Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Walt

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

I helped take apart a Clausing mill for moving, and I have a Rockwell.

1) You take the head off by disconnecting wires.

2) You take the knee off.

3) You take the pedestal off the cabinet.

Now you have 4 pieces, each one can be carried by two strong guys.

--
Accidental creation should not be taught as a fact.
Intelligent creation should not be banned from teachings as
unconstitutional.

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

"Walt" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Chuck Sherwood is a fairly regular reader here and has one of those mills in
the h/v version. I helped him move it to his basement but don't remember
enough of the disassembly details to help you out, other than it wasn't very
difficult. If he doesn't reply here and you still need help, look for his
email address via Google Groups ad contact him directly.

I do have a vague recollection that removing the gib for the knee/column
ways made it possible to lift the knee up and off of the vertical ways. Or
maybe that was the case for my Clausing. Or maybe for both. Need sleep....

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn).

Chuck Sherwood is a fairly regular reader here and has one of those mills in
the h/v version. I helped him move it to his basement but don't remember

We removed the head, table, knee and column, and base. It wasn't hard
work but it was a lot of work and took most of a day. I really don't
think he needs to disassemble that far to move the machine over a lawn.
I think removing the head and putting the rest of the machine on a
dolly should be enough. Put plywood on the lawn so that the wheels
won't sink in and will roll. I have heard that a toe truck works
well for moving machines too. If the ground is hard it won't sink in.

chuck

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

On 1 Dec 2005 10:12:14 -0800, "Walt" wrote:

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Walt


I move my 8540 pretty regularly with a refridgerator dolly. The two
wheeled gizmo with a restraining strap pulled up tight.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 12:55:28 GMT, Gunner Asch
wrote:

On 1 Dec 2005 10:12:14 -0800, "Walt" wrote:

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Walt


I move my 8540 pretty regularly with a refridgerator dolly. The two
wheeled gizmo with a restraining strap pulled up tight.

Gunner

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner

Once or twice, I've found it necessary to add a strap at the bottom on
my refrigerator dolly when moving machine components, luckily without
a disaster. Now I always add the second strap on heavy or oddly
shaped stuff.

Pete Keillor

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

"Gunner Asch" wrote in message
...
On 1 Dec 2005 10:12:14 -0800, "Walt" wrote:

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Walt


I move my 8540 pretty regularly with a refridgerator dolly. The two
wheeled gizmo with a restraining strap pulled up tight.

One or two additional tie-down straps, the kind with little ratchets, can
sometimes be a real help for such things to keep the tool securely lashed to
the dolly. I find the built-in strap can loosen at the worst times. Almost
all of my major tools have been moved to the basement with a good quality
dolly, usually partially disassembled. The exception was the base and
column for an 8540. My wife and I got it half way down the stairs before it
got away from her and tried to run me over. It made it two steps before
getting lodged on the steel toe of my work boots. We used a 400/800 lb HF
hoist to get it the rest of the way down.

Mike

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

On Sat, 3 Dec 2005 09:37:41 -0600, "Mike Henry"
wrote:


"Gunner Asch" wrote in message
.. .
On 1 Dec 2005 10:12:14 -0800, "Walt" wrote:

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Walt


I move my 8540 pretty regularly with a refridgerator dolly. The two
wheeled gizmo with a restraining strap pulled up tight.

One or two additional tie-down straps, the kind with little ratchets, can
sometimes be a real help for such things to keep the tool securely lashed to
the dolly. I find the built-in strap can loosen at the worst times. Almost
all of my major tools have been moved to the basement with a good quality
dolly, usually partially disassembled. The exception was the base and
column for an 8540. My wife and I got it half way down the stairs before it
got away from her and tried to run me over. It made it two steps before
getting lodged on the steel toe of my work boots. We used a 400/800 lb HF
hoist to get it the rest of the way down.

Mike

My boys helped me move stuff into the basement on a dolly. I wouldn't
let anybody below the load. We tied on to the dolly with a 1/2" nylon
rope, the boys belayed the dolly, and I guided it from above.

Hoisting 101: never place yourself or anyone else underneath or in
the path of the load.

Pete Keillor

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

"Pete Keillor" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 3 Dec 2005 09:37:41 -0600, "Mike Henry"
wrote:


"Gunner Asch" wrote in message
. ..
On 1 Dec 2005 10:12:14 -0800, "Walt" wrote:

I have a Rockwell vertical (knee) milling machine that I need to move
to a shop that doesn't have a driveway and is at the top of a small
incline (grass lawn). I have read somewhere that the shipping weight
of this machine was 800 pounds so it's not real heavy. I would like to
take it apart to make it easier to move. (I'm an amateur and not
familiar with dissassembly of milling machines). I have a photocopy of
the manual which does have an exploded diagram but isn't very useful
otherwise. Anyone here that had/has one of these machines and knows
how to dissassemble it?

Walt


I move my 8540 pretty regularly with a refridgerator dolly. The two
wheeled gizmo with a restraining strap pulled up tight.

One or two additional tie-down straps, the kind with little ratchets, can
sometimes be a real help for such things to keep the tool securely lashed
to
the dolly. I find the built-in strap can loosen at the worst times.
Almost
all of my major tools have been moved to the basement with a good quality
dolly, usually partially disassembled. The exception was the base and
column for an 8540. My wife and I got it half way down the stairs before
it
got away from her and tried to run me over. It made it two steps before
getting lodged on the steel toe of my work boots. We used a 400/800 lb HF
hoist to get it the rest of the way down.

Mike

My boys helped me move stuff into the basement on a dolly. I wouldn't
let anybody below the load. We tied on to the dolly with a 1/2" nylon
rope, the boys belayed the dolly, and I guided it from above.

Hoisting 101: never place yourself or anyone else underneath or in
the path of the load.

Yeppers - I'd make a good poster boy for that rule! Aside from the stupid
idea of putting myself below the load, the main problem was the rubber belts
on the dolly that are located near the wheels and the load slide over the
lip of a stair step. They slide real good with a heavy load!

Fortunately, no harm was done to tool or body other than a slightly twisted
knee.

Mike

Disassembly ? of a Rockwell Vertical Milling machine
 

On Sat, 03 Dec 2005 15:27:28 -0500, Pete Keillor
wrote:

My boys helped me move stuff into the basement on a dolly. I wouldn't
let anybody below the load. We tied on to the dolly with a 1/2" nylon
rope, the boys belayed the dolly, and I guided it from above.

Hoisting 101: never place yourself or anyone else underneath or in
the path of the load.

Amen! As an old rigger, we don't call being in that position "the
bite" for no reason. You will get bit sooner or later. With any
luck, you won't ever feel it... for long anyway.

Bottom line is, if you don't know how to move heavy equipment, don't,
hire someone who does. You're worth it. No matter what your widow
says g.

Snarl