Stevens Front axle tool on Tbay

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Stevens Front axle tool on Tbay
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Hatch on Sunday, November 23, 2014 - 09:47 am:

FYI: There is a Stevens Front Axle tool on Tbay now. Not mine, just letting you know it is there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Sunday, November 23, 2014 - 09:55 am:

Dang I wish they weren't so expensive!! :-(
Thanks for the heads up!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Wetherbee on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 12:33 pm:

Expensive? I know the sale is still going, but the tap new is over $100.00 - the same for the reamer, and then there is the cost of the bushings... So far I'd say it was a steal - I sure would not sell mine for that price.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Travis E. Towle on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 02:35 pm:

What I do not understand is with the price and demand of these GREAT working tools is, why is no one reproducing them exactly? The brand is long gone, so is the patent. I love how more and more of the original tools are being reproduced like the krw brand, but surely if you have the connections for making these you could make a mint?

Travis Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-408-3409


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Bohlen, Severn MD on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 02:57 pm:

What's the cone shaped reamer worth?
I have one and a couple of the cone shaped bushings.

Just curious, and I agree wish someone would make new versions of some of these tools. They are getting very scarce.

Thanks,
Larry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerome Hoffman, Hays KS on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 03:09 pm:

Travis, I believe Dan Hatch has looked into making a new outfit. He has had made new taps and reamers, plus he makes new inserts. There is no way I can make them for what he sells his for. When it comes to the frame to have a high quality made part made his ratio profit/effort is a bit high and without a high enough interest in someone to purchase a unit he has for now put a hold on it. It can be done, but someone has to buy one.
I myself am going thru this right now, as I have "built" something and it is as of right now a real thing(non Model T). The next phase is to move from being able to make them, and get your cost back to getting your cost+your time back. Right now if I want to make lots more I have to get to a point where I go to the next step, cost+time+profit. I should be able to get there if the interest is there. If the interest can "take off" where I can hit the next step, cost+time+profit+stupid extra profit and could then buy all the model T's ever made.......oh sorry must be dreaming.....lol


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Hatch on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 04:27 pm:

I make everything but the frame. I looked into it , but I would have to make a least 30 units. I only had about 5 people say they were interested, if the price was right. That means my Grandkids would still be selling frames when they retire. If the market was there I would make them. Just looks like it is not there. Dan


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Robinson Salty Bottom, AL on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 05:36 pm:

My name is on your list, Dan. Right?

I had planned on sniping the tool on ebay at the last minute until my good friend Dan posted it on the forum causing a bidding frenzy. (smile)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 08:10 pm:

Guess if they had put "Ford" in the title I might have bid on it. LOL Is way out of my league now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stevens-Reaming-Fixture-for-Model-T-and-other-Axle-Spind les-Complete-A-Cond-/261667878592?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=it em3cec9ef6c0&vxp=mtr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donnie Brown North Central Arkansas on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 08:24 pm:

Dan, Aprox. how much do you think a set would be.?? Frame, reamer, tap, and 2 of each insert. I would also be a candidate for your "list". I think this one on e-bay will bring between 650.00 and 850.00 but just a guess. With a bidding war it could push close to 1000.00.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 10:50 pm:

I think the frame could be cast economically in aluminum at a mom and pop foundry. With helicoils in the threads it should be good as cast iron and the same pattern could be used for cast iron if an economical source could be found.

A Model T'er with his own woodworking tools could make the pattern, 2 sides on a matchboard to fit existing flasks in the foundry and the foundry could add gates and risers as they needed.

I say aluminum, because I think a foundry, such as A&B in Dallas could easily do the job.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Putnam, Bluffton, Ohio on Monday, November 24, 2014 - 11:08 pm:

I can make the frame in cast iron, economically, no need to use aluminium. I just to need borrow one for a pattern to make the mold. I use the lost wax process and it makes an exact duplicate of the original. Any body got one to loan briefly??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Travis E. Towle on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 01:55 am:

Ron Scobie owner of gaspump.com can also cast things in iron and does it for the gas pump restorers very cheap. I'd just hate to see a good reproduction done "off" when it could be done right. If I had one I'd send it to you jack.

I would love to be added to the list of buyers. I just sent dan an email to see if he can make me a cam shaft rear bushing reamer. It's the last tool I need for my Babbitt set.

Travis Towle
Topeka, Kansas

785-408-3409


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Trent Boggess on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 08:33 am:

I think this one is going to be expensive because it really is all,their, including the box and fragments of the instructions. It is one of the more complete sets I have seen.

I collected the parts for my Stevens Front Axle tool one by one over many years. The frames alone are relatively common. The two guide bars can be easily made by threading one end of two pieces of bar stock. Before Dan Hatch began making his reamers, I took a new automotive ball socket reamer and cut it down on my lath until only about 1.25 inches of reamer were left, the rest was a straight shaft. This reamer cuts at a slightly different angle, but I make my cone and thread inserts my self on my South Bend.

Probably the most challenging part was the reamer/tap for the thread insert. I borrowed a Stevens reamer/tap from a friend once and had to work hard turning the reamer as I cut through the old axle threads. I was concerned that I might break the tool. After that, I purchased a standard tap of the same size as the Stevens for less than $12. The tap drill for that thread is 9/16, so I bought a 9/16 stub drill, chucked it in the lathe, and turned the shank down to the 1/2 hole size in the frame. The shank now stand up high enough that I can put my 1/2 inch electric drill on it, so I can turn the drill while at the same time turning in the screw at the bottom of the frame to feed the bottom of the axle into the drill. Once the hole is drilled, take the drill out of the frame, put in the new tap, use panty of cutting fluid, and the lower yoke arm is ready for the insert. I find using the drill and a new tap with the proper threads much easier than using the original Stevens reamer/tap.

I have since purchased an original Stevens reamer/tap, and also bought Dan Hatches new cutting tools as well. Either set-up, my home made drill-tap, and cut down cone reamer, or Dan's new cutters seem to work equally well.

I think I bought the cone reamer, drill and tap for about $70 all together. Of course I had to spend many hours time adapting the new parts to fit the original Stevens frame, and making the inserts, but that is fun time, and I don't count it as part of the cost.

Finally, don't forget to have the axle checked and straightened. They are all bent or twisted in some way. The only front axle I have ever seen that was not bent or twisted was a NOS axle.

Respectfully submitted,

Trent Boggess


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Hatch on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 03:40 pm:

If anyone wants a copy of the instructions for the Stevens Front axle tool, PM me and I will send you a copy. Dan


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 04:04 pm:

Someone with a tool needs to loan it to Jack. Sounds like he will be able to get a repro tool project going.

This would benefit the entire Model T community.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Christopher Kramer, Woodstock, Ontario on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 10:14 pm:

Jack,
If you manage to find someone to loan you a tool to get some cast you can count me in as someone who would like to purchase one of the frames.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom VanMeeteren on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 08:12 am:

I recently picked one at a local swap meet for $15. The guy thought it was some kind of a puller. I now have the reamer, tap and inserts thanks to Dan Hatch. We recently did a friends axle and the tool worked great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Tomaso - Milton,WA on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 10:36 am:

Here's the process that I do:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Travis E. Towle on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 09:08 pm:

Did anyone happen to see the hempy cooper Babbitt tool on eBay too?

Travis


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Kramer on Sunday, November 30, 2014 - 07:12 pm:

Has anyone offered to lend Jack the frame so he can cast some ?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Putnam, Bluffton, Ohio on Sunday, November 30, 2014 - 09:52 pm:

I do not have one yet, and I will be at the foundry tomorrow morning picking up another project. Wish I had one now to work with. It takes a couple of days to make the silicon mold and then I have to make the wax positive copies. JP


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerome Hoffman, Hays KS on Sunday, November 30, 2014 - 10:44 pm:

Jack, Later in the week I'll get mine boxed up and send it to you. E-mail to follow.


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