WIP - Restoring a Bradley 40lb Helve Hammer

deker said:
Touch Luck Matt! If nothing else, center punch that bolt end, and drill it out until you just have a thin shell and the threads left. Then, pick out the rest with something long and thin.

-d
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Or drill a smaller hole in the bolt end and use an Easy out...easiest way with minimal risk of damaging the ID thread...anything aggressive like that on something as old as that is a HUGE risk and should be last resort. Before using the easy out method spray in the thread for a couple days with WD-40 or CRC that will help lube it and free it up a little.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/gegvasco/Easyout.jpg You can get much larger easy outs, judging by that it looks to be a large diameter bolt.

EDIT: Also shock load it a bit, use a punch or something that can get to it and the impact can free it up quite a bit.
 
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Thanks, guys. What I'll likely end up doing is making a hoist and pulling the entire upper assembly - this will allow me to 1) remove all load from the sheared bolt, and 2) get right to the unbroken end. I'll be able to grab it from there, and I'll probably just grind some flats on it and wrench it out.

Here's an exploded parts view of the hammer. The bolt in question is part no. 17. As you can tell from the drawing, this is what holds the helve husk in place, and acts as a pinch fulcrum for the helve husk.

hammer exploded diagram.jpg
 
That explains it a lot better! great image too, seems like a very simple but effective tool...is that a period maintenance manual drawing for it? how did you even find that? :D
 
Yes, it's part of the original 'service' manual. I got lucky. Phil Cox is a blacksmith in Missouri that collects these hammers - he sent me a copy of his original owner's manual, which I scanned and host on my website. Cooler still, I've been emailing back and forth with Cortland Machine & Tool (the company that currently holds the rights to the Bradley name), and they're looking to see if they have a replacement bolt!!!

Phil has helped me immensely, btw... the guy is an incredible wealth of info on these hammers.
 
Finally, something to update!!

Cool story first...

The guy I buy my firewood from decided to retire this year. He stopped by the house early this summer to tell me, and also to refer a friend of his as a new source. "You'll get along swell - he collects antique tractors and stuff". So the long, hot summer goes by, with nary a thought passing through my brain regarding firewood. Sure as you're born, the mercury finally starts to drop and I manage to crawl out from under my rock and commence prepping my wood shelter for the next batch. I remember to call the new guy, and Joe (the new guy) says that five cords won't be an issue.

"It's all cherry, though..." (you can just sense my heartbreak after hearing this)

"...and it's cut a bit oversize. I have a big fireplace. Is this okay?" (you've gotta be kidding me - is this guy for real?)

Cut to his delivery. Overlooking that the wood is nothing short of superb (really - almost a shame it ended up as firewood rather than a piece of furniture. THAT good!). I remember to ask him about his old tractors, and that leads to his obsession with all sorts of old machinery. Lathes, mills, drills - you name it. Of course, I have to show him my own monstrosity, and I mention to him that I'm in a bit of a quandary. After examining the machine, he asks to see the sheared bolt.

"How soon do you need it?" says Joe.

Here it is, just a few days later. How's it look?

6154252088_c032a4b49c_b.jpg


Now to finally start to disassemble the helve husk, clean everything up, and remove the broken stub for the pivot!!!!!
 
So that was the big hold up? For crying out loud, I could have made that. And people give me shit for not finishing things. :foot: :D

Very cool!

I hope you get that thing running before you're too old to use it.
 
LOL I could have done that on the CNC at work in 5 mins and sent it off in a courier bag to ya! :p

Good to see its moving forward again!
 
Awesome! Get with it! The more I study hammers the more I want one(or three).... This and Wheeler's chopper WIP are my favorite WIP's.
 
I think they call those square head set screws-dog point, you can buy them.

Is it important that the head be smaller than the thread?
If so you can grind it down from an existing screw easier than scratch build.


They are Grade 8 or better, like other set screws.
Unless it was a really odd size you can't get now,
it may be better to buy the higher grade screws.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#steel-square-head-set-screws/=e3gasq
 
Having fixed quite a few old mills, lathe and shapers you'll find some companies use their own size, lead angle and pitch to keep business with them and not a 3rd party aftermarket supplier.
 
Robert.B said:
Having fixed quite a few old mills, lathe and shapers you'll find some companies use their own size, lead angle and pitch to keep business with them and not a 3rd party aftermarket supplier.
Click to expand...

Yep. This is an extremely unusual thread size, pitch and pattern. I have yet to find anything on this machine that can be sourced with off-the-shelf parts.
 
Matthew dont let Nick rib you too bad about not finishing yet, Ive had a #7 Beaudry in my yard for a year still not in the shop!! Im thinking about installing a smaller hammer, maybe a #50-#100, until I build my "finale" shop to instal the #7 in.

Post some more pics as you get to the next stages.
 
RMLamey said:
Matthew dont let Nick rib you too bad about not finishing yet,
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I don't take anything Nick says seriously. He's just bitter at me because he's pudgy. :D

I think the last time I spoke to you, that Beaudry was sitting outside and you were making plans on getting it indoors. Funny how life gets past us, eh?
 
Thats funny! A ten pound stick calling someone pudgy!:very_drunk::eagerness::rolleyes:
 
Last year was a seriously suck year for me, so this project got back-burnered in a bad way. Hopefully things will be different this coming year - I feel bad that things just got left hanging, but I guess that's just how it rolls some times!

Someone on another forum mentioned that they didn't know what the heck I was working on, as all my shots don't really show what it's supposed to look like:

19th_century_knowledge_blacksmithing_power_helve_hammer.jpg
 
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