rabler
Cast Iron
- Joined
- May 25, 2020
- Location
- Rural S.W. Indiana
I've wanted something with a little bit longer bed than the 12x30 1944 CK, and found what appeared to be a good deal on a 1967 Monarch 612 16"x54". From the pictures it had rapid traverse. It also had a 20HP motor, bigger than I'd consider ideal given that I'm not looking to hog off 1/4" at a shot and need to either go VFD or RPC to power it from single phase 220V. But the price was good. 7 hour drive with a trailer to pick it up, made an overnight trip out of it. Some issues the next morning, apparently it tested out fine a couple days earlier in general operation, but under cutting load the feed started skipping. Turns out the splines/keys on the feed worm gear in the apron was worn out. They had another similar parts machine, and tried to swap the apron, but the the compound drive gears were slightly different. But otherwise the machine looked to be in reasonable shape, certainly not pristine but right for the price. So they swapped the worm gear, and while they were at it swapped the large bronze apron gear that engages the worm gear, due to wear. They got the hardware swapped and were going to go ahead and mount the apron, but I wanted to get on the road and I'm not fond of interstate driving after dark hauling a gooseneck with 30' bed. They took a substantial chunk off the price for my inconvenience and for the incomplete reassembly. Certainly from my perspective the made it right by me. Obviously a shop that understands that their reputation matters.
(The chain over the bed has an inch thick rubber mat between the chain and the bed).
So I have a 612. I just need to unload 9000lb of machine. I'd call it a huge machine, but it was tiny compared to the working machines from this shop. It was a blast to look at their collection of old Monarchs, Pacemakers, LeBlonds, etc, still in use.
(The chain over the bed has an inch thick rubber mat between the chain and the bed).
So I have a 612. I just need to unload 9000lb of machine. I'd call it a huge machine, but it was tiny compared to the working machines from this shop. It was a blast to look at their collection of old Monarchs, Pacemakers, LeBlonds, etc, still in use.
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