How to dismantle an odd chuck

[balmerchris]

I've got this old cardinal 3/4 chuck of my big pillar drill, it's done a 36 hour stint in the electrolysis tank and cleaned up nicely. The problem is its full of dirt and chips and needs taken apart for a good clean.
Does anyone know how or even if it comes apart?
I've taken apart jacobs chucks before but this is the first cardinal I have even seen and I can't figure out how it's assembled.

 

[Seadog]

Your second picture seems to show a line between the knurling and the teeth. It's possible that the outer part is screwed on. You'd need to devise some way of locking the teet,h then unscrewing the outer knurled portion. Alternatively, it may just be pressed on. It might pay to look closely with a loupe, at the apparent join, to see if you can detect whether it is a thread or not.

 

[balmerchris]

I just found this pic and it looks like there is a thread where you suggest. Would it be a left hand thread?

 

[Seadog]

It could be, but there's no reason for it to be that I can think of.

I've two Albrecht chucks which I've taken apart. I had a spare piece of ally flat about 10mm thick, set it up in the lathe and bored it to be an exact fit on the plain part of the body, then I split it on one side so that it could be closed in a vice. Using a strap wrench on the knurled part I was able to unscrew the outer. I'll put a picture on if I can find the plate.

 

[balmerchris]

It could be, but there's no reason for it to be that I can think of.

I've two Albrecht chucks which I've taken apart. I had a spare piece of ally flat about 10mm thick, set it up in the lathe and bored it to be an exact fit on the plain part of the body, then I split it on one side so that it could be closed in a vice. Using a strap wrench on the knurled part I was able to unscrew the outer. I'll put a picture on if I can find the plate.

good idea seadog I must have a butchers in work for a piece of ally.

 

[MattF]

Put the chuck key in, grab both the taper and chuck key with your hand so that the chuck key/ring doesn't rotate, and then unscrew the knurled outer cover. I seem to recall that's how the older style chucks part, (the ones which don't have a chuck key), so that one should be similar.

 

[Seadog]

You should be able to put the chuck key in, grab both the taper and chuck key so with your hand so that the chuck key/ring doesn't rotate, and then unscrew the knurled outer cover.

Not if it's anything like my chucks. Unless you're lucky of course, or built like a gorilla

But it's definitely worth a try, nothing to lose.

 

[MattF]

Not if it's anything like my chucks. Unless you're lucky of course, or built like a gorilla

But it's definitely worth a try, nothing to lose.

I've managed to almost accidentally dismantle some of mine on a few occasions, when changing the bit. Sod's law says though that when you're actually trying to dismantle it, it won't shift for love nor money.

 

[balmerchris]

I'll have to improvise because I have no key for it.

 

[MattF]

If you want to leave off dismantling it for a while Chris, I'm almost certain I have a knackered one of those chucks knocking about somewhere, (some animal shredded the key ring), which I can try dismantling, (if I can remember where I put it), to save you risking damaging yours. Can't make that one much worse than it is if something goes awry during dismantling, and if I can find it and get it apart, it should make it easier for you to see what's what.

 

[balmerchris]

If you want to leave off dismantling it for a while Chris, I'm almost certain I have a knackered one of those chucks knocking about somewhere, (some animal shredded the key ring), which I can try dismantling, (if I can remember where I put it), to save you risking damaging yours. Can't make that one much worse than it is if something goes awry during dismantling, and if I can find it and get it apart, it should make it easier for you to see what's what.

Great idea Matt. That would be better than me swinging on mine the wrong way. Thanks.

 

[balmerchris]

Got it apart tonight. Turned it upside down and clamped the ring gear in the vice as tight as I dared without causing damage. Then wrapped a rag round the knurled part and used my knipex cobra pliers to open it up.
Lots of chips and dirt inside as well as some original grease.

Got the parts soaking in some degreaser over night. Hopefully get it cleaned up tomorrow.

 

[MattF]

Glad to see you got it apart Chris. That one of mine hasn't appeared, (I've been shifting the workshop around, so been keeping an eye out for it), so God only knows where I stashed that.

 

[balmerchris]

I finally got the chuck all cleaned out and loosely back together. Should I use some light oil or grease for lubrication on the moving parts?

 

[MattF]

Just oil, never grease. Grease will cling to swarf like nobody's business if owt gets in there, so just a drop or two of oil on occasion is all you need.

 

[Seadog]

3-in-1 or similar

 

[balmerchris]

Thanks chaps.