IN HOUSING SHAFT REPAIR
Let’s say you need to repair damaged threads on the impeller end of a pump or turbo shaft, which is recessed in the housing, and maybe even mushroomed by a hammer-happy tech. You cannot remove the shaft from the housing because of the mushroomed end or maybe you can’t get new bearings or seals; and you don’t want to disassemble it. You need to center the shaft in the lathe, but obviously cannot center off damaged threads and no bearing surfaces are available without disassembly. Disassembly and re-assembly can add extra time to the job.

You can center the shaft and machine it as an assembly.

• • Mount the driven end of the shaft in the lathe’s 4-jaw chuck.
  • Prevent the housing from rotating with the shaft by tying a length of wire to the housing and anchor the other end to the lathe’s back-splash shield. The wire needs to be somewhat flexible up, down, in and out, so don’t tie it too tight. I use 1/16 aluminum TIG filler rod.
  • Place an indicator against a suitably smooth area on the housing, first near the chuck and dial it in as you normally would and then repeat with the indicator closer to the damaged end.

I’ve used this time saving method to successfully repair dozens of generators and alternators, turbos, and industrial pumps as shown in the picture. It can be a real money-maker.

Tom Nichols
Automotive Machine & Supply, Inc.
Joshua, TX
JUNE, 2023