can you replace a check ball on a breaker bar?

[Rigmaster]

So in my hunt for a new breaker bar, I ended up buying more than one..

One of my purchases was a vintage Plomb 1/2" bar bought on Ebay, it arrived today and it looks good- EXCEPT the little check ball is missing out of the 1/2 drive!! So basically there's no way for the socket to stay on the breaker.

I've emailed the seller, and I assume he will offer a refund once I send the bar back to him- but then I'm out shipping $$ both ways which is probably more than the cost of the bar.

Any great ideas on how to fix this? I'm happy with the bar other than the missing check ball..... I can probably find a ball bearing or something that should fit in the hole, but how do I hold it in there?? I thought about "bradding" the steel around the hole very slightly, assuming I find a bearing and spring that fit in there well.


Rig

 

[MOPARHOUND!]

Great question, looking forward to responses.

 

[Rigmaster]

Great question, looking forward to responses.

Dang it MH, I thought you had an answer for me already....





I *know* someone on this board will know the answer.


I just hope it's something I want to hear.

 

[krusty the clown]

we discussed that before..........yes it can. is the spring still in the bar?

 

[rodm1]

I'm interested to

 

[Rigmaster]

we discussed that before..........yes it can. is the spring still in the bar?

Dunno, I'll have to break out the magnifying glass to see.


Thanks for not replying "SEARCH NEWBIE!!"....


I'll admit I didn't search- but I will now, thanks!

 

[Elroy]

OK how is this for smart ***:

Yes it can be done and Elroy has done it. Elroy outlined the procedure he employed in this old post:

Not bad advice but where are you going to find that unless you make it. Here is what Elroy did. Getting the ball out is a lot easier than re-staking the new one. Elroy took a die grinder and cut a groove in the ball with a small stone. After that the ball falls out. Then take a small round file and work the stake out so the new ball just goes in. Don't forget the new spring. Elroy then made a "staking tool" from a 1/4" ID drill bushing (nice and hard tool steel). The dent Elroy was repairing was on a 1/2" Drive tool that had a 1/4" ball. A 1/4" drive tool will require a smaller "drill bushing" to make the staking tool. Let the ball size call out the bushing.

Then grind a bevel on both the OD and ID on the bushing. The ID bevel being rather small. Then get a rod that is the appropriate size. Put the pin through the bushing and use it to depress the spring behind the detent ball. This aligns the staking tool over the ball. Cut the pin off so it is flush with the top of the drill bushing when the detent is depressed.

Line it all up with out disturbing the drill bushing location and strike the "tool" to stake the ball. It takes about 3 hands but it worked for Elroy.

Note, Before you strike the tool, the pin will be proud. The hammer will drive the pin and force the ball down below the staking surface before the stake is formed.

There are other ways but that is how Elroy repaired his. Good luck to ya.

Typically all this effort really isn't worth the trouble. Elroy how ever had a special case that warranted the effort. Here is the result Elroy obtained.

Looking back on it. Elroy would probably just use a flat pin punch that is maybe a 1/16" larger in diameter than the ball. It was hard enough doing this on a 1/2" drive tool. A 3/8" tool would be much harder and Elroy would bet that a 1/4" drive would be near impossible using this method with out some kind of fixture to hold all the parts in alignment.

Sorry Elroy started this post off as a smart ***. Maybe that just comes natural for him. Maybe he had a bad day at the "Hospital" performing his "Certified Mid-Wife" duties

Any ways good luck to ya getting your tools repaired.

If you can put up with more of Elroy, he would be happy to snap a few shots of the staking tool he made. Just ask.

Again, hope things work out in your repair.

 

[Phatsub]

Would it be a matter of just pressing the ball into the hole? On top of the spring of course.

 

[krusty the clown]

Would it be a matter of just pressing the ball into the hole? On top of the spring of course.

the hole needs to be staked to keep the ball in. matco had a tool for this, i'm sure other do too. it was a punch similar to a roll pin punch.

 

[Rigmaster]

Thanks guys!! I had a better look at it and I did not see any spring in the hole. So I guess it's time to search for a proper size spring + ball bearing, then try to stake it in there so it stays. Wish me luck!

And Elroy- don't worry about being a smart ***, I can appreciate a bit of sarcasm with the best of them- and I didn't sense much of it here....all in all a very helpful post!!
Any additional pics you have would be much appreciated, but I now have a good idea of what needs to be done. I'm thinking a round flat pointed punch would work IF you aligned and hit it just right. The ball bearing would be (temporarily) pushed down into the hole by the face of the punch, but the results should be just fine as long as the ball is able to pop back up with the force of the spring.


And BTW, I enjoy your unique way of posting- did you know that Jimmy really likes Elaine?? Jimmy would like to ask Elaine out on a date...

(Seinfeld reference in case you were wondering.........)

 

[Elroy]

Elroy....I didn't sense much of it (SA) here....all in all a very helpful post!!
Any additional pics you have would be much appreciated.

Excellent. And that was what Elroy intended.

Elroy....I enjoy your unique way of posting

Well you are one of the few that actually enjoys the Elroy style. Most of the time people say stuff like:

What's the deal with that third person ****?? Man that Elroy is some kind of nut.

Actually it takes a little more effort in sentence structure. You see Elroy spends a good part of his day writing business letters, negotiating contracts and delivery schedules at the "Hospital" so it helps keep him sharp between drinks..........

Elroy....did you know that Jimmy really likes Elaine?? Jimmy would like to ask Elaine out on a date...

(Seinfeld reference in case you were wondering.........)

Wow, that was close. Elroy was a little nervous there. Right up to the very end.

Though you might be one of them........

You know, Gay Boys

I'll post up the staking tool a little later.

 

[vssjim]

My Cornwell dealer has a box full of springs, balls and staking tools, I do them often.

 

[Elroy]

I'll post up the staking tool a little later.

As promised, Elroy's home made staking tool made from a 1/4" ID drill bushing that matched the ball diameter:

My Cornwell dealer has a box full of springs, balls and staking tools, I do them often.

matco had a tool for this, i'm sure other do too. it was a punch similar to a roll pin punch.

As these two fine gentlemen have pointed out. There are "off the shelf" tools available to perform this staking operation. At the time Elroy performed his repair, he was trying to duplicte the original 1920 staking operation on his Mossberg "Speeder" . If all you're after is function, then Elroy would suggest what Krusty and VSS suggested.

Let us know if you need any additional information. That Plomb is worth fixing. Maybe you can get the seller to cut his cost.

Elroy told me to wish you luck in your repair.

 

[Rigmaster]

Here you go Elroy:

 

[Uncle Buck]

Great Stuff There!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[ImportTuner]

Here you go Elroy:

Wow, very good .. never seen these

 

[Stuey]

Again, hope things work out in your repair.

WOOO!!

Is this perhaps the first instance where Elroy has been caught speaking in the 1st person POV?!! Yes the "I" is omitted, but it is implied!

And yes, finding the 3rd person posts is surprising at first, but someone on slickdeals (kevmaster) speaks in this manner as well, and so I got used to it a while ago. Besides, it's what is said that is important, and Elroy's opinions and statements are respected and held in the highest regard. Every now and then it's okay to poke fun, at least I hope it is, as long as the comments are not mean spirited.

 

[Rigmaster]

One more question- any suggestions where I might find a small spring and ball bearing to make this repair?? Something local would be good- or something creative. I was thinking I might look at an old bicycle wheel for the bearing....


I know I can probably order the proper size stuff from McMaster-Carr or MSC, but I wouldn't know what to do with the other 999 bearings after I used the 1 I needed.....

 

[Stuey]

Maybe Small Parts? (smallparts.com). They sell industrial supplies as well, but occasionally at smaller package volumes.

 

[Frank Elson]

I think the sentence was meant to read "Elroy hopes things work out"...

he missed a third person out once before as I recall.

I'm another fan, quite enjoy that style of writing.

 

[Stuey]

I think the sentence was meant to read "Elroy hopes things work out"...

he missed a third person out once before as I recall.

I'm another fan, quite enjoy that style of writing.

Yes, but I considered that the omission of an 's' following the 'hope' to be a more severe error on Elroy's part, so I took it upon myself to assume that he made the less severe mistake of referring to himself in the 1st person. =)

That Jimmy clip was quite amusing!

 

[Elroy]

One more question- any suggestions where I might find a small spring and ball bearing to make this repair?? Something local would be good- or something creative. I was thinking I might look at an old bicycle wheel for the bearing....

I know I can probably order the proper size stuff from McMaster-Carr or MSC, but I wouldn't know what to do with the other 999 bearings after I used the 1 I needed.....

Looking at the 2008 ENCO catalog reveals the fact that 100 Chrome Steel balls, 1/4" in diameter are $3.85. They're relatively cheap. If you're in a "major" city, pay a visit to a local industrial bearing house. Be polite and humble and Elroy bets they would give you one.

What size ball do you need? Post it up.

Elroy has a good selection of steel balls. If he has the size you need, he'll PM you for an address and send it to you on his dime. He might have a spring as well but you need to take the initiative.

 

[Elroy]

Here you go Elroy:

MOST EXCELLENT.
The Rigmaster made Elroy chuckle.
You have done a fine job !

 

[Elroy]

I'm another fan, quite enjoy that style of writing.

Elroy is pleased others enjoy his method of posting. He can assure you that he has received more derogatory comments than positive.

 

[krusty the clown]

Elroy is pleased others enjoy his method of posting. He can assure you that he has received more derogatory comments than positive.

most us us have teased you about but AFAIK it hasn't been truly derogatory evryone has thier own style!

i went to high school with a guy who always spoke 3rd person, it was very entertaining while consuming mass quantities!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Elroy is pleased others enjoy his method of posting. He can assure you that he has received more derogatory comments than positive.

I think all of us would feel a bit slighted if you were to change your ways now. Truly, what a disappointment that would be!

 

[Elroy]

I think all of us would feel a bit slighted if you were to change your ways now. Truly, what a disappointment that would be!

I'll keep that in mind. I don't want to disappoint anyone.

 

[Rigmaster]

Looking at the 2008 ENCO catalog reveals the fact that 100 Chrome Steel balls, 1/4" in diameter are $3.85. They're relatively cheap. If you're in a "major" city, pay a visit to a local industrial bearing house. Be polite and humble and Elroy bets they would give you one.

What size ball do you need? Post it up.

Elroy has a good selection of steel balls. If he has the size you need, he'll PM you for an address and send it to you on his dime. He might have a spring as well but you need to take the initiative.

Rig really appreciates Elroy's helpfulness in this matter. Rig will try to find something locally that will work, but in the event he is unsuccessful, he will PM Elroy to see if Elroy can help.


Rig is pleased that Elroy has a good selection of steel balls, Rig only has 1 pair which are not even steel, and he is only part owner of those....

 

[Elroy]

Married? wned:

 

[krusty the clown]

must be why krusty can't stay married.......he retains possesion of "the boys" at all times.

 

[KenS]

I'll keep that in mind. I don't want to disappoint anyone.

Surely KenS misread!??! Shouldn't this be:

Elroy will keep that in mind. He doesn't want to disappoint anyone.