Info on Parker 974 Vise

[The Copilot]

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[W-Cummins]

You have the vise, then you have the hole to measure! The spring can't be larger then the minor diameter of the threads and neither can the rub block, the threads will not be hard to figure out either... I'd measure mine but as it's 2x the size of your vise it probably wouldn't do any good. If I was going to make a new one I would just measure the hole and then take the largest size rod that would just fit, and cut a little slug of it. The spring is going to be the hard part to source as it's a rather stout little spring ( use the same od as the rod).

William.....

 

[Catalyze]

LOL.....the above photo is mine and those are original Parker parts. They are from my Model 272 Parker. I also have a Parker 974 but I fabricated the parts for that vise since it was missing everything. It just takes a set screw of the right thread size (just take a few machine screws and try them to find the size). Then get a spring from a hardware store a few hundredths smaller in diameter than the hole size. Cut the spring down to about 4 coils. For the shoe, I took a piece of steel rod that was handy and would fit down the hole. I wrapped a piece of sandpaper around the handle where it would press and just held the rod and sanded it up and down until it sanded a matching shape depression. Then just cut the rod to short length and you're done.
Craig

 

[The Copilot]

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[The Copilot]

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['71 VW 1302]

The spring needs to be a left hand helix so as not to interfere with the internal threads. The screw in the picture is left hand helix. I would suggest that the tip of the set screw NOT be pointed. The point will flare the end coil of the spring and things will bind up.

Paul

 

[The Copilot]

Thanks for the additional information, Paul.

I stopped by the hardware store over the noon hour today and got what parts I think I will need. The set screw is a slotted 5/16" coarse thread. The compression spring is 1/4" and was the stiffest I could find (we'll see if it will be enough), and the steel rod (to make the friction shoe) is 1/4" diameter. Time will tell how successful this attempt at making the replacement parts work will be.

 

[The Copilot]

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[jakemac]

Reviving an old thread to add info.

I have a Parker 955 (5" jaw, fixed base). I used a hex key set screw (all I could find locally). It's a little too long, but it works. The set screw I used was a 7/16-14 x 1/2" (shortest available). Instead of a cut piece of rod for the friction shoe, I used a 5/16" ball bearing in the hole. The spring was a #88 Select-A-Spring with 1 1/4 turns cut off, although 1 1/8 turns would have been better.

When I get around to cleaning up the vise, I may cut the set screw down so it's flush, or replace it if I can find a slotted set screw in the size I need.