Chainsaw Repair

Chain - Grinders - Filing - Wood Milling - Tools - Welding - Machinist - Mowers - Tillers => Chain - Bars - Grinders - Filing => Topic started by: 660magnum on February 21, 2014, 06:12:13 pm

Title: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on February 21, 2014, 06:12:13 pm
I bought an old Herr Breaker and Spinner duo off the Bay the other day for a lot less than what the Harbor Freight combo costs.

The spinner frame has "Herr" cast into the frame.

Doesn't look like it was ever used? There are no wear or sweat rust marks anywhere, not even were you would bolt the frames down.

The original cast "A" and "C" anvils are missing from the spinner but there is a late model metric Oregon "Si" version "B"(.325) anvil mounted in the spinner which fits fine and looks like it has spun a few rivets.

Both spinner back up levers came in the box but look like they were never used. The spinner handle turns smoothly with no feeling of grit in the thrust bearing.

The original early type punch mounted in the breaker looks as though it never punched a rivet out. There is a extra new style Oregon metric "Si" version punch that came with the deal which looks well used.

There are two breaker anvils that came with it. What looks like a short cast anvil with Oregon and the chain sizes cast into it and then a longer anvil with just the chain sizes and part number stamped on it. There is a hand punch with the original point broken off and a new point ground onto it free hand.

I know Herr made the Oregon heavy duty spinner and breaker up until the year 2000. I also know that Herr made some of the Foley Breakers and Spinners but the Foley's are blue.

Mine is RED!

My question is . . . Was this bought as a Oregon Heavy Duty or as a Herr breaker spinner set. I doubt if it really makes any difference?
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 21, 2014, 06:28:40 pm
I myself am not familiar with Herr but sounds like you did alright.   
Is there any way to google Herr and find out some information or maybe a web site.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on February 21, 2014, 06:45:18 pm
Herr must have petered out about 5 years ago?

You can still get the old style spinner anvils and breaker punches from Oregon sources. The 3/8" "A" spinner anvil is Oregon 26889 and the .325 "C" anvil is Oregon 26890. The old style breaker punch is Oregon 26870 and is made a little more robust than the current style punch.

Here are some pictures from the web of a pair of Herrs just like mine except mine doesn't have as much surface rust. Note that the spinner anvil in this Herr is a late model Oregon Metric anvil and not the original Herr type but it has been cut-off so that it is the correct length to align with the guides.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/herr20chain4.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/herr20chain4.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/herr20chain3.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/herr20chain3.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/herr20chain2.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/herr20chain2.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/herr20chain.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/herr20chain.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on February 21, 2014, 07:04:49 pm
There's a older, used to be Homelite, dealer near here that has what I think is the old style Oregon (Herr) set. I'll just have to drive over there with my flashlight - take a look-see and ask a few questions? The shop is typically rather dark. I know he has a early style 511A grinder with no built in light. He also has a Silvey bar grinder and closer set.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 21, 2014, 07:07:23 pm
They look like good strong units.    The one I have right now came from Bailys.    I do not like the punches that came with it and have broken two of them with ease.  I finally made my own from the shaft of a broken tap.  I may keep an eye out for one of the Herr's.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on February 21, 2014, 07:27:29 pm
Here's the Ebay pictures of my set. Keep in mind that the extra breaker punch on the table is for the later model metric (Italian made) breaker. Also the spinner anvil laying by itself on the table is a "B" mandrel for the Italian made (Metric) spinner. The longer breaker anvil is from a Oregon manual (Hammer and punch) set and that the corresponding hand punch has the original point broken off.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/_3-4.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/_3-4.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/_3-3.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/_3-3.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/_3-2.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/_3-2.jpg.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jamesirl/_3-1.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamesirl/media/_3-1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 21, 2014, 07:33:44 pm
Wow that looks pretty nice and looks like most of it is there.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on March 02, 2014, 03:30:57 pm
This Herr cast iron design was used by Oregon as their first line spinner and breaker assemblies from in the 70's up until the end of the decade. This design was also sold by Belsaw at one time. These sold as Herr's may have the Herr name cast into one piece or the other or no name at all? Some of the Oregon's had "Oregon" cast into them and some did not.

There was another cast Oregon model made along the lines of the Herr but is smoother and is aluminum. It also says "Made In Italy" and is metric and anvil/punch parts from the Herr nor the current Italian versions don't fit it in alignment with the support guides without some modifications. Typically this being to cut off part of the spinner anvil rear or adding a spacer behind it? The punches often interchange but the retaining set screws are in a different place among the different models.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on March 05, 2014, 12:53:18 pm
I now have new spinner anvils and a extra punch for the Herr Spinner/breaker duo. I got them from Equipatron of Chicago in 2 days as Oregon parts. So I'm all ready to make up some chains with the Cadillac of chainsaw chain assembly tools. I already have the Stihl presets for the chains I want to make up.

I also have a Grandberg chain mender setup that looks like an adaptation on a pair of Vice Grip pliers.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 05, 2014, 01:02:18 pm
That is great that you knew where to find those items and pretty darn quick.   
You just cannot beat knowledge.
Title: Re: Herr Chain Breaker and Spinner set
Post by: 660magnum on March 05, 2014, 01:32:09 pm
That is a lot of snooping around on Google = knowledge.

Just getting the Herr duo to begin with was a "stumble upon" thingy as occasionally I would check Ebay and one night there they were with the auction about to end.

I think what might have held a high bidder off was that the correct anvils were missing and Herr and the company that bought Herr are both gone. I did a little quick Google look and the parts came up on Bailey's but the shipping was $15.95, so I found another place with better shipping terms.

But just being a casual firewood guy, I doubt making over a half dozen chains/year and I'll never wear out or need a part for what I got?