Need some help with a Wilton 1760 vise:

[72rallye440]

I've spent a lot of time reading posts here but never registered until now so I guess this is my first post.

I'm looking for some help with a SnapOn (Wilton) 1760 vise I bought in the mid-1990's. The vise has always served me well until I decided to do something stupid and presumably bent the slide that is attached to the dynamic jaw.

I over tightened the vise trying to set a wheel stud and the vise will now no longer close past the point in the picture. This is not a replaceable part so I'm looking for someone to tell me if there is a way to straighten this tube? With the close tolerance I doubt I can simply heat and bend it back.

This is the vise:



This is the part I've bent (I think):



Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Packard V8]

Wow! You must have had some cheater pipe on the handle to bend that tube.

It's possible the fixed body deformed as well.

One possible fix. Metal has memory. I salvaged another different but similar situation by heating both pieces in an oven to 500 degrees for half an hour, turning off the oven and letting them cool in place. They relaxed back to the pre-bent state enough to be operative. Your results may vary, but it'll need repainting for sure.

Don't try this in your wife's kitchen - that's divorce court ammunition.

jack vines

 

[72rallye440]

Jack, thank you for the response. Sounds like my stupidity may have cost me a vise. Yes........it was a rather large cheater bar.

 

[oldldh]

For shame!!!!

Do fifty push-ups as punishment...

Harming a Wilton will get you a good thrashing on this board...

How big WAS the cheater bar???...Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[72rallye440]

This vise has served me well since the 90's in my home workshop. I'm truly disappointed in myself for ruining such a great tool. The "cheater bar" was a 3' piece of 2"x2" square tubing.

If anyone has any other ideas on how to fix it I would really appreciate hearing them.

 

[autopts]

Pull the pins out of the back and remove the nut assy, then see if your front jaw will go all the way in. If it does, the problem might be the nut assy or maybe one of the pins could not take the stress and jammed up back there.
Also, did you try screwing the spindle in by itself?

 

[Derrickwade]

If you need help taking it apart let me know,I just stripped mine down. I lubricated and repainted it. If you are unable to salvage the vise, would you part with the foil stickers (if there in good condition) I kinda ruined mine in the early stage of degreasing. Also, one of the aluminum locking pieces is cracked. Just out of curiosity, what is the date on the bottom of the slide? Mine is July of 83.

 

[72rallye440]

Pull the pins out of the back and remove the nut assy, then see if your front jaw will go all the way in. If it does, the problem might be the nut assy or maybe one of the pins could not take the stress and jammed up back there.
Also, did you try screwing the spindle in by itself?

I did take the nut assembly out and it's still a no go. I did not try to screw nut assembly in by itself but I will tomorrow.

I think it's shot and I'm really disappointed. I think I will attempt to take to a machine shop to see if they can do anything with it.

 

[justanengineer]

I did take the nut assembly out and it's still a no go. I did not try to screw nut assembly in by itself but I will tomorrow.

I think it's shot and I'm really disappointed. I think I will attempt to take to a machine shop to see if they can do anything with it.

Id suspect you deformed the locating key and/or keyway that guides the dynamic jaw into the base/static jaw. Those vises are built pretty stout, built for abuse really, and Ive seen many with S shaped handles that were still functional. I would try removing the key and also run your finger down the keyway inside the base looking for burrs and/or damage.

Really, the only way to determine if the problem is a bent dynamic jaw is to strip both parts completely and try to assemble them. Never know when something else is rubbing slightly.

 

[72rallye440]

Id suspect you deformed the locating key and/or keyway that guides the dynamic jaw into the base/static jaw. Those vises are built pretty stout, built for abuse really, and Ive seen many with S shaped handles that were still functional. I would try removing the key and also run your finger down the keyway inside the base looking for burrs and/or damage.

Really, the only way to determine if the problem is a bent dynamic jaw is to strip both parts completely and try to assemble them. Never know when something else is rubbing slightly.

I took the vise completely apart and removed the keyway. The dynamic jaw still stops at the exact same spot. I took a measurement of the spot where the jaw stops. The is exactly 1/16" difference from one end to the other. No question the dynamic jaw is slightly bent about 2" from the jaw.

I going to attempt the heat method and see if that helps. I will continue to try to fix it and if anyone has any other ideas on how to straighten I would be very greatful.