Ronnie D. on sun 22 aug 10
Anyone out there know where to get parts for this aging thing? I have 2-=
=3D
a=3D20
74 and a 75. The 75 I think is a super RK-2 while the 74 is the standard=
=3D
"C"=3D20
model. They have different drive belts and motors so I can't swap parts =
=3D
but I=3D20
need a drive ring for the 75, i.e. 6" dia ring not 4".
Thanks for any help/feedback!
James Freeman on mon 23 aug 10
Ronnie...
A couple of years ago I tuned and repaired all of the old Shimpo RK
wheels at the local college, about 15 of them. I was able to obtain
some of the parts I needed directly from Shimpo, though at a fairly
hefty price (they had to get them from Japan). I have the young lady
at Shimpo's business card somewhere, and will forward her name and
number if I can find it. Absent that, you can probably track her down
through Shimpo-Nidec's website (probably how I first found her).
I got many of the parts through Runyan Pottery Supply, in Michigan
(http://www.runyanpotterysupply.com/). They had some of the parts in
stock, and were able to track down others from various dusty nooks and
crannies. The parts were not in their catalog, so you have to
telephone them.
A few parts were simply no longer available, so a machinist friend
milled them up for us out of nylon. Probably a pricey proposition if
one had to actually pay for the work. I had planned to fashion them
myself from polycarbonate or aluminum using stone knives and
bearskins. My crude versions would have likely done the job, but
those made properly by skilled hands and proper tools certainly make
life easier.
At that time, the large (6") drive wheels were still available, but
the older 4" were not. Runyan tracked down three of the 4" wheels for
us, and we bought them all. They were covered in dust, and are
seemingly the last three in existence. Had I not been able to find
originals, my Plan B was to attempt to laminate layers of rubber
belting material onto the old hubs.
I hope this helps in some small way. Those are great old machines,
and deserve to be kept alive.
All the best.
...James
James Freeman
"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice.=3DA0 I
should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources
On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 8:34 PM, Ronnie D. wrote:
> Anyone out there know where to get parts for this aging thing? =3DA0I hav=
e =3D
2- a
> 74 and a 75. =3DA0The 75 I think is a super RK-2 while the 74 is the stan=
da=3D
rd "C"
> model. =3DA0They have different drive belts and motors so I can't swap pa=
rt=3D
s but I
> need a drive ring for the 75, i.e. 6" dia ring not 4".
>
> Thanks for any help/feedback!
>
Ronnie D. on mon 23 aug 10
I just received an e-mail from Shimpos. Seems they do indeed still carry=
=3D
the=3D20
belts. They are "discontinued" on any price sheet but they are still ava=
=3D
ilable!=3D20=3D20
I'm ordering 2 of each. Eventually they truly will be discontinued...
See below:
Hi Ron,
We do have the 6 3/4 drive ring available for $41.50. You can purchase=3D20=
=3D
it directly through me if you like with a credit card.
Best regards,
Karen
Karen Wise is the contact at Shimpo.
Also here:
Ron-
=3D20
We have about 4 of the 6 =3DBE=3D94 rings and 1 of the smaller ones. We ca=
n =3D
get=3D20
any quantity of these you need as they are readily available through Shim=
=3D
po.
=3D20
Tim Pfiffner
Great Lakes Clay
1-800-258-8796
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