Moving an Eagle Surface Grinder

[Beanwood]

After my search for a simple punch and die grinder escalated into a surface grinder 'want', it was pointed out to me that a J&S 540 is complete overkill for what I need, and I should go for manual rather than hydraulic - so I've just bought, sight unseen, an Eagle Surface Grinder.

It's over 100 miles away, and three phase - so it's a bit of a risk, as I can't see it running.

The big question is how do I move it? I intend to take the trailer as disassembly won't then be required, and with an engine hoist on hand - are there any Do or Don'ts that I need to be aware of?

I know a few f you on here (@Pete. and @RobCox for sure) have experience of these, so guidance would be very much appreciated.

 

[6ply]

I have an eagle. Used a sling, hoist and improvised (scaffold) gantry to lift it off my trailer. Was loaded using a forklift and sling.

At my end, the grinder was unloaded to "skids" making it easy to shift around using a pallet truck.

 

[8ob]

The big question is how do I move it? I intend to take the trailer as disassembly won't then be required, and with an engine hoist on hand - are there any Do or Don'ts that I need to be aware of?

I know a few f you on here (@Pete. and @RobCox for sure) have experience of these, so guidance would be very much appreciated.

All this gear tends to be very top heavy and prone to topple, bases are also fragile. If you can lift it up, slide a sheet of ply under it and coach bolt that to the base, you can then use it as a skid without harming the base or risking it toppling.

Bob

 

[Beanwood]

I have an eagle. Used a sling, hoist and improvised (scaffold) gantry to lift it off my trailer. Was loaded using a forklift and sling.

At my end, the grinder was unloaded to "skids" making it easy to shift around using a pallet truck.

Was it straight forward to rig ? I read that one mustn't lift the J&S 540 by the table. I haven't seen this 'in the flesh' yet - I can't see a logical lifting point - are there suitable points to wrap a strap or sling around?

If you can lift it up, slide a sheet of ply under it and coach bolt that to the base, you can then use it as a skid without harming the base or risking it toppling.

Brilliant idea and very simple - thanks.

 

[RobCox]

so it's a bit of a risk

Not compared to mine! This was the state of mine when I collected the (incomplete) kit of parts:

It would be a PITA to dismantle it for transport, especially if the belt is internal, so you will want to move it in one piece if poss. The table has dovetails (or at least mine does):

They're a great little grinder for the occasional job, but... no provision for coolant and if you use it too often you'll end up with overdeveloped right arm muscles. Dressing the mag chuck was a mission!

 

[RobCox]

Found this pic of how I shifted it in the workshop. May not be that useful when you're picking it up:

 

[Agroshield]

To me, the photos above provide a good reason for dismantling it. It disassembles easily and logically into small pieces. Snip the belt. Undo two bolts and lift the wheelhead off the column. Undo four bolts and lift the column off the base and knee. Undo four more bolts and remove table and knee and elevation screw from base.

Knee assembly can sit on its back during transport with a block under the screw to stop it bouncing around. The heaviest sub-assembly is the base as it also contains the motor, but it is low, wide and stable and a sack cart will manage it.

No trailer, no engine hoist. What you save on fuel by not lugging those back and forth will pay for a new belt.

I brought mine home that way in a Citroen AX, with the passenger seat removed and the base in its place.

 

[6ply]

Was it straight forward to rig ? I read that one mustn't lift the J&S 540 by the table. I haven't seen this 'in the flesh' yet - I can't see a logical lifting point - are there suitable points to wrap a strap or sling around?


Brilliant idea and very simple - thanks.

Straightforward to sling. Look at the photo posted by @RobCox as this was similar to how I did it.

This one is mine. It's on a wide pallet truck.

 

[6ply]

If you are considering dismantling, think carefully before cutting the belt. In particular I would check that it is possible to fit a new continuous belt without removing the main spindle.

 

[6ply]

Another thing worth pointing out is that my eagle grinder was fitted with a three phase 415 volt motor configured with a permanent star point. Although I had other motors available I chose to dig out the star point and convert the motor to 240 volts Delta. Finding an alternative motor that fits the tight space can prove tricky.

 

[RobCox]

If you are considering dismantling, think carefully before cutting the belt. In particular I would check that it is possible to fit a new continuous belt without removing the main spindle.

Not on mine it's not. Complete PITA to change belt.

my eagle grinder was fitted with a three phase 415 volt motor configured with a permanent star point. ... I chose to dig out the star point

So was mine and this is the route I went down and powered it from a VFD.

 

[Agroshield]

If you are considering dismantling, think carefully before cutting the belt.

That is a good point. It could be slipped off the motor pulley and kept with the head.

If the belt is difficult to change, that likely means it has never been changed in 50+ years, so give Eddie a treat as you welcome him to your home.

 

[Beanwood]

Found this pic of how I shifted it in the workshop. May not be that useful when you're picking it up:
View attachment 493645

That is exactly the picture I wanted- thank you.
Yes this is a 3 phase 4xxv motor that I am hoping will change without too much trouble to 240v with a VFD.

That is a good point. It could be slipped off the motor pulley and kept with the head.

If the belt is difficult to change, that likely means it has never been changed in 50+ years, so give Eddie a treat as you welcome him to your home.

No I think I struck lucky here - it has a plate on with a reconditioned date of 1984 - so pretty much yesterday in my way of thinking!

 

[Pete.]

You can pick the Eagle up just by slinging around the head. Stripping them down is not a huge task but involves fiddling with the electrical conduits and bixes. You can't remove the belt without pulling the spindle though as noted above you can remove the head and belt together. Lifting by the table is never a good idea as you can easily tear off the dovetails on a smaller machine but for the Jones & Shipman mentioned above the table is not fixed it just relies on gravity so if you lift it up you'll bend the hydraulic rods that move the table then you need new rods.

I put my Eagle grinder on a 4 wheel dolly to move it about. When I collected it I simply tipped it into my van on its back and slid it in.

As for the motor, if you intend to change it out take care to check the length of the replacement is not more than the original or it just won't fit the z screw goes through the base close behind the motor. Mine has about 2mm spare.

 

[Beanwood]

When I collected it I simply tipped it into my van on its back and slid it in.

Funnily enough I was wondering about this approach at 4am this morning (I know - born worrier)
Does anyone know the height, and is the top or bottom end heavier ? (Two wheel trailer).

 

[Pete.]

The base is heavier it's about 500mm square or so. Height I would say about 1.4m just about shoulder height for me.

If you have a trailer with a tailgate you could probably walk it up the ramp.

 

[Beanwood]

Here are the weights of mine when dismantled for moving. I brought it back in a small van. It needed a new belt, but with the outboard pulley, no need to dismantle the head.

Item Weight (/kg)

Base 98 (included the rear cover)

Column 60

Knee 42 ( included shaft and screw, but not the wheel or bottom nut for raising the knee)

Table 33 (included the rack)

Cross slide 31 (excluded screw and shaft, gear and feed screw nut)

Head 30 (excluded the 4 covers; included the spindle, less nut)

Motor 18 (included the mounting bracket)

Sundry parts 20

That lot adds up to 332kg, so 354kg brought home (with the chuck). All weights rounded to nearest kg.

The 14” x 6” Eclipse magnetic chuck, that came with it, weighed 22kg (my 10” x 5” example is 11kg, btw)

——————————-

Sundry parts included 4 covers and the spindle nut (with flange) for the grinding head; Gibs; table travel shaft and gear; 3off winding wheels (3.4kg); bellows with metalwork (1.9kg); covers and brackets; 3.5kg of nuts, bolts and screws; and the starter + conduit + leads (they will not be used) which weighed 3.4kg.

Wow - that’s a comprehensive list thank you.
I’m leaving to collect it shortly in the 500kg trailer. In my dreams it will lie on its back without any dismantling.

 

[fizzy]

Wow - that’s a comprehensive list thank you.
I’m leaving to collect it shortly in the 500kg trailer. In my dreams it will lie on its back without any dismantling.

I run a pallet shipping company. I jet get it bolted to a pallet and let the drivers use tail lifts. Safer and cheaper
I also have an Eagle, along with a JS540, Brown and Sharpe No2 and a massive Elliott. I mean 4 surface grinders are a must aren't they

 

[6ply]

Wow - that’s a comprehensive list thank you.
I’m leaving to collect it shortly in the 500kg trailer. In my dreams it will lie on its back without any dismantling.

Mine stood upright in a small trailer. Strapped it down securely and drove carefully.

 

[awemawson]

I had an Eagle many years ago, and to move it I just 'walked' it arround the workshop - mind I was younger and fitter then!

It went to a friend who moved to France and set it up then. I believe that it is now in Poland - he sold his workshop when he had to move back to the UK.