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Old 01-21-2011, 06:55 PM
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TUNNEL PORT TUNNEL PORT is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Napa CA.
Posts: 571
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Ok the threads on each end of this hydraulic fitting is about 14-15mm of threads or 9/16. So that much of the threads are damaged in the ram for the mandrel. I may be able to thread a new fitting that is the same but would risk the damaged threads not holding. Since this is the opposite end of the bender is where all the work is done from I could be spewing fluid out for mins or hours before it would be noticed. There's nearly 1 1/2" of good threads left inside the ram I can use. I was hoping to find a hydraulic fitting that had twice as much treads on one side to reach & use the extra threads.

As I had guessed they don't make one of these fittings with longer threads on on side. So "plan B" is on now which is to make my own fitting. I have one piece local here that is a common piece & I have to order the other piece I'll be using which is a M22 x 1.5 bolt with 50mm of threads. It seems the only place that has these is on the other side of the US. I will need to cut it down to around 1 1/4" long & drill a hole through it & then join it to the common fitting I can get anywhere after removing a section of that one. It will only take about an hour to fabricate the piece once I get the delivery. Its not the first time I have had to fab a tool or a needed replacement part. I was just a pain to find that size bolt though. When all is done it will turn out to be about a $30-$35 custom one off hydraulic piece. If the part was available it would have been likely around $10-$15.

I could take the ram to get tapped but would not only cost more but would risk debris from the tapping getting in the ram. I wont risk that because it would then be a long delay. Also its not that easy of a task to remove the ram & transport it.