I would like to a copy of instructions on how to set up and grind shoes to fit drums. Probably instructions for any brand would work. Thanks
I would like to know as well. I just bought an old John Bean lathe and Barrett shoe grinder but am having a helluva time finding info. There are some youtube vids but not a lot of instruction.
Whatever you do get the correct masks for the material the shoes are made of that you are grinding. There are NO old timers around that ran those machines, there is a reason why.
My machine is like yours except it is older and has cam deal for changing the shoe center. You can grind the ends of the shoe thicker or thinner.
I use to grind shoes all the time back in the late 60's early 70's, and I'm still around, and going strong! Just used common sense! Pat
Been a long time but as I recall you turned the drum first if needed and then measured it with a big vernier caliper. The radius reading was then set on the machine and shoe clamped in place to swing back and forth across the grinder. On drums turned quite a bit bigger (no laws back then) one would take a lot off the shoe center before the ends started to touch the grinder. Visa-versa on smaller drums.
I also ran one in the late 60s and early 70s There is a maximum diameter stamped on the drum if you go larger the drums will not properly dissipate the heat. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I think that's how they all work? You set the co**** adjustment with the slide and then fine tune as you grind so it can't help but cut them more in one spot than another to match the arc of the drum? That being said I haven't had a chance to try mine out yet. I just got everything freed up from some dumb*** putting it outside to seize up from rust.
My goofy machine has an adjustment so the shoe can be shifted left and right. This is on the main feed pivot slide. I can't find any reference of such a thing. My plan is to mount a bare shoe and use a dial indicator to set the adjustment so a shoe cut would be centered. My other problem is the diameter adjustment is just a crude pointer plus a feed knob. You don't know where to start. I plan to try to cut a s**** shoe to figure out the adjustment. Thanks to all those that are trying to help. I printed out the given Model A link.
Remember to champher the leading edge to stop squealing. We did every one at the Sears store I work in the mid 60's.
When drums are cut oversize the relationship of the anchor pin to drum surface changes and was compensated for with the anchor pin adjustment in initial set-up; but when the OEM's went to fixed anchors, the grinders became available with another means to compensate for this when grinding the shoe. Ammco made a holder that had different guide inserts to suit the shoe size/type, sounds like your Barrett uses a cam arrangement to adjust.
I still put a champher on cheap aftermarket shoes to this day, out of habit. I've used all the different brake lathes and re-arching machine. It was some of my first apprentice duties next to hand lapping valves. My first mentor thought I should know how it was done before you could just go and buy new parts from the parts store. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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