Anyone here good with antique tools? My long arm lopper[? I want to call it a billhook] is in dire need of a sharpen, but I’m hesitant to undo the bolt without knowing how to properly retension it.
Anyone here good with antique tools? My long arm lopper[? I want to call it a billhook] is in dire need of a sharpen, but I’m hesitant to undo the bolt without knowing how to properly retension it.
I don’t know that i can help, but what do the connection points look like on the otherside of the tool? Top and bottom.
Opposite sides. I suspect previous McGyvering.
Another option: 2. Dremel/grinder that bolt and screw off, then replace them with new ones.
This sounds dramatic, but it might be the best option because that nut and bolt look like they’re old enough to be imperial measurement not metric. Thanks to the US there are still plenty of imperial measured tools about, but there are less in Aus, and it’d be annoying to have to buy specific imperial sizes just for this tool when you could probably replace the nut and bolt with a similar sized metric nut and bolt.
Couple options i’d look at. I’ll put them in different comments though.
Looks like you could disconnect the blade with the ‘steel adjuster pole’ by loosening the hex nut and flat head bolt connecting the blade to the hook’s head.
If that comes off looks like you can pull the ‘steel adjuster pole’s’ small hook out by turning it perpendicular, down at the handle.
I’d use a correctly sized flat head screwdriver, and a socket wrench with the correct size socket for that nut. Everything looks quite rusty so i’d be circumspect about using off-sized tools because you don’t want to strip or round the screw or bolt.
Thanks! I’m pretty sure I’ve already got all I need to take it apart (much of your suggestions) it’s the back together bit
Oh right yeah, i sorta lost track of your intial question there.
I can’t see re-tensioning as an issue. This is because the spring is set in two un-adjustable holes/rings. Its the motion of the handle that looks like it adjusts the length of the spring. In the picture that springs looks like theres zero, or near zero tension on it.
But as u say, i’m just goin off the pictures.
I can’t really see in the pictures how that ‘steel adjuster pole’ is connected to the blade, so i can’t really say whether you’d be able to get that disconnected from the blade itself or not sorry.
Rust:
High heat (like a flame torch or burner) can help, the uneven expansion can crack the connection made between the two rusting metal surfaces, in this case thats the bolt and nut.
WD40 can also help, but make sure its dried off before applying heat, otherqise you’ll be starting a fire.
Hammering the bolt side can help crack the rust, but in this case due to how weak the metal is, i don’t know that this would be a great idea, due to the risk of deformation.