I've got a couple of Rikon mini lathes and I'm having a rough time getting the faceplates off after turning a bowl.  I'd heard that putting a card spacer on the threaded spindle that the faceplate would tighten against would prevent this, but it's stuck on pretty good right now.  After a couple of years of use at school the kids had broken off the indexing pin while taking off their faceplates.  There isn't anywhere to put a wrench on the spindle so I'm not sure how to hold it while I have a wrench on the faceplate.  Any ideas on how to do it?

Roy, any chance you could give us a photo?

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Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

I'll see if I can get one tomorrow.

Is there a way to get a phillip[s screwdriver in one of hte holes you'd normally put a screw through to the wood? If so you may be able to smack hte screwdriver with a mallet while holding onto the (quill) (sp) aka that piece that is spinning while the l;athe is on. I have had many occasions where I had to use a mallet to get a 4 jaw chuck off so I made a mallet for htat purpose and it hasn't failed yet.

Yea I had heard that if you use cardboard between the faceplate and the spindle that it would usually pevent this type of problem. I hope I have helped in some way. Let us know whats going on.

Here's a link to what you need- once we get the face plate removed

http://www.woodcraft.com/search2/search.aspx?query=spindle%20washer

As for removing the face plate, is there enough room to get a pipe wrench on the spindle (not the spindle threads). Position the pipe wrench so it grips the spindle and the wrench handle rests against the bed of the lathe. You may be able to now grab the face plate/bowl and turn it free. If it's still too tight, using the wrench and Charles' suggestion together will probably do the trick.

Let me know if you need additional ideas.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

I've put a couple small pipe wrenches in the truck to take to the shop tomorrow, that was going to be my next step.  I know I can get it off like that, but it isn't very handy and when I start having people in for instruction I'd like to be able to do it a little more professional looking.
 
Lewis Kauffman said:

Here's a link to what you need- once we get the face plate removed

http://www.woodcraft.com/search2/search.aspx?query=spindle%20washer

As for removing the face plate, is there enough room to get a pipe wrench on the spindle (not the spindle threads). Position the pipe wrench so it grips the spindle and the wrench handle rests against the bed of the lathe. You may be able to now grab the face plate/bowl and turn it free. If it's still too tight, using the wrench and Charles' suggestion together will probably do the trick.

Let me know if you need additional ideas.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

that's easy.

Clamp a block of something hard  very firmly to the face plate.  have it sticking out about an inch is good - wide surface against the face plate is good too.

SMACK it with a hammer in the reverse direction from how it turns.  and slicker 'n cat poo on a door step you'll have it off.

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Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.

If it were only that easy.  And I still had the bowl on it so there wasn't any place to clamp it on.
 
Cliff said:

that's easy.

Clamp a block of something hard  very firmly to the face plate.  have it sticking out about an inch is good - wide surface against the face plate is good too.

SMACK it with a hammer in the reverse direction from how it turns.  and slicker 'n cat poo on a door step you'll have it off.

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Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.

Use a c clamp if you must.  Doesn't your faceplate have slots?  Use them.

hockey sticks if the slots are wide enough just lay an oak shaft of wood in one and smack that.

I spent about 15 years as a machinist toolmaker  much of it in shops with equipment so old that it had war board stamps on it and overhead power.  There's always a way to  accomplish things when the usual way is not available.

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Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.

Hi if the faceplate is stuck badly, maybe a shot of WD40 will help loosen it up , just spray it on the outer portion of the spindle and let it set an hour. maybe that will work. If it's still stuck you can maybe use vice grips on the flat spots that should be on the back of the plate like this one.

You may also try using a mallet on the vice grip while holding onto the Quill to keep it still. As a last resort Try a hammer or mallet on the back of the faceplate (knocking it forward if only a millimeter or so just enough to loosen it).

There has to be a way to get this thing off here

Cliff said:

Use a c clamp if you must.  Doesn't your faceplate have slots?  Use them.

hockey sticks if the slots are wide enough just lay an oak shaft of wood in one and smack that.

 

I spent about 15 years as a machinist toolmaker  much of it in shops with equipment so old that it had war board stamps on it and overhead power.  There's always a way to  accomplish things when the usual way is not available.

 

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Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.

hockey sticks hitting it a glancing blow in the direction you want to unscrew it  with a wood or rubber mallet on the outer diameter might also knock it loose.

Very true especially when WD40 is used first

Cliff said:

hockey sticks hitting it a glancing blow in the direction you want to unscrew it  with a wood or rubber mallet on the outer diameter might also knock it loose.

That little faceplate you have there Charles would be removed easily  by using those lovely little holes even without the lovely  wrench flats on the threaded collar.

A strap wrench would do it also. So would a regular plumber's wrench, but it'd leave a mark.

It came off real easy with just two pipe wrenches.  I was just hoping that maybe someone here had a similar lathe and wondered how they overcame the situation.  I wish there was some way to lock the shaft but I don't see that there is any way to do that. 

Would there be a way to remove the spindle lock mechanism from the top and have a new pin made. Another idea would be to drill a hole in the edge of the head stock handwheel and insert a steel rod when you want to remove a face plate. The rod would need to be long enough to rest against the carrying handle attached to the lathe bed- I'm basing this description on pictures from the Rikon site for their mini lathe.

Roy Boomershine said:

It came off real easy with just two pipe wrenches.  I was just hoping that maybe someone here had a similar lathe and wondered how they overcame the situation.  I wish there was some way to lock the shaft but I don't see that there is any way to do that.