Removing impeller form Harbor Freight DC

[Gunny]

5 hours ago, Larry Blighton said:

Ok, just a curiosity question, has anyone ever hooked up 2 dust collection motors to their dust collection system.  If so how did you go about doing it.  

Never tried that.  You could experiment with two vacuum cleaners and see if it improves anything.  Maybe??

 

As for WD-40  it is not a good lubricant.  It disperses water, little else.  You want a rust penetrant, Kroil makes some nice expensive stuff.  I use PB Blaster as general use, Kroil for something that is giving me issues. Any if possible heat can be your friend.

 

 

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Stumpy Nubs did (if you follow his site, he has the whole story there). He put 2 HF collectors in series, and as I recall was underwhelmed by the results.

[HandyDan]

Here is a thread that says they used a "Y" connector and it worked out well.

 

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?24384-combining-two-Harbor-Freight-DC-collectors

[Larry Blighton]

Ok so this is the idea that is running through my mind.  What do you think?   

[sweensdv]

On 1/18/2020 at 7:48 PM, KenF said:

Did you ever manage to get the impeller off the shaft?  I am doing the same upgrade and also running into issues removing the stock impeller.  

Last summer I changed out the impeller on my HF DC with the Rikon impeller.  At the time I did this my DC was approximately 15 years old.  Fortunately for me, I experienced zero difficulties in getting the impeller off of its shaft and the whole swap over took only about 15 minutes with most of the time being spent on removing and replacing the outer plate screws.  Also be aware that the allen head bolt holding the impeller on is a left handed bolt so righty loose, lefty tight.  This YouTube video shows how the removal should go, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGC-7-GGp9s .  Skip ahead to around the 5:39 minute mark where the actual removal and installation part starts.  HTH

[KenF]

Thanks for the info.  Unfortunately I am just going to buy a new DC.  I tried heat, PB Blaster, even drilling new holes for the gear pulley - it would not budge.  

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Larry, check this Stumpy Nubs video. He did a DC build that spanned 4 episodes, but then combined and shortened them into a 15 job. He talks about 2 blowers starting a little past the 8 minute mark, but you might find the whole thing interesting.

[Larry Blighton]

4 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Larry, check this Stumpy Nubs video. He did a DC build that spanned 4 episodes, but then combined and shortened them into a 15 job. He talks about 2 blowers starting a little past the 8 minute mark, but you might find the whole thing interesting.

Thanks, I was actually looking for this video, someone else recommended it and I couldn't find it.

[Danvirsse]

I just did this modification, and boy what an improvement.  I actually had to remove the old impeller by cutting a slit with a die grinder and splitting the hub.  The rest of it was easy-peasy.

[Larry Blighton]

First let me say sorry I have not updated this thread in some time.  Work and life has been super crazy.  I spent so much time on trying to get the impeller off and just could not do it.  So I put the new impeller up on the shelf and kinda forgot about it.  About three weeks ago I was doing some rearranging of the shop dust collection piping and thought I would give it another shot.  Again I spent several hours doing everything I could to get the impeller off, heck I even went an bought another gear puller to try it.  When it all failed I decided to make some calls to the local mechanics and finally found someone that would help me.  He did get the impeller off but it was no easy feat as the impeller was rusted on and the center hub keep breaking off every time he was forced to cut the impeller off.

 

I am glad that this little upgrade is finally finished.     

[p_toad]

6 hours ago, Larry Blighton said:

First let me say sorry I have not updated this thread in some time

Never a need to apologize here.   I'm pretty sure we all understand. 

[Gunny]

Had someone bring me one in our shop last week. Heated with torch and gave it a love tap. 

 

Having watched me do this the guy grabbed the shaft.

 

Said it was hot.  

[Larry Blighton]

1 hour ago, p_toad said:

Never a need to apologize here.   I'm pretty sure we all understand. 

Well I appreciate it.

[Larry Blighton]

52 minutes ago, Gunny said:

Had someone bring me one in our shop last week. Heated with torch and gave it a love tap. 

 

Having watched me do this the guy grabbed the shaft.

 

Said it was hot.  

 

Well neither the mechanic nor I thought about using heat, just brute force and a cutter.

[Larry Buskirk]

58 minutes ago, Gunny said:

Had someone bring me one in our shop last week. Heated with torch and gave it a love tap. 

 

Having watched me do this the guy grabbed the shaft.

 

Said it was hot.  

 

You wouldn't believe how many times I've seen the same thing. They see you get it red hot and just have to touch it! 

[Larry Blighton]

2 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

 

You wouldn't believe how many times I've seen the same thing. They see you get it red hot and just have to touch it! 

Yea Red hot anything usually mean its bad buisness

[Gunny]

13 minutes ago, Larry Blighton said:

Yea Red hot anything usually mean its bad buisness

 

I have worked at the same place for 10 years.  After all this time you would think that my boss would KNOW not to touch something I have in my hand.  NOPE, grabs hot stuff right out of my hand and then the fire hits.  My hands are callused from years of work in the business and a couple of bad burns.  By the time I feel it, too late already cooked..   

 

Okay maybe I HAND the boss stuff sometimes and know, but he grabs it...... 

 

 

[HandyDan]

We always said he picked it up to take a quick look at it because he never held onto it very long.

[Gene Howe]

Kinda reminds me of the cowboy who picked up a horseshoe not long out off the anvil and, immediately dropped it. The blacksmith chuckled and asked if it was too hot for him. The cowboy replied " Naw, just doesn't take long to look at a horseshoe. 

[Dradam]

I know that this is an old post but I recently completed this upgrade and had a similar problem-- I could not get the old impeller to budge. The sleeve of the original impeller is is junk metal and the pull ring just cracked away when I used my bearing puller. I tried oils, and even drilling holes around into the sleeve around the shaft. That allowed me to free the key. But still It would not budge. Finally I used a large gear puller that was able to grasp the outer edge of the impeller while pushing down on the shaft. That got it off of course destroying the old impeller.

 

That said, I completed the upgrade using the Wen impeller (less expensive than Rikon) and swapped the bag filter for the Wynn pleated  closed end filter. I am super pleased. I can see how the pleated filter decreases dust compared to the 5 micron bag. The suction in the system is much higher as measured by water column and subjectively. I did not enlarge the fan inlet aperature. All my tubing is 4 inch so I did not think it made any sense.  Was worth the pain getting off the old impeller.