"Ignoramus6711" wrote in message
...
Sorry for a bunch of posts at once. I worked all day long (almost) and
gave 1500 lbs of old junk to a scrapper.

Never had this problem before and I REALLY do not want to screw up.

The head of the Bridgeport CNC mill is attached to the turret with
four socket head cap screws, probably 1/2". They have a 3/8" hex hole.

All my attempts to unscrew them failed. I used a nice Unbrako L shaped
key.

Cannot do it without leverage.

With leverage (pipe) the key twists so much, that I really do not want
to push my luck.

I made a tool today from one 3/8" L shaped key: I drilled a
perpendicular hole close to the end of a pipe, and welded the straight
end of the key into that hole. So I can use the pipe as a lever to
turn the key without as much length to twist.

-. (L key)
pipe |
============|=

^ this end will go into the SHCS

I have no idea how will the key behave after having been welded.

I also have hex keys that are driven with a 1/2" breaker bar or an
impact. I am really afraid that it may somehow break the SHCS, which
would be terrible considering its job (holding the mill head).

Any comments?


Hit them with kroil and let set for an hour. Then try an impact at a low
setting for an extended period. Also as Gunner suggested you might try
tightening slightly and then loosening... at a low setting on your impact.