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Difficultied re-attaching Foredom #30 handpiece

Jewelry Discussion
#1

I am going crazy trying to re-attach my #30 handpiece to my Fordom
SR and hope someone out there has some advice!

Here’s the story:

I purchased a SR Fordom motor, flex shaft, #30 handpiece etc…about
18 months ago. I use it a few hours a day, about 3 or 4 days a week.
Recently I also purchased a hammer handset and so I have been
changing it out with the #30 from time to time. I have no trouble
connecting the flex shaft to the hammer but I have a very difficult
time re-attaching the flex shaft to the #30 handpiece. It has been
difficult from the beginning, but today I have not be able to get the
#30 to attach at all.

Does it seem that I am going about it wrong or might there be a
problem with the #30 handpiece? If so, does anyone have advice as to
what I should do about it.

Thank you for your help!
Sally Jewett-Brocato

#2

As you are attaching your #30 hand piece, tap on your foot switch or
rheostat to make the cable turn just a little bit while applying
slight insertion pressure and this "should seat the cable shaft on to
the hand piece and continue to override the ball baring lock and
spring.

Good luck, Stephen Wyrick

#3

It sounds like the collet that attaches to the flex shaft is bent
closed a bit, the connector. That groove can get pinched shut if you
run the motor while trying to attach it and it gets bound up. Take
the end off the #30 and with a pair of pliers, open that groove back
up a bit and try it again. It helps run run the motor slowly while
trying to attach it also. Be careful though or you’ll do it again.

Good luck. Steve

#4

The most widely use method of attaching a flexible shaft handpiece is
to grip the shaft and sheath on the metal crimped end of the sheath
in one hand and the handpiece in the your other hand and slowly start
rotating the flexible shaft. Gently slip the handpiece on the slowly
spinning shaft. The spinning key-tip end of the shaft automatically
finds and slips into the key-way slot of the spindle in the
handpiece. When that happens the chuck will start to spin. Then with
a firm action shove the handpiece onto the sheath engaging the catch
ball and spring clip onto the u shaped groove of the sheath. The
handpiece attaches to the u-shaped groove in the sheath and is held
in place with the small catch ball and black spring clip. The key-tip
inner shaft is free-floating in the keyway bottom end of the
handpiece splindle. So there can only be a couple of things that
could go wrong. Shafting causes could be the key-tip end of your
shaft has worn down and is not engaging or the shaft extends more
than the recommended 3/4" - 1" from the sheath tip. So if these are
the problem you can either replace the shaft or adjust the length.
These procedures are on our Maintenance video on our website,
www.foredom.com, home page. Sheathing causes may be the black spring
clip is either to tight or to loose to engage the catch ball
properly. You can remove the spring clip and either pry it open or
squeeze it close to adjust the tension. Handpiece causes can be that
the spindle key-way can be worn down. If you cannot solve your
problem you can contact me at Foredom at 800-441-0625 on Friday or
send your unit back to the factory for us to check it out. If you
decide to return it to Foredom please include a note with your day
time phone number and a breif explanation of the problem.

Our address is Foredom Repair Dept.
16 Stony Hill Rd. Bethel CT 06801.

Mike Zagielski
Foredom Sales Manager

#5

Hi Sally,

I have no trouble connecting the flex shaft to the hammer but I
have a very difficult time re-attaching the flex shaft to the #30
handpiece. It has been difficult from the beginning, but today I
have not be able to get the #30 to attach at all.

Without seeing what’s happen I can’t be sure. But I’ll hazard a
guess.

The odds are that the key on the end of the flexshaft isn’t lining
up with the keyway in the #30.

To line the key & key way up, rotate the chuck on the #30 while
trying to push the flexshaft into the #30. If you can’t rotate the
chuck, clamp a burr or something else you can turn into the chuck.

Good luck.
Dave

#6

Sally,

Un-screw the back end of the 30 (might require a gorilla or just
brute force and implements of destruction, right hand thread) You
will see a slotted steel tube. Check it for fit on the shaft.
Sometimes the steel tube gets buggered or is just too tight. Clean
up any burrs or damage (rat tail file works since you don’t have a
working flex shaft). I have been known to use a large screwdriver to
pry the shaft end of the slot slightly wider.

jeffD
Demand Designs
Analog/Digital Modelling & Goldsmithing
http://www.gmavt.net/~jdemand

#7 
I have no trouble connecting the flex shaft to the hammer but I
have a very difficult time re-attaching the flex shaft to the #30
handpiece. It has been difficult from the beginning, but today I
have not be able to get the #30 to attach at all

I was taught to start the flex shaft rotating at low speed while
pushing the cable into the handpiece. I have been doing this for over
20 years with no problems. One time I did have a handpiece that I had
to take the back part off and open the place where the cable end fits
like another post mentioned. It was too tight of a fit and took too
much pressure so it would not connect.

Richard Hart G.G.
Jewelers Gallery
Denver, Co.

#8

I only own one handpiece, the #30, so I don’t change it out, but the
guts on mine fell out of the sleeve after only using it a few times.
Fortunately Rio Grande replaced it and the new one is working fine
so far. Perhaps before your frustration level gets too high contact
the company you bought it from. Foredom handpieces obviously do
occasionally have defects (witness my experience) and since you are
having no trouble with your other handpiece

Mary Partlan
White Branch Designs
www.whitebranchdesigns.com

#9

Hi Karen here, author of the Flex Shaft Book.

There are a couple of things you can do to diagnose the problem.

  1. How old is your #30 handpiece? They don’t last forever, but they
    do last a long time.

  2. If you have attached the handpiece as Richard suggests, then the
    "key" at the end of the shaft, and the “lock” inside the handpiece
    should stay crisp.

  3. If you have attached the handpiece while NOT rotating the flex
    shaft first, do this.

  4. If you have, check the length of the from the shaft key in
    relation to the handpiece. IF the key is protruding more than 3/4
    inches, then the key is too long. You can retract the key’s length,
    by unscrewing the tiny screw up on the shaft itself. This screw
    clomps down on the shaft regulating the length of the shaft.

  5. When was the last time you performed a maintenance check on your
    shaft? Might be time for the 500 overhaul.

The book has a complete maintenance diagnosis. You can purchase the
book through Ganoksin as it is an Orchid in Print book.