Wilton vise help

[JimDantin]

I have a lovely old Wilton woodworker vise. It is very heavy cast iron construction. There is a rather large amount of play between the screw handle and the movable jaw, requiring almost a full turn of the screw to reverse directions of the jaw. See pics here
http://picasaweb.google.com/jim.dant...35945100963378

You should be able to see the gap -- it's around 5/16". I don't think it's wear -- it looks like a part (garter?) may be missing, but I don't see any mounting holes or any way to attach a garter. Maybe the garter was a two-piece part? The rail alignment/stop is also missing, but it's not really a problem.

If you are familiar with this vise, I would appreciate any information you could provide. I have a lathe and milling machine, so fabrication of a steel or brass part would be no problem -- I just don't want to stray from the original design if it's just a simple missing part.

This vise will be the face vice for my Gluebo workbench.

Thanks

[LCHIEN]

seems like just a washer of appropriate thickness will do to take out the slop... just about 10-20 thou less than the gap.

[softop41]

I think those had a thick bronze thrust washer(something like 3/16" thick as I remember) between the handle collar and the movable jaw which has apparently worn out.

[pelligrini]

I've got a pair of old Wiltons on my bench, but they're different models. What happens when you go to close the jaws, does the back of the handle casting close the gap? If so, I'm thinking there is something missing at the jaw and the threaded rod that holds it in place.

This is the best photo of mine that I have here at work.

[dbhost]

I'd gladly trade you my 2 year old, barely used Wilton vise I got from Home Depot for your old missing parts one. I have 3 vices in my shop now, an OLD Ace Hardware 6" machinists vise that was crusted up with 30+ years of rust when I got it. I have since refinished it and painted it blaze orange (hard to miss now!), a Harbor Freight 9" Quick release woodworking vise which is working just fine, and that Wilton. The faces of the Wilton FLEX a LOT when I try clamping anything in it. The thing is virtually useless... My plan is to chunk this thing and get a second Harbor Freight 9", or if Rockler puts them on sale again, the Jet 9" which honestly looks like the same vise as my HF but in red paint...

[Daryl]

Check the inside of the jaw and see if there isn't a slot for a "C" or an "E" clip on the threaded rod.

[JimDantin]

There is no groove or anything to indicate a missing clip. I really think I'm missing a spacer (garter) between the handle and movable jaw. It would take the forces of the vise clamping. Still hoping someone has the same model with the missing piece.

dbhost -- you understand the value of these old hunks of (great quality) malleable iron! I also have a Wilton 4" 400S swivel-base bench vise that I bought for $40 as a beat up, welding slag-covered, rusty, nasty thing -- I disassembled it, cleaned and degreased, ground off the slag, and repainted it -- it now sits proudly on my workshop bench. Wouldn't trade it for any modern vise other than one of the $500+ new Wilton (not Columbian!) ones. A great vise is forever unless you do something really stupid to it.