Gauge repair?

Ga Mtn Man · July 18, 2013, 08:46:36 PM

TK uses a liquid filled pressure gauge on the blade tension mechanism of the 2000. The screws holding the dial face in place have vibrated loose and can be seen floating around inside the gauge. The gauge seems to be working OK otherwise. I'm wondering if it's possible to drain the liquid and take the gauge apart to fix it? I know they're not that expensive but still, a bucks a buck. ;D

POSTON WIDEHEAD · July 18, 2013, 08:49:43 PM

I've always heard if it ain't broke don't fix it.
However..... me personally......If I were to try and take my gauge apart and fix it, I would surly have a new one in stock to replace it. Even if the dial face were to turn, you will still know your tension by where the arrow points....know what I mean?

As long as its working Paul.....I'd leave it alone.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Ga Mtn Man · July 18, 2013, 09:00:37 PM

When I said it seemed to be working normally otherwise, I guess that really wasn't quite true :-[. The loose dial face seems to be interfering with the pointer and it stops before it reaches it's "normal" position. Maybe there's more wrong with it than just the loose screws.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · July 18, 2013, 09:05:55 PM

Quote from: Ga Mtn Man on July 18, 2013, 09:00:37 PM
When I said it seemed to be working normally otherwise, I guess that really wasn't quite true :-[. The loose dial face seems to be interfering with the pointer and it stops before it reaches it's "normal" position. Maybe there's more wrong with it than just the loose screws.

Call ~~Woodmizer~~ TK in the morning and tell them to send you one before you lose your gauge.

Ga Mtn Man · July 18, 2013, 09:31:00 PM

A nice thing about the spring tension system is that you can measure the spring length to set the tension. 1-7/8" on a TK 2000. Doesn't give you any way to monitor the tension, but it'll get you by until you can ~~repair the~~ purchase a new gauge. :laugh:

Cutting Edge · July 18, 2013, 11:17:12 PM

Quote from: Ga Mtn Man on July 18, 2013, 09:00:37 PMMaybe there's more wrong with it than just the loose screws. materhead

;D

xlogger · July 19, 2013, 04:01:55 AM

Paul I'm on my second gauge and it does not work. I just measure the spring. I think Steve does the same thing also. Ricky

ladylake · July 19, 2013, 06:35:12 AM

My gauge hasn't worked for years, once snugged up it's 9 full turns to the right tension. On the 2000 it's 4-1/2 full turns, Tk uses a courser tread on the 2000. Steve

bandmiller2 · July 19, 2013, 06:38:58 AM

Paul,pull that sucker apart and fix it.The liquid is most likely glycerin [drug store] and put in the gauge to stop needle vibration.Usally the glass face bezel ring will pry off,do it evenly.Rescrew the works and pour the glycerin back in. Frank C. PS if the pointer doesn't align with zero pull it straight off its pin and realign they make a special tool but care and needle nose pliers work.

Magicman · July 19, 2013, 08:00:11 AM

I would not hesitate to follow Frank C's above instructions.

submarinesailor · July 19, 2013, 08:25:21 AM

Don't know if your gauge is one of the ones where the front/lens screws on from the front or not. If it is, take it off your mill, placing it on a flat surface, unscrew the lens and replace the screws. From experience, I recommend using a magentic screw driver.

Bruce

Ga Mtn Man · July 19, 2013, 08:31:40 AM

I knew if I waited long enough, at least one of you gents would tell me to do what I was already going to do anyway. ;D Thanks for the tips on how to do it.

Not sayin' that David's advise wasn't helpful too... :

.

Larry · July 19, 2013, 01:04:33 PM

When you get good at fixing these gauges I have several that could stand very minor tweaking.

You do guarantee your work? :D

ladylake · July 19, 2013, 03:14:39 PM

Mine is still the original gauge, just hasn't worked for maybe 8 years. Really no need for it. Steve

submarinesailor · July 19, 2013, 03:28:49 PM

Quote from: Larry on July 19, 2013, 01:04:33 PM
When you get good at fixing these gauges I have several that could stand very minor tweaking.

You do guarantee your work? :D

Larry,

35 years ago when we came out of a shipyard overhaul, we had so many of ones like that one break or go out of cal, that we had to fix, and calcalbrate them. I must have fixed 75 or 100 of them in one 6 month peroid. Long time ago. So at one time I could fix it for you. Now.........I can't even get my fat fingers in it. :

:

:D

Bruce

Al_Smith · July 19, 2013, 04:02:17 PM

A pressure gauge is not that costly .The only reason the liquid is for is to damped the meter movement so it doesn't vibrate itself apart which evidently isn't working so good in this case .

ladylake · July 19, 2013, 04:45:14 PM

Really not necessary on a TK mill, a nice gadget. Steve

hackberry jake · July 19, 2013, 05:02:29 PM

Figure out the working pressure and thread type and order one from here http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?catname=hydraulic&keyword=DGGL thats what I would do anyways.

Ga Mtn Man · July 19, 2013, 05:19:32 PM

Well, I had a go at it and the answer to my original question seems to be NO. The face bezel is crimped on and even if I could get it off I'd likely never get it back on with a liquid-tight seal.

I know the gauge isn't really necessary on the 2000 but it is convenient to have and I dislike having things on my equipment that don't work. Just the way I am.

hackberry jake- I actually already have a replacement from surpluscenter.

hackberry jake · July 19, 2013, 05:29:32 PM

Well, they say great minds think alike... I guess ours do too Ga mtn man :D

POSTON WIDEHEAD · July 19, 2013, 06:06:41 PM

Quote from: Ga Mtn Man on July 19, 2013, 05:19:32 PM
I actually already have a replacement from surpluscenter.

If this is the case....take it apart and take some pics. You may get lucky and fix it.

Larry · July 19, 2013, 07:27:20 PM

When a band breaks it's like hitting the gauge with a baseball bat. I don't think you will find a gauge that will last over 50 hours with that kind of impact. That's just from my experience and I went through three gauges. Two from TK and one from Surplus Center.

Shop bandsaws have been using a cheap little pointer for over a hundred years and it works well. You could duplicate the idea by putting a red painted washer on top of the spring and fabricate a pointer. It might be possible to incorporate a scale into the pointer.

I've been testing WM Turbo bands. They want the band at 19,000 to 22,000 pounds PSI for optimum life and cutting accuracy. I feel it only fair to test a manufactures band at the tension they recommend so...

It just happens that 22,000 PSI on that band equates to 1-13/16" compression on the spring. 1-7/8" compression works well with most .042 1-1/4" bands.

All band manufactures will tell you what kind of pressure they want their bands running at. The ones I have asked were in a range from 18 to 25,000 pounds.

beenthere · July 19, 2013, 08:01:36 PM

Larry
You are showing a pic of the Lenox tension guage. Is that what you use?

Larry · July 19, 2013, 08:24:02 PM

Yes, I've used the Lenox gauge for a long time. With the TK I only use it to make sure the tension is right on a new style of band, than I measure the compressed spring length.

I've checked several mill gauges from different manufactures...some are off.

I think the WM tension gauge is a clone of the Lenox but wouldn't you know it....orange.

Ljohnsaw · July 19, 2013, 08:34:48 PM

Well, how about you guys that made your own mill? What do you do for tension? On my metal cutting band saw, I just tighten it and pluck it. When it makes a pleasant sound (about middle C?), I call it good. Seems to work good for that but when I build my mill, the blade is a whole lot thicker and wider. What sound do your blades make when properly tightened?