The Home Machinist!

Yeah with those needs I guess I'd do it the way your planning RSG. If you do pull the ram with the head, motor attached error on the side of over kill for the job. Combined there's a whole lot more weight than it looks like. The ram will only come out so far on the pinion gear since the rack doesn't go the full distance on the rams length. My guess is that's a built in safety so you can't extend the ram beyond a safe distance. Run the ram out until it touches the end of the rack then move it back in just a bit. Then pull the pinions retaining bolt and slide the ram out the rest of the way.

Thanks Pete! I did a dry fit yesterday and was able to get the column in by lifting the unit high enough (barely) I also forgot to turn the inside lip on the riser while at my friends shop the other day so I did it on my own lathe. It worked well but it showed my how limiting the size of my lathe was for something this big.

I note a opening in the base casting. Can you access the spider through there ? If so how about making some bolt extensions ?? Use a coupling nut and a piece of threaded rod to extend your current bolt. Pin or tack weld rod to coupling nut ,thread rod into spider lock there with a jam nut. Your current bolt will then use coupling nut to pull the spider up to lock the turret/ram .

That's an option John, I tapped four holes in the base of the block so I think I'm committed to that format. Good idea though.

The riser complete and installed! Very happy with the outcome.

From start to finish very nicely done RSG and the equal to a commercial product that may or may not have fit even close to as well. I can't recall ever seeing any home built version that didn't take the much easier way with a welded and machined riser.

WAY cool RSG!

Well done!

Very impressed with your ingenuity and super professional casting and pattern making skills. Well done!

Good job Mate.

Nothing I didn't expect from one who has such incredible skill in making beautiful fishing reels.
Very well done!

H

There was never a doubt that it would be anything less than perfect!