Challenge 193 Disassembly
Has anyone done a partial disassembly on a Challenge 193 manual cutter? Any trouble with doing so that I should consider?
I found a cutter for sale that I want to move to my shop, but it’s in an existing business— and just far away that I’m not sure that I want to rope 4-5 friends into coming with me to move it… 2-3 friends seems like an easier proposal. I was thinking about an engine hoist / genie lift, but the space it’s in is pretty clustered — getting one of those in would involve moving a lot of store fixtures around.
I’m thinking about removing the blade, lever, and clamp wheel for starters. Ideally, I’d like to separate the blade / clamp assembly from the bed via the bolts that connect that housing to the bed. This is a manual 193, in the old style without knife change slots. Cutter’s not in the best shape, but the important parts are mechanically sound. I’m already planning to restore / repaint it.
Am I missing something? It seems like according to the manual that piece could come off without throwing the clamp, lever assembly, knife gibbs, etc out of wack — it’s just a set of 4 bolts that attach it to the bed as far as I can tell.
Any input is appreciated! Thanks!
-James Beard
I moved one with the help of 3 college students who lifted the cutter onto a dolly I made - I did very little lifting - once on the dolly, we rolled it around - when when got to final resting home, it was dead lifted onto a stand where it still sits.
Thought about taking it apart, but then decided not.
You could lighten the load a bit by taking the blade off. The blade is designed to be removed and replaced and you will likely want to have it sharpened anyway.
LD
Aye, making a dolly is a good idea that I hadn’t considered. I guess I’m a little skeptical on moving one intact without equipment— I’ve moved the 16” version with 4 people at another shop and it’s tougher than it looks. Moving the larger 19” version seemed like an even more difficult process in my mind, especially since the manual has it at around 475 lbs uncrated. I’m unsure of the weight difference between the 16” and the 19”.
This is kind of a weird, in-between move for me. I have two 12x18 Kluges, which I gladly hire help to move, but hiring a truck for a 475 lbs cutter seems a bit like overkill. But, having 3 people lift that seems a little iffy as well.
Reasonably easy, with the clamp in the raised position and the blade also raised, normally where it would be anyway, disconnect the steel measure tape, if fitted, remove the table, with the back guage, table normally clamped with 2 or 4 bolts, occasionally with locating *tapered dowels* punched out from underneath, normally outrigger *LEG* at rear with threaded adjuster removed,!
On transportation and as added safety, handwheel/flywheel locked off, and suitable baulk of softwood, held under the blade and the clamp.
Normally with the table removed, the M/c. “top” and *footprint* will go through and round obstacles with as little gap as a computor table. via the use of 3 steel rollers, i.e. 2 at 2 &1/2” and 1 at 2” ??????
It (the m/c.) can not only be steered through 90 degrees or more, but can be rotated 360 degrees in its own Length/Footprint if required.
Once past the obstacles, *Rent a Mob* comes into play.
OR
An engine crane is the answer, (assuming that stateside hire firms are up to speed) even the smaller capacity type, usually, are equipped with large cast iron/nylon traction wheels, and at the stated weight, (above) even if it be upwards of 500/600 Lbs, the suggested crane would have a lifting capacity of at least 5-600 lbs at longest arm reach, up to 1/2 an imperial ton at shortest arm reach, but of course the gib would be lowered to place the machine at the lowest centre of gravity, without touching the ground, if/when tracking/traversing to the transport, and then lifted,?? on and off. the transport, (M.c.) *stropped* down X fashion, with at least one 360 turn around 2 uprights, side stanchions for example.***
If the machine has only 4 individual “Feet” rather than 2 fore and aft rails to sit on the floor/base, 2 temporary rails in the form of Baulks of timber are the normal method, 4 individual “Feet” usually have 4 substantial holes, incorporated, for Coach bolts and or *Rawl* bolts into the sub base .!!!
*** Learned the hard way, stropped a machine down, WITHOUT the above tourniquet and inertia lost it on a comparatively shallow bend, structurally modified the truck but not the machine.
Apologies if the above does not migrate to the States.
Good Luck.
I’d make sure to have a couple of 6’ 2x4 boards on hand, and a table with castors will do the trick to get it out of the building (barring steps or stairs)- you can “gurney transfer” it to your wheeley cart with just 4 able people total, guide it out of the building, and get it into your truck with the boards and a little ingenuity as well. Just stick the boards under the cutter and get people on either end, test lift, and see for yourself. I moved one recently into a minivan with a portable lift, and I heard they got it out with 4-5 people and some boards…..
Good info everyone! I’m going to move it tomorrow— grabbing an engine hoist and dolly. Thanks again for all the input.