Fitting a collet sleeve to a nut

[siggy_7]

I managed to distort the 1/2" collet sleeve in my Draper router a couple of weeks ago (the "Expert" twin-base one) by over-tightening on a shank that was too small - the diameter inside the sleeve was reduced to the point where there was very significant friction between the sleeve and the shank. I have ordered a couple of new sleeves, but I can't see how to install the sleeve in the nut without causing damage. I tried pressing the nut over the long tapered end of the collet sleeve, but it required so much force (and restricted the diameter so much) that it's deformed one of the replacement sleeves as well. So I now have a collet nut with a distorted sleeve in it, and need to remove that sleeve and fit a new one without damage. Any ideas how to do this?

 

[Rob Platt]

Forgive me if I`m not reading this right but it sounds like you`re putting it in the wrong way round.
all the best
rob

 

[newt]

Slide a tube over the taper to reduce and slide the nut off, do it all the time when changing the collet from quarter to half inch.

 

[siggy_7]

Thanks for the tip about the pipe/sleeve over the tapered end of the collet sleeve, I will find something suitable and try that.

Rob, when you say that I am trying to put it in the wrong way round - do you mean that I should be first compressing the collet sleeve and then inserting it in from the threaded end of the nut, rather than pushing the non-threaded end of the nut over the tapered end of the collet sleeve? I hadn't thought of this as I didn't think of first compressing the collet sleeve slightly, but I can see if the outer diameter of the bottom of the sleeve is smaller than the outer diameter of the long tapered end, that would work better. I'll check the dimensions with a caliper.

 

[MickCheese]

It should be this way up.

Mick

 

[Rob Platt]

As per Micks picture I dont know why you should be forcing anything at all. I dont know that particular router but I have 8 routers and none of them require any force at all to change. My apologies if yours is different.
all the best
rob

 

[baldpate]

...do you mean that I should be .... inserting it (the collet sleeve) in from the threaded end of the nut ... ?

That's exactly right.

These collet sleeves are often/usually a press fit into the nut (from 'behind', as above), and retained by a circular slot under the rim of the nut into which a corresponding rim at the top of the sleeve will just fit. I don't know your particular model, but as I say a bit of finger pressure is usually enough to make it 'click' home.

If the damaged one is still in the nut, try newt's suggestion - assuming you can't just wiggle it out.

 

[siggy_7]

I knew I should have taken some pictures to explain! I've been trying to insert it the same way round as Mick's picture, but from Pete's suggestion it sounds like I've been forcing it from the wrong way - tapered end through the nut, rather than flat end through the nut. The end of the collet sleeve that you can see when installed is bluff and doesn't fit though the hole (I didn't try to force it), so my logic was that it should be installed by utilising the taper of the sleeve to compress the collet as it passes through the nut. Once installed the sleeve is retained by the nut in both directions, so that it can compress the sleeve into the collet shaft when being tightened and drag the sleeve out of the collet shaft again when being loosened. Clearly my logic was wrong and once wrangling the existing collet out I'll try fitting the new one from the other direction. Thanks all for your help.