Chopper Adjustment

[Rick Granick]

This might be appropriate for the "Tips of the Trade" forum, but no one seems to use that one, so...

I needed to adjust the tightness of the nuts on the threaded pull-down rod of my Jyden chopper. The bottom nut is inside a metal housing with not enough clearance to get a wrench in there. What to do? I improvised by using a c-clamp as a wrench. It worked great.
Rick

 

[GUMBY GCF]

Smooth move Rick

 

[PicturedFramer]

Take the bolt off and cut it shorter, re-thread it if it needs it. Then use a socket wrench. Just one possibility.
But you did good in a pinch. Genius!

 

[Prospero]

Errrrr... This may seem a tad obvious but why not just slacken the top nut? Then you can twiddle the bottom one with your fingers.

 

[neilframer]

I recognize the lefty foot peddle that can be switched to righty and the open front on the Jyden. I used one about 20 years ago.
The Morso and Hansen choppers have a peddle that works either way without switching the hardware and the front is closed.

 

[Rick Granick]

Take the bolt off and cut it shorter, re-thread it if it needs it. Then use a socket wrench. Just one possibility.
But you did good in a pinch. Genius!

Not worth the effort. This is an adjustment that needs to be made about once every 20 years.
Rick

P.S. I've always used my left foot. Never really thought about it being "sided".

 

[neilframer]

Not worth the effort. This is an adjustment that needs to be made about once every 20 years.
Rick

P.S. I've always used my left foot. Never really thought about it being "sided".

I'm right handed but have always chopped lefty also even though the peddle on a Morso can be used either way.
I've always wondered about left handed people who have to cut mats on mat cutters that are built for right handed people.

 

[David Waldmann]

I've always wondered about left handed people who have to cut mats on mat cutters that are built for right handed people.

Thank you for that.

Btw I've found that after long periods of chopping, the leg you're standing on gets sore. It's beneficial to learn to be ambidextrous in your use of the pedal if you do much chopping. I try to do one frame with one foot and the next with the other. It doesn't take too long to get used to it.

 

[GUMBY GCF]

Dave you have something there
The Framers Step Master......now lets all get fit.

 

[Bill Henry-]

Errrrr... This may seem a tad obvious but why not just slacken the top nut? Then you can twiddle the bottom one with your fingers.

It really makes me nauseated to have to agree with Peter, but that's what I do when I adjust my Morso. The lower nut is easier to access in the Morso, but when the tension is released from the yoke by loosening the top nut, the lower nut turns very easily.

 

[Rick Granick]

I've always wondered about left handed people who have to cut mats on mat cutters that are built for right handed people.

Brian Wolf would stand perpendicular to the cutter and use a pushing motion, if I remember correctly.
Rick

 

[Baer Charlton]

Always chopped with my right leg..... also out of the 49 motorcycles I've owned
over the years, 6 had electric starts....

I never had to jump up to slam a Harley down through the kick start.... It's just
kind of like getting in a hurry with a 3" Baroque Bendix frame..... two gentle
strokes, and a "STOMP".

Oh, and Peter's right.... the C-clamp is a little "redneck".... back off the upper nut,
nut.