Thomas Hall Hardy Altex no.2 mk.IIII mechanical gear bail strip. Completed!

Started by Woodbilly, June 27, 2024, 02:00:23 AM

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Woodbilly

June 27, 2024, 02:00:23 AM Last Edit: July 05, 2024, 11:49:54 PM by Woodbilly
Hey, all!!

Picked up this basket case no.2 mk.IIII with mechanical gear bail arm. It is non working, sloppy, and stuck. I have a no.2 mechanical gear bail parts reel, but hopefully won't need to use it. We'll see at strip time.

It is definitely an early version, as it has all the trademarks of an early Altex.
The same as my early Edward Broadfoot no.1, this reel has 2 piece handle nut, slotted eccentric arm with holding screw, early style non rotating shaft end piece, no oil port hole on handle bushing, and no wire soldered on bail arm foot.

I already had to do some "surgery" on this one. When I went to remove rear badge screw, it appears, PO had twisted off head of brass screw and just glued it back in place.
In the first picture of rear slider block, you can see screw post still in body and broke flush. Dammit!
I had to use a tiny cylinder needle file to slowly grind out the sheared screw post. Since it is soft brass, it ground out easily and I hit the parts bin for a new screw.
Problem solved, as second picture of rear of slider block, shows.

Main question on this reel, is who assembled this reel?

Brass check carrier has initals of, "TH", who I thought was Thomas Hall, but it looks like he never worked on Altex's.
I know this one is either a 1935-1937 due to parts used, since 1938 reels are different than this.

Woodbilly

#1
June 27, 2024, 02:04:10 AM
Back with some updates on the strip of the no.2 mechanical gear bail.
All parts were intact, which I was glad of, since this reel was in very poor shape mechanically and cosmetically.

Got everything stripped and had no issues. Bail arm roller screw came out easily and all other screws cooperated without problems. I punched the brass check carrier pin and handle pin, first whack. Getting good at that. Lol

I could not separate the dust cover from body, on this one. Unlike the Edward Broadfoot no.1 mechanical bail, the dust cover gear is not riveted on, but fastened with 3 screws and the actual dust cover screws are filed flush without slots.
Since I am repainting dust cover and body the same color, I did not remove these screws. No reason, to.

All parts were the same as my other no.1 mechanical gear bail with 2 pc handle nut, slotted eccentric arm, and also "grease" script stamped on body at lower oil port.

I got everything cleaned and polished up, including all screws, and ready for reassembly.

Body and dust cover have been stripped bare and prepped for new paint scheme. (stay tuned for that)
I have both alloy spool and Bakelite spool. After painting, I'll decide which one to go with.

Coming along nicely and surprisingly smooth and easy.

Until next post...

Woodbilly

#2
June 28, 2024, 04:16:05 PM
I've got the body and dust cover taped and ready for paint.

 All spots covered with tape will be bare silver and rest of body and dust cover will be fully painted.

 I am attempting to pinstripe the body lines, but in reverse, this time. Colored body, silver stripes.

 Stay tuned!

Woodbilly

#3
June 29, 2024, 01:44:07 AM
Figured Id assemble the flier while I wait for paint to dry on body and dust cover.

Tackled this task pretty painlessly and without issue. Went together real smoothly.

Since the mechanical bail arm gears have to be "timed", I left both bail arm connections loose fitted, as the arm may have to be pulled off sun gear, if it's not correctly corresponding with the stepped flier gear, to close bail arm.
Hopefully I got it dead on first set up, but not a biggie, if not.
The Edward Broadfoot strip helped on that.

I hit everything that contacted movement with oil, only. No grease, as last strip, I just used oil and it was perfectly smooth, so stuck with that.

Also included a picture of my driver for split nut removal. These nuts are on bail arm foot and flier step gear screw.
This tool is another must have to strip an Altex.

Once paint fully dries on body, I'll peel tape off and hit with a clear coat, after that fully cures, final assembly is on deck!

So far, coming along great and custom paint body/ dust cover pictures will be upcoming!!

Purists don't hate me. This reel was unusable and unused.
I faithfully use my resto's and love doing what I do and respect patina, but sometimes an old basket case just needs a new lease on life.

sandbar

#4
June 29, 2024, 11:09:23 PM
You are the Altex Master.
Looking forward to the big reveal

sandbar

#5
June 29, 2024, 11:32:33 PM
I was looking at my Altex tonight. I'm going to need a replacement spring before I start.
Any suggestions/advice?

sandbar

#6
June 29, 2024, 11:34:27 PM
Second attempt

Woodbilly

#7
June 30, 2024, 12:45:25 AM Last Edit: July 01, 2024, 12:28:37 AM by Woodbilly
 I don't have a lead on spare spring, but I think this part would be one of the easy ones to reproduce using spring from a push button ball point pen or one from a similar trip lever style reel.

 Only function is to snap trigger arm back.

For future reference,  in case ebay link expires:
 Mitchell reel trip spring # 81065

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/296504563474?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=UFAkAAv-SGa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XHeNyN8ETMa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 Looks very similar.

sandbar

#8
June 30, 2024, 02:58:18 AM
Thanks Steven.
What size punch did you use for the pins?

Woodbilly

#9
June 30, 2024, 12:25:12 PM Last Edit: June 30, 2024, 01:07:04 PM by Woodbilly
 It was a 1/16th, but it still had to filed down even smaller.
 If you look at  the first page of my 1935 no.1 mechanical bail strip, it has pictures of both punch and collet tool.
 The punch, I just filed to a thin fine point and then filed the point into a flat blunt end. Worked perfect.
 Be sure to file down at least 3/4" of the punch, down the length, and not just the tip, as the punch has to pass through the check carrier and non rotating shaft holes at least halfway, in order to be able to extract the rivet pin.
 If the punch tapers any, it will become stuck in the hole and will be difficult to pull out or even possibly break off.
 Not what you want.

Hope this helps!

Woodbilly

#10
July 05, 2024, 04:00:49 PM
Hey, all!

Back with some updates and pictures of the no.2 mechanical gear bail strip.

Body and dust cover finally cured.

I hit it with 2 layers of Ford Royal Blue and then, stripped off tape and hit entire reel with matte clear coat 2 times to finish it off. I think the royal blue goes good on the English reel.

I taped off the dust cover gear screw holes, as they are tiny and I didn't want to fill them with paint. Also, taped the "grease" script on the underside oil port. I didn't want to hide it with paint layers.,
I added bare body pin stripes and left threaded nubs on body bare and rear badge body trim bare, as well. Nice contrast.

I am very pleased with paint scheme, although not perfect, still far better than how she looked previously.
The blue really makes all the brightwork pop and has a very maritime feel.

All assembly went smoothly, but with only one hiccup. The non rotating shaft has a sleeve roller that engages in the sliding block. The sleeve must be put on after the non rotating shaft pin is inserted into the pivot arm. This was very tricky to do, but persevered, after many tries with tiny tweezers and maneuvering shaft to and fro, until sleeve finally slid on.
Note on sliding block, pivot arm, non rotating shaft, drive gear and handle assembly. All must be loose fit and then everything tightened down after all parts are inserted and fit in place.

I removed bail arm for assembly of flier to body, as the arm is, loose fit, and I didn't want to break a gear tooth manipulating the arm out of my way during parts assembly.

Next step will be installing brass check carrier and then on reinstalling bail arm and on to timing of mechanical gear bail.

Almost there and really enjoying this resto! Can't wait to finish her up and get to catching some crappie with her!

Enjoy!

Woodbilly

#11
July 05, 2024, 10:58:15 PM
Wrapped up the resto-mod Hardy, today.

Got brass check carrier installed and cleaned up alloy spool for use on this one. Since this girl has some bling, I figured, why use boring Bakelite spool?
This alloy spool really tops her off!

The bail arm was reinstalled and got mechanical gears all working in sync. Went really easy, this go around.

Another strip and restore completed!! Love these Altex's.

Peace!!

Woodbilly

#13
July 08, 2024, 06:33:07 PM
Took the newly restored Altex out today!

Handled the feisty black crappie without fail!
If i havent said before, I love, love, love the mechanical gear bail!! Lol
So quiet and smooth.

Another thing with these old Altex's, never a line loop or tangle. I don't know why, but for some reason, never happens.

sandbar

#14
July 14, 2024, 05:16:43 PM
Quote from: Woodbilly on June 30, 2024, 12:45:25 AMI don't have a lead on spare spring, but I think this part would be one of the easy ones to reproduce using spring from a push button ball point pen or one from a similar trip lever style reel.

 Only function is to snap trigger arm back.

For future reference,  in case ebay link expires:
 Mitchell reel trip spring # 81065

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/296504563474?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=UFAkAAv-SGa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XHeNyN8ETMa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 Looks very similar.

Would you mind measuring one on your springs for me ? Diameter and length?
-Steve
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