Thread: '91 Haas VF-1 Rebuild

Originally Posted by haastec

The electronics is where things can get a little tricky. One upgrade can force the upgrade of others.

These are words of truth!

Carousel motor went, so I needed a new motor..ooch..new motor needed new drive double ooch.

Gearbox went so needed a new gearbox, new gearbox only comes as a Set with New Spindle Motor...ooch. New Spindle Motor needs New Spindle Drive Triple ooch!


Thats the bad, the good news, I was usually back up and running in fairly short time. I could have saved a good deal of change by having motors and/or drives rebuilt...but in the middle of a job, sometimes it pays to bite the bullet and just get back up and running ASAP and try to recoup your money from a running machine.

Also great advise on changing out the X- Axis cable.... I've blown more then one amplifier because of that. Although snaking the cable thru the freaking little hole on these vintage machines is a real bear...about the worst job I've ever had the displeasure of doing. Aside from changing a starter in my forklift.

Originally Posted by SIM

Also great advise on changing out the X- Axis cable.... I've blown more then one amplifier because of that. Although snaking the cable thru the freaking little hole on these vintage machines is a real bear...about the worst job I've ever had the displeasure of doing. Aside from changing a starter in my forklift.

I was afraid that was the case when i saw where my cable went.

I thought I would post to check on progress and to keep the post going. My brother and I spent most of the day Friday getting mine into the garage. All I can say is WOW, what a day, what a week actually.
The mill was originally going to be delivered on Wednesday but the shipping company forgot to book a pickup. They get it straightened out but now its going to be delivered on Friday. I frantically search for a forklift for Friday, what I rented for Wednesday isn't available for Friday. I finally find one and set it up.
Shipper showed up at 8:00am on the money. I had it shipped from Erie PA to my house in Dallas GA. Forklift was supposed to be there at 8:00am too but at 8:15 I gave him a call. His boss had no idea where he was but he would find out and let me know. I get a call 5 minutes later, he got up late and stopped to have breakfast. But he would be there soon. At 8:45am he showed up. The shipper was somewhat relieved, he had another load on the trailer he needed to get an hour north of me. Start up the forklift and it starts dumping trans fluid on the trailer. Well this isn't good he says. He gives the boss a call and the boss races over to investigate. He gets there and takes a look. Front pump seal has gone out. He has a 6000lb forklift he can go get. That will not work, Haas says it is 7100lbs. The shipper is getting pretty ticked at this point, 7000lbs on the trailer, no way to get it off, and he should already be on the road. We decide the forklift has enough life in it to get the mill off the trailer so that's what we do. Shipper is better and he takes off like a bat out of hell. Now I have a new problem, the mill is now at the end of my drive with no way to move it. Forklift owner gives me the option of using it as is, just keep the trans from running low. I accept because I know that another lift will not be available for at least a week, I have called around. I accept and somehow, by the grace of God, it stops leaking for most of the day. Now all we have to do is wrestle into its new home.
10,000lb forklift, machine skates and lift bar, and two determined brothers and it is now set into place. I am about to get the way covers off and follow the advise of the OP and replace the cover wipers and cables if need be and whatever else I come by in the process.
On another note, this is my first CNC machine. Any advice for a first time Haas owner? Would it be better to start programming from the machine and move into CAM or go straight to CAM? I still have to buy or build a phase converter. 15 or 20 HP? What coolant are you guys running? Any other important areas to inspect other than those previously mentioned?
Thanks again for all of the help and letting me share my story!




With everything back in

Originally Posted by moparmuscl

If I knew then what I know now it would be EASY.
Good luck!

Thank you so much for the advice on the servo. It went pretty smooth. The only thing I did different was that I loosed the pinch bolt for the flex joint to separate it from the ball screw. I was trying to get the wrenches in there to split the flex joint when I noticed the pinch bolt. I loosened it and the set screw and it slid right off. I had a harder time with the service loop. It was already taught before I tried to lay it over. Thanks again for the help.

Originally Posted by moparmuscl

Cool, will do! I also like the 'tarp' in the pictures that STJ7780 posted that protects the rear covers. Those were recently replaced on my machine, so I want to protect them.

I bought the mill sight unseen from a gentlemen in Ashtabula Ohio. When I got it home I realized that the rear way cover is not there, hence the tarp. He sent the pieces of the cover with the mill so now I have to put it back together. Also he took both windows out of the sides, I presume for a long piece at some point in time. He sent the windows as well. What is the best way to put them back in? Does any one have any advice for making them clear again, they are fairly cloudy. I don't see any mechanical fasteners to keep them in place so I am assuming that they were "glued" in place.

Steve

Originally Posted by STJ7780

Thank you so much for the advice on the servo. It went pretty smooth. The only thing I did different was that I loosed the pinch bolt for the flex joint to separate it from the ball screw. I was trying to get the wrenches in there to split the flex joint when I noticed the pinch bolt. I loosened it and the set screw and it slid right off. I had a harder time with the service loop. It was already taught before I tried to lay it over. Thanks again for the help.


I bought the mill sight unseen from a gentlemen in Ashtabula Ohio. When I got it home I realized that the rear way cover is not there, hence the tarp. He sent the pieces of the cover with the mill so now I have to put it back together. Also he took both windows out of the sides, I presume for a long piece at some point in time. He sent the windows as well. What is the best way to put them back in? Does any one have any advice for making them clear again, they are fairly cloudy. I don't see any mechanical fasteners to keep them in place so I am assuming that they were "glued" in place.

Steve

Side windows would have been held in place with a rubber weatherstripping available from your dealer. I would also replace the window; just use Lexan or similar brand Polycarbonate. Unless you have one of the original windows to use as a template, you will need to buy that from the dealer also, otherwise you will never get the fit right for the two to work together. The other option is to fab up something yourself.

STJ's brother here ... A few pictures to add of our Friday odyssey.
They are all thumbs so be sure to click the pics.











Gotta get that A-axis for next level aluminum chip making.

Juuuuuuuuust barely fit.


Fun little machine skates we used to move it.



We used this lift bar to get it on and off the skates. The backside was a ton heavier than the front. When we went to lower the back down after getting the skates back out I went on a little ride. After we passed a certain point our combined body weight was not enough to keep the bar from rising and up I went. Thankfully the mass of my body weight made for a smooth lowering and landing for the HAAS ... but I was left suspended by the white hoodie you can see me wearing in another picture!



Putting the Z and service loop back together.

You guys can start your own thread instead of cluttering up mine...

Cool. I though I was the only one that would try to rebuild one of these machines. I just bought a 92 VF1 for $1000. Perfectly working machine but it was not taken care of. It is super nasty. Had so much shavings all over it that they felt like they turned to concrete. Piles and piles of shaving in place shavings were not even supposed to get in. I am disassembling the entire machine all the way down to the base column and going to clean and repaint and serviced everything. Gonna be a huge job but its mainly just my labor.

Originally Posted by moparmuscl

You guys can start your own thread instead of cluttering up mine...

Sorry about that, just excited I am not the only one with one of these.

Originally Posted by randyrw

Cool. I though I was the only one that would try to rebuild one of these machines. I just bought a 92 VF1 for $1000. Perfectly working machine but it was not taken care of. It is super nasty. Had so much shavings all over it that they felt like they turned to concrete. Piles and piles of shaving in place shavings were not even supposed to get in. I am disassembling the entire machine all the way down to the base column and going to clean and repaint and serviced everything. Gonna be a huge job but its mainly just my labor.

Please take a lot of pictures. I will have mine apart soon and a visual aid doesn't hurt, plus everyone loves pictures.

Steve

Just curious, how many run time hours do these older machines have?

Ought to start your own forum

"Just curious, how many run time hours do these older machines have?"

I don't know if you can accurately tell. Mine has a power on time of 1980 hrs. run time of 890 hrs. but also says 7700 M30 calls. it's a 91 model VF-1.

I'm not sure if you can rest them to zero? I have never done it since I owned the machine. She's making money that's what counts.

Originally Posted by sagespecialized

"Just curious, how many run time hours do these older machines have?"

I don't know if you can accurately tell. Mine has a power on time of 1980 hrs. run time of 890 hrs. but also says 7700 M30 calls. it's a 91 model VF-1.

I'm not sure if you can rest them to zero? I have never done it since I owned the machine. She's making money that's what counts.

I am about 50% above your numbers on my 92 VF2 Tupperware Haas


Mopar, nice tread, I am looking forward with your up and running post.

Originally Posted by sagespecialized

"Just curious, how many run time hours do these older machines have?"

I don't know if you can accurately tell. Mine has a power on time of 1980 hrs. run time of 890 hrs. but also says 7700 M30 calls. it's a 91 model VF-1.

I'm not sure if you can rest them to zero? I have never done it since I owned the machine. She's making money that's what counts.

When the tech updated my software about a year or so ago it reset everything back to zero.

So I don't think you rely on those hours being a bullet proof number.

I could guess that if the main processor board was replaced it also reset everything.

So you guys take a vacation from your projects? I did my first paying job and the old girl ran just fine including rigid tapping. Here is a picture after cleaning up. I'm showing off new brighter LED lights [model WL-CWHP10-S25] I got online; had to add a bridge rectifier to change the AC to DC $3.39 from radio shack. I attached the rectifier to the inside of the cabinet and spliced in the cable to the switch. One light is mounted in the original position and one on the left – nice bright white light not fractured yellow - now I can actually see what is going on!

BGL,
The lighting in there looks great! Any links or pictures to the lights?
Also what vise did you go with, looks to be reverse? I took a vacation for sure, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I did find that the rear way cover is busted so I will have to get teleflex on the phone and get some parts. I need to inspect all the other cables too and get it cleaned and my phase converter built. Moparmuscl, you don't have the origonal Z axis way cover do you?

Originally Posted by moparmuscl

Cool, will do! I also like the 'tarp' in the pictures that STJ7780 posted that protects the rear covers. Those were recently replaced on my machine, so I want to protect them.

Steve

LED Lights, Bulbs & Accessories - SUPER BRIGHT LEDS

I have no affiliation with them other than a satisfied customer. Don't forget the bridge rectifier!

Yes it is a reverse style, got used to it at work; nice to have G54 consistent. Covers are basically sheet metal work, bit of work with body hammer and dolly. I finished them with 180 grit with a random orbit sander and a coat of paste wax - like new.

Mine's SN 1043 and has performed well for me so far. Am considering upgrading the control, current software is limited to version 2.13.

Some time in the near future I will have to remove the very make-shift machine enclosure. The previous owner built it from stainless sheet(!), sealed it with silicone, but it leaks like a sieve.

Originally Posted by moparmuscl

So today I ordered all new covers, plates, and springs for the tool changer. I also ordered a new X-axis cable, way wipers, and a lot of other miscellaneous stuff. I'll post up more progress when I get the parts in.

Any progress in the past few weeks. I am dying to know how hard the X axis cable install was. Mine has a small crack in it so I am debating to replace it or not right now.
Steve