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Help me save this Rock Island (and other estate stuff)

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ajchien

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Los Angeles, stuck on the 60 freeway.
Thought I scored well at an estate sale, but it wasn't as good as I thought.

I found a Rock Island 605 exposed screw vise. I knew it wasn't opening or closing right, but I thought it was just missing something simple. Turns out the dynamic jaw is black, and the static jaw is green painted. This may have been 2 different vises put together. The bigger problem unfortunately, is that the static jaw "nut area" looks stripped out. Is there any way to repair this? Is there a "helicoil" for vises? Do they make a huge tap to fix this? Or is this sadly just a display/parts vise now?

In any case, I also picked up a Yost 203 1/2, in great condition. Loving it. And I also found a Screwball ratcheting screwdriver. This thing is pretty neat. Add a set of allen wrenches from Dayton, a scraper, 2.5" brinks c clamp, tape measure, a small red no name metal box, and a 7" master mechanic file, i was happy for $25.
 

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Catalyze

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It was a great trip with a lot of very nice items! As for your Rock Island vise, almost anything that I can imagine to fix it (oversizing the Acme threads on the jaw and then getting a new lead screw made to match...etc) are probably not worth the cost. You can probably get another Rock Island in similar size for $20 to $30 off of Fleabay. You can buy an Acme thread nut for about $4.50 in your thread size. If you can figure out a way to mount or inset it from the back end (under the anvil point) then your vise would work. Here is a link to one:
http://www.metalbythefoot.com/onlinestore-3/acme-threaded-nuts.html

Good luck!
Craig
 
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ajchien

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Los Angeles, stuck on the 60 freeway.
After additional inspection, it also seems that my Rock Island dynamic jaw rectangular slide portion is bent. This is also likely contributing to it not fully being able to close(even if the threads of the static jaw nut are stripped).

Should I grind down the slide so it'll fit? I highly doubt Id ever be able to bend it back.

@Catalyze, I think your Acme nut idea is neat. I'll look into it some more.
 
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ajchien

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Los Angeles, stuck on the 60 freeway.
On a different note, the Yost says Meadville, PA on it??!? I thought these were from Holland, MI.

Does anyone know if an original color for Yosts? I see beige, gold, light green, and blue on this vise. I don't think the beige or the blue is original. It's either light green or gold?
 
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Catalyze

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Yost might have several foundries or moved their factory at different points in time like Wilton (Chicago, Schuller Park). Yost has markings of Muskegon, Mich and Holland, Mich also on their vises over the years.
Craig
 
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ZRX61

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Solar Blight Valley, SoCal
ajchien said:
After additional inspection, it also seems that my Rock Island dynamic jaw rectangular slide portion is bent. This is also likely contributing to it not fully being able to close(even if the threads of the static jaw nut are stripped).

Should I grind down the slide so it'll fit? I highly doubt Id ever be able to bend it back.
Click to expand...

Should be able to straighten it with a hydraulic shop press :thumbup:
 
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