What's new
What's new

OT- Hydraulic unit Myford cylindrical grinder not working... UK members might know..

Milacron

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 15, 2000
Location
SC, USA
This is one I've had lying around for years from auction misc. Suspected it might not work as otherwise why would it have been separated from the machine. Probably mid 70's vintage, Brooks motor Gryphon 2048, 0.5 hp, 200 psi pressure set. Motor works/sounds fine, proper direction, plenty of fluid....but no fluid output at hose for same. Removing the large fill cap I can see with flashlight a steady stream of fluid leaking at 48 in below drawing (goes to [missing/capped off] pressure gage) but stream doesn't seem dramatic enough to be the entire smoking gun, plus no flow at the top sight glass dome at the relief valve 73.

Anyhoo, the leak tells me it is pumping some and maybe the leak is the entire problem but seems unlikely. Mostly wondering if anyone might know who made the actual hydraulic parts since Brooks Gryphon is the motor only, and if replacement parts might still exist.

And if no one knows, I will of course remove the top of the tank and see what labels might be on the hydraulics, check strainer for clogs, tighten leaks, etc.... just posting this in advance to see if there are any words of wisdom on these little Myford hydraulic units.

FullSizeRender-125.jpg FullSizeRender-126.jpg

FWIW, this drawing is from a 1988 vintage tank.....this one is the same except the filter is piped to the side rather than mounted on top.
 
D, it's been a very long time but I seem to recall a similar issue years ago that resulted in discovering a faulty ( sticky is what I seem to actually remember ) bypass/over-pressure valve. I'll dig around and see if I wrote any notes from back then. My memory is telling me that we could not find any replacement parts which is why we decided to go ahead and tear it apart. I do recall taking the bits apart, thoroughly cleaning them, and it working upon reassembly. I'll let you know if I find any notes.
 
D, it's been a very long time but I seem to recall a similar issue years ago that resulted in discovering a faulty ( sticky is what I seem to actually remember ) bypass/over-pressure valve. I'll dig around and see if I wrote any notes from back then. My memory is telling me that we could not find any replacement parts which is why we decided to go ahead and tear it apart. I do recall taking the bits apart, thoroughly cleaning them, and it working upon reassembly. I'll let you know if I find any notes.
So on yours the problem was in that relief valve assembly at the right end of the drawing, not the pump itself ? Did/does yours also have the filter on the side ? If so, ever unscrewed it ? I'm guessing it is a separate filter assembly (like at below link) inside the steel housing rather than the newer "all in one" types, but don't know for sure.

OIL FILTER, MYFORD GRINDERS 5-1/2 LONG 2-3/4 OD, 1-5/16 HOLE (E-1-4-7-14) | eBay
 
So on yours the problem was in that relief valve assembly at the right end of the drawing, not the pump itself ?

Correct. Pump would spin, but unit was not providing flow/pressure externally. But you could see movement inside the tank.


Did/does yours also have the filter on the side ? If so, ever unscrewed it ?

Yes, and yes. However, I only recall that it was done to replace it with a new one. I simply do not recall what it looked like, inside. For some reason, I want to say that it was like a normal oil filter but I can't swear to it. It wasn't of concern back then, and it's been long enough that my pea brain bumped that info out for something newer.
 
Try " Jubilee Machine Tools " in Derby, UK. I think they deal in used " Myford " grinding machines.

" Andmar Machinery Services " in Nuneaton, UK specialise in " Jones & Shipman " but they also have dealt with " Myford " in the past.

Regards Tyrone.
 
Try " Jubilee Machine Tools " in Derby. I think they deal in used " Myford " grinding machines.
Thanks but well aware of Andrew at Jubilee...have bought much from him in the past. Emailed him about this issue but no reply yet. suspect he will tell me no parts available, but I can dream...
 
At the risk of getting my head bitten off, ....what's the flow rate of that pump?

The reason I ask is 0.5HP, & 200psi, is not much of a hydraulic pump, which leads me to think any leak in the system - especially on a pipe directly off the relief valve, could put the whole system out of kilter, ........especially if the relieve valve is of the pressure balancing type.
 
Milacron, you said you moved the Matsuura(?) to the place I used to work in Beaufort (I think). There is (was) a Myford there if you still have any contacts there.... No idea if that is of use to you, or if it is the same make/model...
 
At the risk of getting my head bitten off, ....what's the flow rate of that pump?

The reason I ask is 0.5HP, & 200psi, is not much of a hydraulic pump, which leads me to think any leak in the system - especially on a pipe directly off the relief valve, could put the whole system out of kilter, ........especially if the relieve valve is of the pressure balancing type.
Dunno flow rate but that is what I'm hoping....that even the non dramatic leak once fixed will get it going regardless, since it is such a pitiful pump for a hydraulic pump. The motor actually looks more like 2 hp but the data plate has 0.5 hp clear as day. Seems like the RPM is only 720 or so. Apparently Myford grinders don't need much pump to work.
 
Milacron, you said you moved the Matsuura(?) to the place I used to work in Beaufort (I think). There is (was) a Myford there if you still have any contacts there.... No idea if that is of use to you, or if it is the same make/model...
XRD is basically out of business now but curiously I can't get any response from the person that owns the machines still sitting in the building, probably two years now. I wanted to buy the Matsuura but two years later it's kinda gone over the tipping point for a Yasnac control machine, value wise so I'm no longer interested in it. Interesting about them having a Myford grinder as I don't recall ever seeing one there. Probably an older model I wouldn't want.
 
The reason I ask is 0.5HP, & 200psi, is not much of a hydraulic pump, which leads me to think any leak in the system - especially on a pipe directly off the relief valve, could put the whole system out of kilter, ........especially if the relieve valve is of the pressure balancing type.
That was it...once I got the top off I found the fitting at part 48 much looser than I would ever have guessed. Tighten 'er up and the unit works like a charm. Sheesh, if only all my machine tool problems could be so simple.

FWIW, once I had the top off I could see the pump was made by Plessey of Swindon, England and the relief valve made by Vickers at the Havant, England plant. Wonder if Plessey still exists in any form ?
 
That was it...once I got the top off I found the fitting at part 48 much looser than I would ever have guessed. Tighten 'er up and the unit works like a charm. Sheesh, if only all my machine tool problems could be so simple.

FWIW, once I had the top off I could see the pump was made by Plessey of Swindon, England and the relief valve made by Vickers at the Havant, England plant. Wonder if Plessey still exists in any form ?

Like you say, if only every problem could be solved with an adjustable wrench.

" Plessey " were huge at one time in the mechanical control systems field as were " Vickers " in the hydraulic field. It's a few years since I was trying to obtain spares for either and it was a nightmare then, the chances now will be even less I would have thought.

Regards Tyrone.
 
Well I never ;) (cheap fix too)

Ref Plessey - Semi conductors and lights now Home - Plessey

And owned by BAE Systems Ref Plessey - Wikipedia

Fascinating reading Sami. When I was an apprentice I worked on an automated system for counting and packaging sheets of CAF ( Compressed Asbestos Fibre ). We made the machine but " Plessey " provided all the control systems.

It wasn't a success.

Regards Tyrone.
 
2 1/2 years later I've probably run the Myford a total of two hours. Been a year since I last ran it, all worked perfectly year ago. But yesterday fired it up and the hydraulic pump is pumping but not enough pressure to move the table. Unlike last time no sign of connection leaks. Bled the connections so no air lock..... the clear dome on top of the tank that is supposed to show flow, nothing happening there but fluid is flowing thru the in and out hoses...apparently at poor pressure however......any thoughts on what could go wrong with a hydraulic pump just sitting doing nothing ? (and fwiw, filter seems clear [fluid flows from "in" to "out" at same rate], fluid level in tank is good)
 








 
Back
Top