Leslie Tharp Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 I just purchased a 25 Ib Little Giant along with Dave Manzer's 2 videos on tuning the Little Giant and Tooling for the LG. The problem I am having, after turning it on for the first time, is that I have to press my pedal all the way to the ground to get the clutch to engage. By the time it engages my pedal is pressed so far that my dies each other, rather than slowly descending. SO, I am not a very good mechanic and I don't have anyone local to ask about this, but I am guessing my clutch is not engaging because all the grabby stuff that should be on it has worn away. Can anyone help me identify this as the problem and tell me how to fix it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Sounds like rod going from pedal to clutch arm is simply too long. No need to remove it to start with,just heat a six inch section with your torch and shorten it up by putting a kink in it. Probably against Sid's Rules but it worked for me. First I'd give Sid a call. He is absolutely gracious about talking you through LG problems. call: Sid Suedmeier at 402-873-6603 His Website: http://www.littlegianthammer.com/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Is it a rear flywheel or center type? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Linkage may or may not be the prob. If it has the wooden blocks on the clutch they may have worn to where they don't engage properly. You can shim under them some or purchase new blocks from Sid. I'm sure Phil Cox will chime in here and he is a master with LGs. Heed his advice! Where are you located? You may be surprised as to how many smiths could be in your area... Just update your profile and give your location. Helps us by knowing where folks are as we can usually put them in touch with a local ABANA affiliate or local blacksmith group for hands on help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy k Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 The treadle/clutch may need some adjustments as usual, also are you oiling the clutch liberally?. LG's like oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 your dies what each other? hit hard, miss? How far apart are your dies at bottom dead center? How tall is the top and bottom die? Does your hammer have wood blocks, fiber lining, or is it metal to metal clutch? Need lots more info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leslie Tharp Posted October 11, 2011 Author Share Posted October 11, 2011 HWooldridge: Is it a rear flywheel or center type?How do I tell if the flywheel is rear or center. I have included some photos of my LG in my gallery, hopefully they will help answer this question. Thomas Dean: Linkage may or may not be the prob. If it has the wooden blocks on the clutch they may have worn to where they don't engage properly. You can shim under them some or purchase new blocks from Sid.How would I know if there were originally wooden blocks or not?? Again, hoping the photos in my gallery help. Peacock: your dies what each other? hit hard, miss? How far apart are your dies at bottom dead center? How tall is the top and bottom die? Does your hammer have wood blocks, fiber lining, or is it metal to metal clutch? Need lots more info?Hoping the photos in my gallery help with this too, looks like the dies are well apart at rest, about 8 inches? Each die protrudes about 2 inches from the machine? As far as the clutch goes, I can see remnants of some sort of fiber lining, but only on the edge farthest from the metal piece that spins and engages when the pedal is pressed (closest to the front of the machine). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leslie Tharp Posted October 11, 2011 Author Share Posted October 11, 2011 Alright, apparently I cannot figure out how to post images. Can someone please tell me how to look for clues that my LG had wooden blocks, fiber, or just metal to metal contact. I have oiled it well and it will not engage at all when i push the pedal down. It seems like to be moving properly when I push the pedal down, but just not catching on anything. Would the be a sign that it should have wooden blocks or fiber? Again, I do see a thin (3/4") strip if fiber on the clutch closest to the front of the LG. I need to identify if it should have some fiber or blocks replaced. Then I need to figure out how to do it. I am in Gainesville, Fl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamey Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 dont take this wrong, but you should really find some one in your area to go over the hammer with you. They are very simple hammers but it sure is nice to have an experienced user right there with you going through not only the ins/outs of the hammer, but the actual capabilities of the hammer. Some of the early clutches were metal/metal, most had wood blocks that may have later been modified with an assortment of material between the wood/steel. From what you describe it sounds like clutch blocks are just worn too far down to do there job. If you send me the pics I will post them for you, matt@lameycustomknives.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Check out FABA there are members in your area the president Jerry did a bunch of repair on his but he is in Sarasota. Bill Robertson is on this site as ormentalmetalsmith he is up your way so is Steve bloom I am about 3 hours south of you as well but do not know alot about LG hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suboc Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 These are clutch blocks, on a new style 100# hammer. You can see them numbered 1,2,3, on the rear of the hammer. The orientation on an older hammer will be different. And last an old style 50# hammer clutch with linning. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 it's a fiber lined clutch I use leather, but Sid sells acomposite that works very well. You will have to take the shaft out slide the pully off, clean all the old lining off and rivet or bolt on new lining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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