On with fastening the gear to the winch drum. Not easy to deal with but I got it set up in the Progress drill and levelled. Not a lot of clearance but luckily this chuck has a good deep space inside it and as my 3.7mm tapping drill for 2BA has seen a lot of use it's a bit shorter than a brand new drill. I drilled and tapped the first hole.....
I usually tap CI dry but as this was a heavy interference I used a bit of Trefolex and was very careful, the last thing we want is a broken tap! I decided to use 3.8mm for the other two.
Once I had the first hole done and the gear held firm it was easy to drill the other two in the correct place. I had to take a 1/4" off the end of this drill to get clearance. I just spotted the the holes and then took the gear off to drill to full depth.
No rush, quietly and carefully and it wasn't long before I had a gear fastened tidily to the winch drum. I checked the shaft protrusion to make sure it was equal at both ends and installed it with some Loctite shaft lock. The original design specifies a grub screw but that isn't needed, the shaft will never move!
Then I went into the drawing office and did some careful measuring and a fag packet drawing. Once I was sure what I was doing I set to to drill the bearers for the 2BA holding down bolts, 3/16" clearance. I know I keep saying it but this compound vice is the best thing I ever did to make work on the pillar drill easy.....
I also drilled and tapped the stud holes which will eventually take the long studs for the pillars which support the entablature over the winch drum. Here we are ready for a bit of tidying up and edge breaking.
In case you're wondering why I am suddenly wood-turning it's all down to that bugger P. He tuts at me every time I use the small half round file without a handle so I decided to make one....
Here we are, legal again. But I made the handle in a rush and when I drove it onto the file I split it so that's why it has insulting tape binding it. Never mind, it's doing the job. I spent the rest of the time until closing time wiping the first bearer down. Not looking for a perfect finish as the bearers will be painted.
I've finished the back one. First thing tomorrow I shall give the other the same treatment and then set about mounting them on the bed plate. I've worked out where they go already. Nice morning with good work done, I am quite pleased with progress.