SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
Posted by mike c on Monday, 14-Jan-2008
Kerry (I seem to recall you did this, apparently well), Dave, Anyone??
is there an easy way to re-attach the ball, picking up play and tightening the head underneath the arm where it is held on??
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- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by Kerry on Monday, 14-Jan-2008
I went to Ace Hardware to find a fix. I forget what the part number(s) are, but I found something that works in the loose screw, nuts and bolts section of the store.
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The item I used comes in 3 pieces. A shaft, a flat head screw that screws into the top of the shaft and a locking hex nut that goes on the bottom. It is made of aluminum.
I tightened the small screw into the top of the shaft and placed the shaft through the ball with the screw head flush with the top of the ball handle. I then placed the locking hex nut (under the handle) on the bottom of the shaft and held it with a crescent wrench while tightening the entire rig using a screw driver.
This will make the ball tight and it will no longer swivel, but that is not a problem. I had to replace the first one I did because I left it a little loose so it would swivel. I tightened this last one until it held the ball really tight (no swivel at all) and have had no problems since.
Sorry I can't remember the part number(s). I tried looking at the Ace Hardware site, but couldn't find the item.
BTW, I think they have 2 different versions of this item. One has a shaft that is female on both ends. The one you will want is female on one end (where the screw goes) and male at the other end (where the locking hex nut goes).
As I said, if you do it right, the ball will NOT swivel at all.
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by Kerry on Monday, 14-Jan-2008
P.S.
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Make sure you take the handle AND the ball to the store with you! It will save you a lot of time having it right there to test things in the store and see if they are going to work.
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by mike c on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2008
it's perfect, and BTW, the machine with the same setup I'm using now has no swivel, just the way it's made and NO!!! it's not a problem
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THANK YOU!!!
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by Kerry on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2008
It isn't exactly what I was looking for as I would rather have only 2 pieces instead of 3. However, it works and was the only thing they had that came close without using a longer bolt that would have stuck out below the bottom of the handle and the screw head fits nice and flush with the top of the ball. None of the other options fit or looked nearly as nice.
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I have had to tighten it once or twice, but for the most part it stays put without having to adjust it once it is tight enough.
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by Jeffo on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2008
So Mike C.
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Did you buy this fix kit at Ace Hardware? What is it called or a part number? What size is it? Did you have to remove the old pivot shaft? How? What's the deal? So I'm nosy...Jeffo
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by Kerry on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2008
I am curious if Mike C found what I used as well and if it worked for him as well as it did for me.
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To answer your other question, yes, you get rid of the old shaft. They should have used a better setup to begin with, i.e. a bolt and nut.
If I could have found something better, I would have used it. But as is, it works well.
I will try to drop by Ace and get the part number(s) sometime this week.
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by Jeffo on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2008
Thanks for the response Kerry,
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I went through a loose handle ball on a used B-Series Supermatic a short while ago. I decided reluctantly that since I needed some other items from Arbro anyway I purchased a couple handles for I think $3.00 but I still have the perfectly good old handle with the loose ball and I'll eventually fix it. This might be a good fix here but most hardware stuff is more than $3.00 I'd like to preserve the pivoting ball also. Time is on our side...thanks...Jeff
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by mike c on Monday, 21-Jan-2008
Yesterday, while having the fortune of being driven in a car, I used my best control-freak psychological tactics to get where I wanted to go-
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a bit to my amusement, the one old hardware store within reach had now mutated into an "Ace"....hmm......the good news for the Supermatic and non-TOP clones, is that just as Butch said: not a problem. A simple bolt through the top of the ball and a lock-nut. The employee not only attached it for me, but told me "not to worry about paying", as it turned out he said the whole thing was 5 cents....so I handed him 75 out of pocket......the ball being completely locked down with no play absolutely impedes nothing
- Re: SM/UM crank-arm handle-ball re-attach
- Posted by mike c on Wednesday, 16-Jan-2008
not yet, I have plenty of back-up machines (not to mention a whole spare crank arm) but I will fix it as soon as I have a ride
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sorry nothing yet, but it sounds like Kerry has answered