Something that I hope is interesting and a slight cautionary tale for you all.
There's quite a few videos doing the rounds on YouTube and they aren't new, of people conjoining a hydraulic Q-max type cutter with an exhaust expander. The exhaust expander usually uses an impact wrench to create the force to spread an exhaust tube, but hydraulics are always more civilised if you can use them. This creates a lovely hydraulic exhaust tube expander and something to treasure or possibly purchase after a few drinks on a Friday night.
I was assured by all the North American YouTubers, and there are many if you search the subject, that the threads are a direct fit from one tool to another. There's a link below to a video that explains it all better than I can. I've also attached a couple of pics of the tools in question.
The hydraulic Q max type cutter is a joy to use, although the supplied dies are really odd sizes. Aimtools will sell you some useful extra sizes at a reasonable price. I like the tool nonetheless. Hydraulic stuff really works well with no commotion or fuss.
Exhaust expander. The threaded wedge is pulled down on the large bolt which pushes out the circular form like a concrete anchor to expand the tube
Hydraulic cutter. The threaded hydraulic puller pulls the cutter through the sheet metal once set up correctly. I've tried it, and it makes really nice cuts with no distortion.
The problem I have found is the that the hydraulic puller is threaded M20 x 1.5mm and the thread on the exhaust tool is 3/4" -16UNF. I presume that the gear for the American market is all Imperial.
I thought about cutting the two different threads on a piece of bar in the lathe and it might still come to that, but I'm not relishing the thought of cutting a metric thread on an imperial lathe. It's the turning the thing backwards with all the resistance from the half nuts and gear train that is putting me off.
Instead, I've decided to first remake the wedge part in metric and hope that the metric threaded bars I have are long enough. The fat piece of bar has been internally threaded M20 fine. Just need to cut it to length and grind or mill some facets on there and hope it works. Will let you know how I get on.
There's quite a few videos doing the rounds on YouTube and they aren't new, of people conjoining a hydraulic Q-max type cutter with an exhaust expander. The exhaust expander usually uses an impact wrench to create the force to spread an exhaust tube, but hydraulics are always more civilised if you can use them. This creates a lovely hydraulic exhaust tube expander and something to treasure or possibly purchase after a few drinks on a Friday night.
I was assured by all the North American YouTubers, and there are many if you search the subject, that the threads are a direct fit from one tool to another. There's a link below to a video that explains it all better than I can. I've also attached a couple of pics of the tools in question.
The hydraulic Q max type cutter is a joy to use, although the supplied dies are really odd sizes. Aimtools will sell you some useful extra sizes at a reasonable price. I like the tool nonetheless. Hydraulic stuff really works well with no commotion or fuss.
Exhaust expander. The threaded wedge is pulled down on the large bolt which pushes out the circular form like a concrete anchor to expand the tube
Hydraulic cutter. The threaded hydraulic puller pulls the cutter through the sheet metal once set up correctly. I've tried it, and it makes really nice cuts with no distortion.
The problem I have found is the that the hydraulic puller is threaded M20 x 1.5mm and the thread on the exhaust tool is 3/4" -16UNF. I presume that the gear for the American market is all Imperial.
I thought about cutting the two different threads on a piece of bar in the lathe and it might still come to that, but I'm not relishing the thought of cutting a metric thread on an imperial lathe. It's the turning the thing backwards with all the resistance from the half nuts and gear train that is putting me off.
Instead, I've decided to first remake the wedge part in metric and hope that the metric threaded bars I have are long enough. The fat piece of bar has been internally threaded M20 fine. Just need to cut it to length and grind or mill some facets on there and hope it works. Will let you know how I get on.