[TheForge] Clutch lining material for a 50lb Little Giant

[Dr. Stephen A Bloom]

At 07:23 PM 9/26/2012, Jerry wrote:
>Thank you for such an encourageing and entertaining "Easy LG Clutch Change"
>tips and tricks expose, [snip] Think I'm okay using an electric winch?

I have one of the electric units Harbor Freight sells (the 880 lb one 
$120) - it has a two hasp (squared U-shaped suspension system about 
12" or so apart.  I've lifted the barrel of a 57mm cannon with it 
(*real* carefully since the barrel is about a half ton), and it 
performed without a hitch.  I could have crawled into the rafters 
(10' up) - unbolted the unit from the 4x6 beam spanning several 
trusses (with a steel square bar hanging below the beam - around 
which those "U" suspensions points are bolted ), climb down the 
ladder while juggling the non-inconsequential weight of the hoist, 
then figure out a way to replicate the suspension all of 15' away 
(I-beams & a trolley, I knew I should have hung I-beams!) over the 
power hammer.  And, of course, when the dust and grease settled, put 
the electric guy back where it usually lived.

Instead, I opted for the chain hoist ($60 from HF for the 2-ton 
model, though I bought mine years ago when I was doing timber framing 
on my house).   The total weight of the pulley, flywheel, and shaft 
on a 50lb isn't impossible to dead lift ...ok..maybe 20 years ago - 
not so much now.  When the assembly was sitting on a heavy sawhorse, 
I could lift one end, drag everything a few inches, then reset, so 
total weight probably was under a couple hundred pounds.  On a 100 lb 
hammer, I would suspect WAY more.  You might wonder why the drag?  To 
get it under the electric hoist so I could use that to lift the 
pulley and then lower it when the lining was back on.

Sid sells 2 DVDs -- "Rebuilding the Little Giant Power Hammer" -- 
well worth the money.  If I had the DVD (ok - and watched it!) before 
winging the first relining, I wouldn't be doing it again.

Parts came in today about 2:00 PM.  By 4:00, the lining was in place 
and we were ready for the lift.   By 4:30, the heavy work was 
done.  My wife (who was (1) amazed at how easy a chain hoist  lifts 
things and (2) somewhat grease splattered) did the chain pulling 
while I kept the parts from hanging up until the head assembly was 
over the hammer.  I fought to get a hinged washer on (to remove maybe 
1/8" of play in the system) and got the beast ready to button up 
tomorrow morning when I shut down for dinner.

If I had to do it again (or on a bigger hammer), I would seriously 
think of rigging up a trolley for the lift point.  The hammer has a 
motor to one side, a tongs/hammer/utility unit to the other, and the 
arm and die assembly in front.  So that kind of leaves the 
rear.  Even then, there is still a foot or so that needs to be 
handled from a central lift point to clear the rear bearing mount and 
the spine of the hammer.  For a 50 lb'er, I was able to just hold the 
assembly out at the angle that allowed the lift to occur from the 
center point and not whack anything.  Of course, that took several 
resets of the ladder to keep everything safe and under control (hence 
30 minutes to lift something 7 feet).

With a little luck, I'll have the brake installed, the bearings 
re-torque and the treadle back in place before lunch.  THEN it's time 
to see if it all works and finally finish a batch of Damscus..

Steve