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Northwest 80-D Swing Clutches

  • 06/22/2013 1:37 PM
    Quote
    Message # 1324702
    Larry Padulo
    I have a 1961 Northwest 80-D front shovel, S/N 21648.  While operating the other day, I lost my ability to swing to the right.  It still swings to the left just fine.  When the swing lever is pulled back to swing to the right, it is very loose and floppy.  This happened all of a sudden, it was running fine during the previous pass and then, all of a sudden, nothing.

    Thinking the clutch collars needed tightening, I did that but there was still no change and the lever remained just as floppy.  I am wondering if something came apart or got loose in the control linkage and/or toggle assembly on the left end of the horizontal reversing shaft.  I checked out the toggle assembly but am unable to determine if anything looks different from before because the toggle assembly is in back of, and on the opposite side of the operator so it cannot be viewed while running.

    I would appreciate any help and advise I can get!  Thanks!

    Larry Padulo
  • 06/22/2013 5:08 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1324785 on 1324702
    Anonymous
    check the toggle linkage, you will need someone to help. There is most likely a pin or a cotter key that has dropped out.
  • 06/22/2013 6:25 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1324802 on 1324702
    Larry Padulo
    Perry,

    Thank you for your quick reply.  I tried to study the toggle assembly when I was on the machine two days ago, but there are so many parts in there that it was not obvious if something had fallen out or was missing.  I am going to study my parts manual over the weekend and then go back out to the machine next week and see if I can match the parts on the machine to the parts in the book to determine what is missing. 

    I will reply again after I have gotten another look at it. 

    Hopefully, you have gotten me started in the right direction, thank you very much.
  • 06/23/2013 7:56 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1325056 on 1324702
    Anonymous

    The book on the NW80 can be confusing, when you get back to the machine, look in the bottom of the toggle case and see if there are parts there. If the machine does not have the case in place, look on the floor below. I have had this happen to me and usually the parts don't drop to far. Good luck.

    Perry
  • 06/24/2013 7:05 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1326076 on 1324702
    David Pickhardt

    might have a solution.  Swing shaft is hollow, and has a shifter rod inside it about 1" diameter or so and maybe 5 feet long with two slots in it for the adjustment keys. (one slot is about 2 and a half feet from the toggle mechanism, the other slot is near the far end , about 5 feet away from the toggle mechanism.)I have seen this break at the milled slots , as it is pretty thin after the slot is milled, and if someone were to really reef on it it could break, thus you can only swing one way. (probably broke at the far end, if it was  broke at near end , machine would not swing either direction)

    you should be able to verify this with the machinery NOT turning... move big swing lever fwd and watch the clutches, one or the other will get tight( close up), then move lever back back ,  the other clutch should tighten up. also you can watch the linkage on the "other side" and it should be obvious, if something is amiss one way or the other in there... i bet it is the long shifter rod that is busted.

    to fix you gotta take all the toggle end apart, remove BOTH clutch adjustment collars and keys, then pull the shaft. then you will see whats busted. to fish out the broken piece , use a strong magnet on the end of a 5-6 foot long 3/8" rod.

    then you can weld shifter shaft ,and reassemble, and re adjust... and you should be moving dirt.

     still have Questions? Call me if you wish  920-210-2875  Dave Pickhardt
  • 06/24/2013 11:42 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1326246 on 1324702
    Larry Padulo
    Dave,

    Thank you very much for the reply and the phone call.  I hope to get back out to the machine this week, I'm not sure what day yet.  I will follow what you said, then I'll get back to you with the next round of questions.

    Larry
  • 06/28/2013 12:52 PM
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    Reply # 1329162 on 1324702
    Larry Padulo
    Perry and Dave,

    I was out at the shovel yesterday and I consider myself extremely lucky.  My worst expectations of a broken shifter rod did not come true.  Fortunately, it was just in the toggle linkage area.  A cap screw on one of the eccentric adjusting collars came off, the eccentric adjusting collar fell off, and the eccentric pin fell out.  

    The parts were not directly below the toggle linkage area, but after I searched around, I found them on the cab floor behind the bulkhead in the engine area.  I cleaned them up, lined up the toggle linkage, and put everything back together.  I made certain the cap screw was tight.  I can now swing to the right again.

    Thank you to both Perry and Dave for taking the time to get me oriented in the right direction.  This is when it really pays off to have fellow HCEA members with similar interests who are willing to help!
  • 06/28/2013 5:21 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1329289 on 1324702
    Anonymous
    Was glad this was an easy fix, had it happen on my Model 6
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