Bessey slippage

6/19/19, 9:52 PM #1

Kneale Brownson
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Registered: 8/1/07

Bessey slippage

Kneale Brownson

I have some Bessey F- clamps GSCC2.506 that have started to slip when tightened. The clutches slip out of the grooves. Any fix? These are barely used.

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I’m a fairly spry 82-year-old who had been a reader/participant at WoodCentral since the demise of Badger Pond. I started visiting BP to learn something about finish for a project I’d completed and became hooked on internet forums as a way of increasing my knowledge about all sorts of topics. I have been a moderator for a couple other forums on subjects I enjoy. My interest in woodworking began in the early 1970’s when my wife and I had contractors add to our house near Traverse City, MI, and I ended up doing the trim work to reduce mounting costs. I had no tools. I bought a P-C skilsaw, hammer, screwdrivers and one of those wooden miter boxes with a backsaw. I made trim for windows and doors from one-by lumber and started my woodworking career. At the same time, I started a 50-year career as a ski instructor. I got onto the night shift at a mental hospital so I could ski days, and spent my 30s and 40s with that schedule. I eventually replaced the PC-upside-down-in-a-board with a real table saw and began the purchase of enough equipment to fill a jam-packed 40-foot shipping container we used after we sold our property in Michigan. The ski instructing had taken us to Colorado and we were spending too much on maintaining utilities for two homes. A couple years ago, the dozen years spent at 10,000 feet of elevation was making my body produce too many red blood cells, so we had to leave my “forever” home in the mountains and we moved back to Michigan. Now I have to find myself a shop space for all those tools in the container.

Re: Bessey slippage

6/19/19, 10:26 PM Solution #2

William Duffield
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Registered: 4/5/04

Re: Bessey slippage

William Duffield

The usual fix is to take the pin out of the end of the bar, disassemble, turn the clutches over and reassemble. However, if they have been barely used, I would be suspicious that the clutches were not properly hardened. If so, after the repair, they will probably start slipping again, soon. In that case, contact Bessey for replacement parts.

I assume you have already cleaned any dust, glue or other contaminants out of the clutch mechanism?

Re: Bessey slippage

6/20/19, 1:18 PM #3

Kneale Brownson
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Registered: 8/1/07

Re: Bessey slippage

Kneale Brownson

No glue or other contamination. Pins appear to have their ends "mushroomed". Will a punch drive them out? Are parts available?

- - -

I’m a fairly spry 82-year-old who had been a reader/participant at WoodCentral since the demise of Badger Pond. I started visiting BP to learn something about finish for a project I’d completed and became hooked on internet forums as a way of increasing my knowledge about all sorts of topics. I have been a moderator for a couple other forums on subjects I enjoy. My interest in woodworking began in the early 1970’s when my wife and I had contractors add to our house near Traverse City, MI, and I ended up doing the trim work to reduce mounting costs. I had no tools. I bought a P-C skilsaw, hammer, screwdrivers and one of those wooden miter boxes with a backsaw. I made trim for windows and doors from one-by lumber and started my woodworking career. At the same time, I started a 50-year career as a ski instructor. I got onto the night shift at a mental hospital so I could ski days, and spent my 30s and 40s with that schedule. I eventually replaced the PC-upside-down-in-a-board with a real table saw and began the purchase of enough equipment to fill a jam-packed 40-foot shipping container we used after we sold our property in Michigan. The ski instructing had taken us to Colorado and we were spending too much on maintaining utilities for two homes. A couple years ago, the dozen years spent at 10,000 feet of elevation was making my body produce too many red blood cells, so we had to leave my “forever” home in the mountains and we moved back to Michigan. Now I have to find myself a shop space for all those tools in the container.

Re: Bessey slippage

6/20/19, 6:14 PM #4

JohnV
Guest

Re: Bessey slippage

JohnV

a dremmel with a small grinding burr will remove the mushroom/head and they should punch out easily.

Re: Bessey slippage

6/20/19, 8:12 PM #5

William Duffield
Master Craftsman
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4,452 posts

Registered: 4/5/04

Re: Bessey slippage

William Duffield

You should be able to replace them with a short piece of brass rod (or even mild steel or a pop rivet). Easy to mushroom with a small hammer.

Re: Bessey slippage

6/21/19, 7:19 PM #6

Kneale Brownson
Master Craftsman
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Registered: 8/1/07

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions.

Kneale Brownson

Figured I could grind it down/drive it out, but was wondering about reassembly.

- - -

I’m a fairly spry 82-year-old who had been a reader/participant at WoodCentral since the demise of Badger Pond. I started visiting BP to learn something about finish for a project I’d completed and became hooked on internet forums as a way of increasing my knowledge about all sorts of topics. I have been a moderator for a couple other forums on subjects I enjoy. My interest in woodworking began in the early 1970’s when my wife and I had contractors add to our house near Traverse City, MI, and I ended up doing the trim work to reduce mounting costs. I had no tools. I bought a P-C skilsaw, hammer, screwdrivers and one of those wooden miter boxes with a backsaw. I made trim for windows and doors from one-by lumber and started my woodworking career. At the same time, I started a 50-year career as a ski instructor. I got onto the night shift at a mental hospital so I could ski days, and spent my 30s and 40s with that schedule. I eventually replaced the PC-upside-down-in-a-board with a real table saw and began the purchase of enough equipment to fill a jam-packed 40-foot shipping container we used after we sold our property in Michigan. The ski instructing had taken us to Colorado and we were spending too much on maintaining utilities for two homes. A couple years ago, the dozen years spent at 10,000 feet of elevation was making my body produce too many red blood cells, so we had to leave my “forever” home in the mountains and we moved back to Michigan. Now I have to find myself a shop space for all those tools in the container.

Bessey slippage

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