Herke Tapping Machine

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Herke Tapping Machine

This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 20 March 2022 at 13:05 by Baz.

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19 March 2022 at 22:12 #590696
peak4
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@peak4
I picked up a No1 Mk2 Herke Tapping Machine a couple of days ago, and am in the process of re-commissioning it at the moment.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/herke-tappers/

Does anyone have a manual/instructions please?

I don't seem to be getting quite enough friction in the clutches at the moment.
The previous owner was using it for M3 taps, which I'm sure would be OK, but it struggles to drive an M5 one, though the capacity should be up to about M7.

I'm using a new spiral flute machine tap.

Cheers
Bill
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19 March 2022 at 22:12 #20653
peak4
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@peak4
19 March 2022 at 22:25 #590697
Steviegtr
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@steviegtr
I bought a SPD tapping head that slipped. I stripped & played with it. Have a look at the video. Not sure if yours works the same.

Steve.
20 March 2022 at 09:36 #590729
Baz
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@baz89810
I have owned a Herke tapper for 30 years and never seen any manual or instructions apart from what is on Lathes UK site. To be honest you don’t need a manual to strip one of these machines down, just a couple of punches to get the taper pins out of the clutch plates. Is your clutch slipping or are you being too gentle with it? It is quite surprising the amount of pressure required, they need a good heavy pressure throughout the stroke. If you are convinced your clutch is slipping a squirt of brake cleaner will help.
20 March 2022 at 12:21 #590758
peak4
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@peak4
Posted by Baz on 20/03/2022 09:36:28:

I have owned a Herke tapper for 30 years and never seen any manual or instructions apart from what is on Lathes UK site. To be honest you don’t need a manual to strip one of these machines down, just a couple of punches to get the taper pins out of the clutch plates. Is your clutch slipping or are you being too gentle with it? It is quite surprising the amount of pressure required, they need a good heavy pressure throughout the stroke. If you are convinced your clutch is slipping a squirt of brake cleaner will help.

Cheers for that, I was just wondering of there were any helpful hints on using, rather than stripping it.
Also I'm not sure what the clutch friction material is, as I've not had anything apart yet, so didn't want to risk damaging it with brake cleaner, though I was using some to de-gunge the internals a bit.
Pretty sure the clutch is slipping, in one direction at least, as I couldn't get enough drive to unscrew the tap.

I've noticed that there is what looks to be a small tension spring on a threaded adjuster to hold the arm up, as well as the compression spring around the spindle.
This was missing on mine, but I'm assuming it's to help holding the actuating arm at the correct height when you're not actually tapping.
Is it intended that the arm should be horizontal, or towards the top of it's slot on the front?
I've found a spring in my spares box, but I'm not sure it's strong enough, as it barely supports the arm half way up the slot.

Thanks.
Bill
20 March 2022 at 13:05 #590762
Baz
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@baz89810
Bill the spring holds the handle in a horizontal position, the spring retaining collar on top of the spindle on my machine is 70mm from the top of the thrust race in its neutral position. I cannot help with what the friction material actually is as I have never had the clutch apart.
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