the cross beam. I'll keep you posted.

[Lampie]

Re: Table drive shaft update

Originally posted by BowlEquip:

My experience uncovered that replacing a gearbox can alter the alignment of the shaft.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good point,
This also explains the different spot and respot rod adjustment after changing a gearbox.

Martin

[raymond]

Re: Table drive shaft update

the plates are from amf, they now use them on the 90's,

[pat]

Re: Table drive shaft update

Hey thanks I see what you all mean about alignment. I think I will keep them.
Thanks all.

Pat

[BowlEquip]

Re: Table drive shaft update

Lampie: Yup! Some years ago, at our sister center, my assistant was swapping sweep &amp; table gearboxes to eliminate table backcoasting. No one could figure why the respot rod was out of adjustment (shifter link) causing the cells not to close. I was aware that after even a tie rod adjustment to level the table (front to back)would alter the finger link/shifter link gap. So I thought this might also affect it. I loosened a gearbox, had someone pry it upward while I gazed at the gap. WOW [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] what a difference a little movement makes!

[Lampie]

Re: Table drive shaft update

I have the plates on all machines at the sweep motor shafts. I don't have a problem with that one but was there originally a bearing there too?
Just a curious question..
Crud...you are allowed to answer this one, but don't spoil my question of the month next time [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

Martin

[NOOLIO]

Re: Table drive shaft update

Pat!
Be glad 'ya got that extra bearing bud.
I was told that AMF replaced the bearing w/ that
"plate"(that obviously supports nothing)to create some gearbox innards sales.Would make sence.
Another perspective:How well/long would your cars crankshaft last with just one bearing/side supported?

Have worked at centers with &amp; without.

Keep 'em if ya got 'em to keep the added stresses off table shaft.Especially shuttle stress; 'beins most shafts seem to break next to shuttle cam.

Ta

Fatty
That's right;I said 'beins

[the old dirt man]

Re: Table drive shaft update

MARTIN... I like to have fun too! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]
I'VE been working on 70's for about 30 years now and i've worked in a number of centers and some had the bearing and some had the plate!
to me it doesn't make any difference as far as the shaft breaking. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]
in 73 I worked in a 40 lane house that was open 24 hrs running 80-100 lines a bed per day and the machines were 3 month's old and the table shafts started breaking [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] sometimes 2-3 a month.
after about a year of breaking shafts AMF came out with the plate and sent enough to do the whole place.
we put on about 15 plates then a shaft broke on one we just put on a week before!
so we never put anymore on until the table shaft broke [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img] and they kept breaking shafts with the plates on. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img] for about another 15 years!
I think it was bad shafts to begin [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img]
maybe AMF got a run of 10,000 bad shafts!
over the years I have had a number of shafts break off where the table drive is bolted on also!
the only thing that plate does is hold the shaft up while putting the motor on!
as far as lifting the motor when putting it back on I don't think it makes any difference!
the place I'M at now I pulled all the motors about 4 years ago and lubed the splines and didn't lift up the motors and haven't had a shaft break! :p
about 10 years ago I put in a vantage shaft and it broke 3 weeks later! LOL...NEVER USED ANOTHER ONE SINCE!
I know of centers that never broke a table shaft for 5-10 years or more and others break a few a year. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img] it's just me DIRT.

[vinson]

Re: Table drive shaft update

One thing the extra bearing does is save your expansion plugs on the motors from popping out when a shaft breaks, they should be checked anyway when as haft breaks,just in case.