Pit support bracket

[8270king]

I had a pit support bracket let go over the weekend.

I pulled the pit today and replaced it.

It was a new style bracket.

All my machines have the new brackets both sides.

I have never seen a new style bracket break before.

When I put the pit back together.....fired it up....no carpet move [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img] rear roller was not turning [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img] even though the pulley was tuning....I must have knocked the shaft loose when I installed the repacked bearing.... [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

JK

[Coors]

Re: Pit support bracket

ive had prob 6 or 7 of the new style brackets break. at least they look easy to weld. at least i never know they break til i rip a pit apart.

[Alan Meyers]

Re: Pit support bracket

My experience with the new style pit supports over the past two years or so is, they break much more frequently than the original style BUT at least the bounce plate will stay at the correct height and you can pull the pit at your convenience.

[the old dirt man]

Re: Pit support bracket

what brand of these brackets are you using.
AMF started making them thicker a few years ago about twice as thick as the originals! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]
but it's too bad there not made right! is your bounce plate flat like the bracket noooo.
the old style brackets were angled like the bounce plate so if your using a hard stiff vibration dampener something is going to break down the road.

[Ed Fox]

Re: Pit support bracket

I mentioned this a couple of years ago and someone here snapped at me...told me I was DEAD WRONG...improve on the idea but make it from crap metal. Go figure. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

Charlie [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

ps.We break a few of them a year.

[BowlEquip]

Re: Pit support bracket

The "new style" ones are made of cold-rolled steel and BENT into a 90° angle. Many of learned in physics class that when you bend steel, it tempers (hardens) at the bend. Harder also means less resilient, or more brittle. Brittle + impact + vibration = breakage.

I've started using the 82/90 style pit support bracket. First of all, it's a piece of 3/16" thick, 3"x 3" angle iron. I don't believe it will break within 10 years. The studs may get worn or break before the bracket goes, but that's easily fixed. (By the way, the studs are COARSE thread).

Secondly, there's only one size for all four locations, all short.

Unfortunately, you have to perform a simple modification for them to fit on 30 and 70 kickback plates that have those welded-on pieces of key stock for supports (about 1/8" square x 2" long). Cut away about 1" of the downward-protruding leg of the bracket. If you only cut one leg, it will only fit one side. We did both legs, creating a universal support for all locations.

Be sure to use very hard hardware (Grade 9 is available from McMaster-Carr) and hog the livin' _______ out of it when tightening.