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Thread: Line shaft Mice
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28th Aug 2015, 11:33 AM #1
Line shaft Mice
If you have ever seen those thin rings dancing along a line shaft and wonder what they are or called?
They are line shaft wipers or commonly called mice as the scamper along the shaft.
The purpose as I understand it is to remove the chance of a catastrophic failure. Should a belt fall off a pulley and wrap around the line shaft one of two thing will happen the line shaft will get pulled down or the thing on the other end pulled up. The mice keep the shaft clean and polished, there for "fricton-less" or slippery and much less likely to grip the belt. As the oldtimer says "never put a shaft up unless it is polished".
I guess I have some work to do on mine! Rusty bugger.
Does anyone know what the wipers are made of? I have heard steel and copper. Copper sounds better to me. Also how big the hole is in relation to the shaft size, obviously bigger than the shaft and smaller than any fittings. How thick are they?
My line shaft is 1" Dia.
…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
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28th Aug 2015, 12:05 PM #2Intermediate Member
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- Feb 2012
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- Perth
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G'day Dale,
I was wondering if they would be made from leather which has been oiled.
When I was a kid and bikes had chromed steel hubs on the wheels, that is what we fitted to both back and front wheels to maintain the chrome - no rust, and nice and shiny. Added advantages were the noise factor - none, and the lack of wear that a steel/ copper or other metallic wiper could produce over the long term.
I have never used line shafted machines so cannot speak from experience. Neither have I spotted such items in old photographs of line shafting - though to be honest I have never been looking for such items. No doubt in every photo from now on they will leap out at me in accusation!
Regards
Quentin
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28th Aug 2015, 12:22 PM #3
Can't say I ever noticed them in the past but since I saw them I pick them out all the time. If the line shaft is down then they probably are sitting up against the pulleys and being thin not noticeable.
These ones appear to be copper, last seconds of video show them clearly.
…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
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28th Aug 2015, 01:49 PM #4Senior Member
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- Jun 2012
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- ex Perth, now Mittagong
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- 105
Coming from a farming background and very familiar with line-shaft shearing machines, old piston rings were commonly used simply to remove the accumulated patina of rust deposited on the shafting in the off season and to keep the wool fluff from building up at the plumber blocks during shearing. Tramp oil from the bearings on the blocks was also effectively distribute along the shafting thus preventing pools on the floor below the bearings which were fed from cups and wicks.
Peter
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28th Aug 2015, 01:54 PM #5Most Valued Member
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- Sep 2011
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Hi Dale
You name it and you can use it.
Old piston rings, brass, copper Bakelite, ebonite...
We use 1/4" rod in roughly 4" circles and in another area we use leather.
Phil
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29th Aug 2015, 09:20 AM #6
Thanks guys. When I'm out & about I'll stop by a few mechanics and see if I can score some piston rings
…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
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29th Aug 2015, 10:08 AM #7Senior Member
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- Jun 2012
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- ex Perth, now Mittagong
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- 105
Probably the easiest piston rings to get over the shaft are the old style Cord rings which were made from steel and are very flexible. Pretty hard to find these days. Rings from old stationary engines with big fat rings are ideal but depending on the size of the shaft and ring they can be difficult to install without breakage.
Peter
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29th Aug 2015, 10:38 AM #8Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Nice vids but Blimey - the noise would drive me nuts in a shop like that.
I'm surprised the engine is not located in a suitably acoustically isolated chamber.
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11th Sep 2015, 06:41 PM #9
Picked up some piston rings, hopefully they will work.
My only concern is they will sit on the small gap in the rings and not rotate properly. Won't know until the shaft goes up, but I need the rest of the brackets first.
I wonder if Phil had any luck????…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
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11th Sep 2015, 07:17 PM #10Banned
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- Aug 2015
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- QLD
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Workplace health and safety officer hell
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12th Sep 2015, 02:10 AM #11Senior Member
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- May 2012
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- Kimberley, West Australia
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- 176
Machine shop
Hi BobL,
You'll notice not a tacho, amp meter or digital display in sight. You just keep one ear on the engine pulse and one on your machine, and you know whether you have belt slip or engine overload without looking.
Combustor.Old iron in the Outback, Kimberley WA.
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13th Sep 2015, 01:05 PM #12
Line shaft machinery
I have been invited to visit The Museum of Making, in Cochrane AB steam powered which has a bit of line shaft gear.
I'll check it out for mice.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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13th Sep 2015, 07:39 PM #13
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17th Sep 2015, 03:22 PM #14
Museum pics.
I try and post a few pics here.
I used the iPad unfortunately and it has a mind of its own re which is the right way up.
I spent about 5 hours there being given a personal tour by Japheth who is the full time blacksmith and sole employee at the Museum.
The first 3 are of an unusual Canadian lathe on which the bed can slide to make it longer or shorter 'tween centres.
The other metal lathe has a 25 hp motor which powers the steam engine and all the line shafting in the museum. See the chain drive behind it.
The last shot it to show you that there are no mice on the shafting. Have to ask Japheth about that.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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17th Sep 2015, 05:58 PM #15
Wow that faceplate with jaws is interesting. The fella must be loaded, they wouldn't sell the lathe so he bought the whole ship yard!!!!. No line shaft mice, maybe they have a cat?
…..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands
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