I am in posession of a 1924 Oliver 166 16" jointer with a motor on head drive. The cradle (for lack of a better term) that supports the motor and head is missing the rib on the outfeed table side. Perhaps it was broken when the previous owner did work on the head. The casting rib is missing altogether, however the other 3/4 of the casting is complete. Where it bolts to the base in the front and rear is fine with no cracks that I can see. Does anyone know someone who has one of these fine machines for parts? Can it be run safely with that part of the casting missing? ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
I am also looking for one of the round table locking knobs for the infeed table as well as one of the fence locking knobs. I could have these machined, but would prefer one of the originals.
Help with an Oliver 166 jointer
Moderator: crzypete
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mr douglas t
- Posts: 269
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:58 pm
- Location: Westhampton, MA
- Contact:
Hello Vince,
I have a 166 that had a clamshell cutter head in it. I was strongly advised to replace it. I found a cutterhead from an old planer and fitted it to the jointer. Let us know wheather or not it is a clamshell or not. There is alot of advise and methods out there for replacing the cutterhead.
I have a 166 that had a clamshell cutter head in it. I was strongly advised to replace it. I found a cutterhead from an old planer and fitted it to the jointer. Let us know wheather or not it is a clamshell or not. There is alot of advise and methods out there for replacing the cutterhead.
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Vince Fricke
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:53 am
Pete:
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does a clamshell cutterhead look like? Mine cutterhead is cylindrical (approximately 4-3/4" in diameter). It is a 3 knife cutterhead and each knife is held in place with a metal plate that is flat on one side (the flat side goes against the cutterhead itself) and rounded on the other side. Each plate has 4 dado slots milled in it from what I can see. There are 5 large bolts (1-1/4") that hold these plates in place in counterbored holes.
The one end of the cutterhead (front bearing closest to the operator) Has a vertical plate with 3 screws and a grease cup. Since the bearing doesn't have a cap on top (like a babbit bearing would), I'm assuming it's ball bearing.
Would you mind giving me your email address so that I can send you a couple photos?
By the way, in case it is the right part, how much would you want for it and would you be willing to ship it to me in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
Thank you so much for all of your help!
Vince
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does a clamshell cutterhead look like? Mine cutterhead is cylindrical (approximately 4-3/4" in diameter). It is a 3 knife cutterhead and each knife is held in place with a metal plate that is flat on one side (the flat side goes against the cutterhead itself) and rounded on the other side. Each plate has 4 dado slots milled in it from what I can see. There are 5 large bolts (1-1/4") that hold these plates in place in counterbored holes.
The one end of the cutterhead (front bearing closest to the operator) Has a vertical plate with 3 screws and a grease cup. Since the bearing doesn't have a cap on top (like a babbit bearing would), I'm assuming it's ball bearing.
Would you mind giving me your email address so that I can send you a couple photos?
By the way, in case it is the right part, how much would you want for it and would you be willing to ship it to me in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
Thank you so much for all of your help!
Vince
crzypete wrote:Hi Vince, You may not believe it, but I may own a spare of that part. It might be from a slightly later machine, I believe it came from a ballbearing machine.
I'm curious if your machine has the original clamshell cutterhead or has had a more modern design retrofitted.
Pete
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Vince Fricke
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:53 am
Mr Douglas T:
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does a clamshell cutterhead look like? My cutterhead is cylindrical (approximately 4-3/4" in diameter). It is a 3 knife cutterhead and each knife is held in place with a metal plate that is flat on one side (the flat side goes against the cutterhead itself) and rounded on the other side. Each plate has 4 dado slots milled in it from what I can see. There are 5 large bolts (1-1/4") that hold these plates in place in counterbored holes.
The one end of the cutterhead (front bearing closest to the operator) Has a vertical plate with 3 screws and a grease cup. Since the bearing doesn't have a cap on top (like a babbit bearing would), I'm assuming it's ball bearing.
Thank you so much for all of your help!
Vince
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does a clamshell cutterhead look like? My cutterhead is cylindrical (approximately 4-3/4" in diameter). It is a 3 knife cutterhead and each knife is held in place with a metal plate that is flat on one side (the flat side goes against the cutterhead itself) and rounded on the other side. Each plate has 4 dado slots milled in it from what I can see. There are 5 large bolts (1-1/4") that hold these plates in place in counterbored holes.
The one end of the cutterhead (front bearing closest to the operator) Has a vertical plate with 3 screws and a grease cup. Since the bearing doesn't have a cap on top (like a babbit bearing would), I'm assuming it's ball bearing.
Thank you so much for all of your help!
Vince
mr douglas t wrote:Hello Vince,
I have a 166 that had a clamshell cutter head in it. I was strongly advised to replace it. I found a cutterhead from an old planer and fitted it to the jointer. Let us know wheather or not it is a clamshell or not. There is alot of advise and methods out there for replacing the cutterhead.
Hi Vince, Yes, i'm interested in selling it, e-mail me and we'll talk price.
You can e-mail any MJ user by clicking the e-mail link below their post. If they don't have one, you can use the private message feature to send a message that only they will see.
Also, in the future, to reply it's best to use the "post reply" button at the bottom of the page, this prevents the repeating of the post in the quote box, which is unnecessary since all the information is threaded on the same page so you don't have to load multiple pages to see all the posts.
The clamshell cutterheads most prominent feature are the large headed bolts which hold the knives in place. they had holes for a spanner wrench. From your description it sounds like you have one. I will dig around for a picture.
Pete
You can e-mail any MJ user by clicking the e-mail link below their post. If they don't have one, you can use the private message feature to send a message that only they will see.
Also, in the future, to reply it's best to use the "post reply" button at the bottom of the page, this prevents the repeating of the post in the quote box, which is unnecessary since all the information is threaded on the same page so you don't have to load multiple pages to see all the posts.
The clamshell cutterheads most prominent feature are the large headed bolts which hold the knives in place. they had holes for a spanner wrench. From your description it sounds like you have one. I will dig around for a picture.
Pete
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mr douglas t
- Posts: 269
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:58 pm
- Location: Westhampton, MA
- Contact:
hello Vince,
It does sound like you have a clamshell cutter head. It is a less desirable type of cutterhead than the now standard jib type cutterhead. As you can see on your cutterhead, the bolts apply pressure to the knives, which keeps them in place. The jib type cutter head has a dato cut into the cutter head. The knives slides in this dato and a jib applies pressure to hold the knife in. The pressure is applied by screws along the jib which press directly against the knife. This dato alsohas a wedge type shape to it which in turn keeps the knives secured when the cutterhead is spinning. The clamshell cutter head only relys on the pressure of the bolts, which are not even directly on top of the knives. Many people opt to switch out the clamshells for the safer jib type system. I have a 20" 166 that had a clamshell cutter head and babit bearings. I never even considered using the clamshell. But it did take some restoration efforts. Here is a link.
http://www.douglasthayer.com/assets/eba ... oliver.JPG
It does sound like you have a clamshell cutter head. It is a less desirable type of cutterhead than the now standard jib type cutterhead. As you can see on your cutterhead, the bolts apply pressure to the knives, which keeps them in place. The jib type cutter head has a dato cut into the cutter head. The knives slides in this dato and a jib applies pressure to hold the knife in. The pressure is applied by screws along the jib which press directly against the knife. This dato alsohas a wedge type shape to it which in turn keeps the knives secured when the cutterhead is spinning. The clamshell cutter head only relys on the pressure of the bolts, which are not even directly on top of the knives. Many people opt to switch out the clamshells for the safer jib type system. I have a 20" 166 that had a clamshell cutter head and babit bearings. I never even considered using the clamshell. But it did take some restoration efforts. Here is a link.
http://www.douglasthayer.com/assets/eba ... oliver.JPG
Vince,
Do not have much to add for you are in excellent company with Douglas T and Pete, I own and operate 2 166's both with "clamshell" heads, one of which has thrown a knife, as DT states the integrity of the knife hold relays solely on the large spanner head bolts and often are subject to under tightening, it will be well worth the effort and money to upgrade the cutterhead, you are most likely thinking why has this guy has not upgraded his machines? The incident which I mentioned occurred when a visitor had entered my shop just as I was installing knife #3, I failed to clean #3 oil film with laquer thinner prior to install, upon start up... the rest of the story. Now when I change knives the door is locked and all surfaces are cleaned and defilmed with lacquer thinner in an OR quality envoirment, am I "promoting" the clamshell head? absoulutely not! Also I might add years back upon contacting Oliver for a four pin spanner wrench they interogated me about my machine, condition, serial number, location of purchase, my address and no spanner wrench but I did receive a registered letter with instructions to remove the machine from service and dispose unless cutterhead was upgraded, hope at least this an interesting read, good luck with you restoration.
dadude
Do not have much to add for you are in excellent company with Douglas T and Pete, I own and operate 2 166's both with "clamshell" heads, one of which has thrown a knife, as DT states the integrity of the knife hold relays solely on the large spanner head bolts and often are subject to under tightening, it will be well worth the effort and money to upgrade the cutterhead, you are most likely thinking why has this guy has not upgraded his machines? The incident which I mentioned occurred when a visitor had entered my shop just as I was installing knife #3, I failed to clean #3 oil film with laquer thinner prior to install, upon start up... the rest of the story. Now when I change knives the door is locked and all surfaces are cleaned and defilmed with lacquer thinner in an OR quality envoirment, am I "promoting" the clamshell head? absoulutely not! Also I might add years back upon contacting Oliver for a four pin spanner wrench they interogated me about my machine, condition, serial number, location of purchase, my address and no spanner wrench but I did receive a registered letter with instructions to remove the machine from service and dispose unless cutterhead was upgraded, hope at least this an interesting read, good luck with you restoration.
dadude