I need a bigger hammer, ugh!!

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
I bought a Harbor Freight 8 by 12 lathe a couple months ago and am slowly gettin into usin it and so far I love it. Well, today I was workin on a couple projects and one of them required center to center set up so I go to remove the chuck. Nu uh says Mr. Three Jaw. I can't get the thing to budge. Even grabbed the drive pulley with my hand and stuck the key in the chuck and smacked it with a good size dead blow hammer several times and it just won't let go.
Anyone have any experience with these things?
What could be the problem?
Think the factory might have put a dab of lock tite on the threads for shipping so the chuck wouldn't vibrate loose or something?
If so, what do I use to break it loose?

HEP ME, PWEASE HEP MEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
 
Long shot, but are you turning it right way? ON cordless drills at least, if memory serves(too lazy to go grrab one off the shelf and look, now that I use drill rpess for everything) they are threaded in reverse, so turn to right to loosen.

Just an idea.
 
In the past I have been caught approaching problems like this with the biggest wrench that will fit and about 6ft of pipe situated in such a manner that I can jump up and down on it.....while it has been mildly successful I should also let you in on the fact that manufacturers tend to frown on this, especially the warranty department, and don't fall for you telling them it was on page 6 in the product manual (no sense of humor go figure :confused: ). And while craftsmen maintains their garauntee it becomes a don't ask don't tell, with frequent dirty looks kind of relationship ;)
 
Lmao Mattt!!!
I imagine they feel the same way about dead blow hammers too, lol!

Ept, the chuck is right hand thread I'm sure but just for the fun of it I tried both directions.

The main problem seems to be the lack of a mechanism to keep the spindle from turning.
Theres nothing sticking out the back to grab or holes to put a rod or screw driver thru or anything.
Guess I'm gonna have to make an "ADJUSTMENT" to it, lol.
Anyone have any ideas I'd appreciate the info!
 
It's been a long time since I took a chuck off a lathe, but I remember taking and aluminum block (wood would probably work as well) and sitting it on the ways, then bringing the chuck jaws around to sit on the block. This should keep the spindle from turning(place lathe in low gear if it still turns), then put the spanner wrench on and hold the chuck tight against the block and give it a couple of sharp raps with a hammer/rubber mallet. Hope this helps, like I said it's been a long time.

Mark
 
Harbor Freight, tech support??
ROFLMAO

JH, I tried that, couldn't keep the strap wrench on the pulley.

Mark, sounds like a plan but what do I put the spanner wrench on? Theres nothing on the butt end of the spindle on this lathe except two screwy lookin rings with notches in em. Guess ones for holding the pulley on and the other is a lock ring. I'll have to take em off and go to the hardware store and buy a nut to replace em.
That and your tip should do the trick!!

Thanks for the help guys!!!
I love this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Daggummit, they musta used the whole bottle of loctite on this chuck.
I took the info plate off the head and gained access to the spindle. That allowed me to get a good size pipe wrench on it.
I used Mark's suggestion and placed a block of wood on the ways under the chuck so the jaws would catch on it and then tried turning the spindle with the wrnch. Guess what? :barf:
I'm so far down in the hole I'm actually gonna give HF's customer service a call, lmao!!
I'll let you guys know what they have to say about it.
 
I dont know the HF line, but if it is a standard Lathe set up;

There should be a lock collar immediately behind the chuck, This collar tightens the chuck against the taper sleeve that lines it up on the spindle. There should be a funny looking wrench that looks like a halfto 3/4 crescent, this slips over the lock collar. The crescent looking wrench is then hit with a Hammer to break the grip created by the Taper (counter clockwise). Have some wood underneath the chuck or you will see it rolling along the floor after hitting various body parts.
There are some European Lathes that have allen bolts attaching, sometimes directly behind the jaws( you need to remove the Jaws to take the chuck off)

Good luck.
 
If you find your lathe on the HF site, there is a link to a PDF file on it. They are more detailed than the instructions that came with it, if you even got any.
 
If you find your lathe on the HF site, there is a link to a PDF file on it. They are more detailed than the instructions that came with it, if you even got any.

Thanks Mike!!
Didn't even think about that.
All they sent with the lathe was a parts list.
Kinda crappy with a $400 purchase aint it.

Toolie, thanks for the info but the collar behind the chuck is just smooth, no notches or flat spots on it for a wrench to fit in or on.

I'm off to see the pdf wizard!!
 
You solved the problem for me Mike, thanks!!
The reason I couldn't unscrew the chuck is it doesn't screw onto the spindle. The back plate is part of the spindle and theres three allen screws that hold the chuck on it. You have to remove them from between the lathe head and the back plate with a stubby allen wrench that came with the lathe.
I'm either going to pull the spindle and take it to a machinist and have the backer plate part removed and then have the spindle turned down and threaded for a screw on chuck or try doing it myself after I read up on cutting threads. I've never seen a lathe chuck like this before. It sure is a pain in the butt to remove and put back on!

Thanks for all the help folks!!!
Forumites are the best!
 
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