Reed 404A Vice parts

[Bruce Poitra]

Hello all,
I am curious if any one knows where a guy can get a main nut for the Reed 404A vice. Reed mfg hasn't even heard of the vice and tried to convince me I must have the wrong model number...sigh...so they were no help at all. so my questions for the forum become:

- Is there a source for new parts for this vice?
- Is the a crossover part number from another machine that fits? (like reed changed the part number or something)

My last resort if the answer to both is no is to have one machined here from the remains of the old stripped one and maybe some sort of insert or perhaps cut the threaded part and weld in a replacement.

Any insight or advice is appreciated!!

Thank you

 

[drivesitfar]

BP: i'm pretty sure you have a Reed 404 and not sure where the A came from. can you post a few pictures of yours. i own a Reed 404.5 and here's a few pictures. does yours have the swivel jaw?

i'd be surprised if Reed still had parts for your 70 year old vise, but maybe yours isn't that old.

 

[Bruce Poitra]

The "A" came from the model number cast into the side of the vice. No 404A. The lady at Reed Mfg said the same thing...I assured here I am literate but she didn't seem to believe me.

It is a swivel base and swivel jaw. The nut has a part number of:

2306-4-4 1/2 which showed nothing in the Reed database either

I think it may be an odd one, I haven't found much if any info on it.

I don't have a full picture with me, I just snapped a few part number pix last night for research purposes. I will load a pic of the whole vise tonight. It looks very similar to the pics you posted but mine has four bolt holes to secure it to the bench.

 

[drivesitfar]

BP: well you have a Reed 404A indeed. when you post more pictures can your make sure to post pictures of the hub on the end of the main screw? if it's smooshed the vise is newer than mid lat 40's and if round pre WWII.

also my old eyes don't see any cracks on the vise nut so are the threads stripped or what is the issue? how does the main screw look?

maybe finding another Reed 104 or 204 vise and steal the screw and vise nut from it?

nice looking vise

 

[Bruce Poitra]

Finally got a chance to take a couple pictures. The screw and nut are not in the vise because I have a machinist friend rebuilding the nut. To answer the question about the nut, yes it is stripped badly and on the top there are several welds indicating repairs some time back. My machinist believes we can reproduce the threaded part of the nut and weld it to the original dove tailed piece after cutting off the original threads.

When you ask about the hub do you mean where the handle goes through or the collar holding the screw in place? At any rate both are round.

I was wondering if 104 or 204 nuts might work, I wonder if they are dimensionally the same.

One more question. It certainly appears that the rear jaw swivels but for the life of me the pin won't move, is it threaded or just pushed into the top of the jaw? I can see it from under the vice and could get a punch on it but wanted to make sure it is not threaded or locked in place some way.

 

[tool_scrounge]

One more question. It certainly appears that the rear jaw swivels but for the life of me the pin won't move, is it threaded or just pushed into the top of the jaw? I can see it from under the vice and could get a punch on it but wanted to make sure it is not threaded or locked in place some way.

on my 504 it was held in by friction. I used a lot of kriol and time to loosen my swivel jaw up.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bruce: can you post your vise and questions over on the vise repair 101 thread? for one it gets a lot more members looking at it and another is the fix to get the pin out is in that thread several times.

it's probably just rusted in that hole from not moving for years. several members have made a sort of screw thingy so they can push the pin out from under it. sometimes you can stick a smallish bolt up in the hole and tap on it to pop it up and out. do you have any Kroil or PB blaster to spray on it and let it sit for a few days?

also the machinist friend sounds like he has the right fix for making a new nut for you. not sure i have a 104.5 or 204.5 Reed to pull the vise nut from and try it on my 404.5, but i'm guessing it would work if they are the same generation.

yes the round hub as i call it is the part the handle goes through and if the one on your main screw is round and not flat on the end then you have a pre WWII made vise. if you have time you should post pictures of your vise on the vise thread asking if anybody knows about your 404 A because some of those guys might own one and give you a history lesson about yours.

ask questions if you still have any and be a little careful taking the swivel jaw pin out because i bought a vise similar from a 75 year old that had never seen his grampa's old vise ever with the pin out so he told me the vise's swivel jaw didn't swivel and it was there for decoration. i didn't know him and didn't want to prove him wrong so i gave him his $100 asking price and drove away.

good luck

 

[Bruce Poitra]

Oh sorry I didn't realize there was a better place for this. Is it possible to move it or will I need to start over?

 

[drivesitfar]

Bruce: best to just make a couple new posts on the Vise repair 101 thread and include all the pictures and if you can't find the fix on that thread i bet the members that posted them will see your post and tell you how.

starting a thread i ok, but you are a new member and nobody knows you or that # vise you posted so if i wasn't kicking it to the top it would just get lost. i still post on existing threads instead of starting new ones for a vise or tool if there is a good thread that has more activity.

good luck and ask questions if you have any