Removing screw from Prentiss vise

[NJ Marty]

This is my first attempt at dismantling a vise. I removed the set screw from collar and noticed 4 bent up tabs on the screw preventing removal. Are these tabs meant to be bent down to remove screw then bent up again to hold collar in place? Or is there another way?

 

[bl00]

You can bend them up if you're able to. Might have to take a cold chisel and cut them off. If I recall correctly there are 6 tabs when new. Two would be pressed into grooves and the other 4 would be straight out for future use. You are correct that they will have to be moved to get the collar off.

 

[drivesitfar]

B100: i think Marty's prentiss vise is like a Prentiss #4 i own that has that same issue. it actually is just a sleeve with chisel marks in the main screw to keep the sleeve from moving. PIA if you ask me for a design from the factory.

i asked about the fix to mine a while back and i think the best method to remove the sleeve would be to hand file those chisel marks smooth. or maybe dremel them off?

Marty: best of luck

 

[NJ Marty]

You can bend them up if you're able to. Might have to take a cold chisel and cut them off. If I recall correctly there are 6 tabs when new. Two would be pressed into grooves and the other 4 would be straight out for future use. You are correct that they will have to be moved to get the collar off.

This screw has 5 tabs, 4 are bent up. And you answered my question, they have to be filed or bent down. Thanks

 

[NJ Marty]

B100: i think Marty's prentiss vise is like a Prentiss #4 i own that has that same issue. it actually is just a sleeve with chisel marks in the main screw to keep the sleeve from moving. PIA if you ask me for a design from the factory.

i asked about the fix to mine a while back and i think the best method to remove the sleeve would be to hand file those chisel marks smooth. or maybe dremel them off?

Marty: best of luck

Do you thin think if I file or bend them down the set screw in the collar alone will be enough after reassembly? Or is this original design with the tabs something I would want after restoration?

 

[KMScott]

Those indentations looks like they were chiseled in to keep the collar from moving, maybe the set screw was to short to bottom out on the spindle shaft, I agree with BL00 and they must be removed with a file or dremel.

 

[drivesitfar]

KM: i think B100 thought it might be one of these crown nuts that Prentiss vises has on some of their vises. the chisel cuts on Marty's vise just need to be filed down by hand or a dremel or other power tool that can do the job.

Marty: what i'm planning on doing with my Prentiss when i get the parts needed to finish it someday is to buy a longer set screw and drill a small hole into the main screw through the hole to help hold the sleeve in place. you can do as you wish.

 

[scooternut]

KM: i think B100 thought it might be one of these crown nuts that Prentiss vises has on some of their vises. the chisel cuts on Marty's vise just need to be filed down by hand or a dremel or other power tool that can do the job.

Marty: what i'm planning on doing with my Prentiss when i get the parts needed to finish it someday is to buy a longer set screw and drill a small hole into the main screw through the hole to help hold the sleeve in place. you can do as you wish.

DRIVES
Resurrecting this old thread for you and other's advise. My new Prentiss 56 has this rather permanent collar (The castle nut looking one that DRIVES posted).

Did you end up going the set screw route? Or come up with some other brilliant solution? It doesn't HAVE TO come off, except to clean them up the way I like to. The set screw route would actually serve to remove some of the sloppiness from wear or loose fitment of the existing collar.

 

[drivesitfar]

Scooter: that old Prentiss vise i posted is probably still sitting on the shelf cause others found shortly after that seemed to move up ahead of it in line and eventually it got forgotten.

i know i still own it though and if i get back to it i'm positive i'll break the castle nut and never put it back on that or any vise. it's a pretty poor design if the owner wants to pull the vise apart and clean it and re grease it like should be done more often than every 50 years.

a sleeve with either a hole in the screw drilled for a cotter pin or a set screw would be my first options.

hope this helps and instead of posting your results on this little thread you should maybe post them over on the vise repair 101 thread where somebody else that comes across the same issue can find an answer easier.

good luck and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you

 

[larry4406]

I had this same problem.

See post 45
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63428&page=3