I have a really old Renzetti Traveler. I think I got it back in 1994. Been tying on it all this time and have updated recently to the cam jaws. Yesterday I was tying at the Great Lakes Fly Tying Expo in Mason, MI and late in the day the rotary seized up on me and it would not spin inside the hole through the post. Today I sprayed some WD-40 at both ends of the rotary rod both at the threaded end and on the jaws end as well as I took the little screw out that the post screws onto and sprayed some up in there. After applying the WD-40, with some EXTREME effort, I was able to manhandle about a 1/2 turn of rotary. Anyone else have this happen to them? Anyone have any advice. I believe there’s supposed to be a lifetime warranty on all Renzetti’s, right? Do you think I’m just gonna have to send it in to them and have them take care of it?
IF you can get a half turn out of it you may be able to disassemble the rotory stem from the standing stem. First remove the tension adjustment nut, the washer, the rotory handle, and the other washer. Next remove the jaws from the fitting. This just a precautionay step to prevent possiable damage. At that point you may wish to try and sperate the stem from stand post, by wiggling it back and froth while drawing out ward. You may also consider running the rotory stem houseing under hot water to help loosen the parts in removeing them. Be sure to have a couple towles handy for this as aluminum transfers heat realy well. Chances are the parts are either corroided or in the case of alluminum, it may have even galled a bit with a small flake of machine shaveing left behind during assembly. Either way once you have it apart the answer will likely become obvious. A little emery work on the shaft to polish it up and perhaps a dab of silicone line dressing for lube will set things back to right.
I have to say this is the first time I’ve heard of a Traveler (or any vise for that matter) seizing up. There’s really nothing to go bad there, unless it’s been stored in dampness for corrosion to build inside the bearing housing. Let us know what happens. I have one and it’s worked flawlessly for the past 7 years.
Thank you for the advice. I had already stripped it down to it’s bare minimum so that the threads are completely bare on the “handle” (left) side and removed the jaws so there is nothing but the white nylon/plastic (?) disk and aluminmum bushing/spacer (?) on the “jaw” (right) side of the housing the post screws to and the rotary goes through. I removed the screw the post attaches to from this piece as well leaving a hole accessing the inner part of this piece. WD-40 was applied at either end and through the post screw hole as well. This is when I was eventually able to get it to 1/2 turn. I’ve since applied a little more WD and have let it sit hoping it will continue to loosen whatever may be the problem. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the shaft removed and be able to see what the problem is. Unfortunately it hasn’t budged yet. I’ll keep you posted. Thank you for the insight though, I do greatly appreciate it. It’s just baffling to me. I’ve never heard of anyone with this.
It’s John Brinkerhuff here. You’re right, I’ve never heard of this either. As far as dampness, I’ve just had it in the house. Just normal conditions that I’m aware of. It’s really puzzling. Maybe its just the effects of having a 15 year old vise.
I had my Renzetti ‘Traveler’ sieze up perhaps a dozen years ago. I called the company and at the reps suggestion, sent it in. I’m guessing it was within 2 weeks that I received a vise back. I don’t recall what the repair person wrote so I can’t say what was replaced exactly. I do recall that he said ‘siezing’ of the shaft was something he had seen before. However I don’t recall that he gave me an explanation for why it happens. Anyway, my advice would be to call the company, explain the situation and seek a solution.
Just out of curiosity I took my Traveler apart last night. I noticed that the shaft thru the bearing was coated with lubricant, and that from 7 years of use, the aluminum shaft is being worn down (ever so slightly) by the steel sleeve bearing that it rotates in (lubricant was black). I cleaned it up and applied a small amount of lithium grease to the bearing surface and the o-ring, and will put this piece of equipment on an annual preventive maintenance schedule for a clean & lube. Based on what I have discovered, I would suggest the owners of any rotary vise to check their bearing surfaces periodically for wear, especially if you use the rotary function frequently.
My traveler did lock up the shaft some time back. I did like others…WD40 and rotate…more oil…more turning. It finally got loose and I found that the grease and metal had hardened over time. Some steel wool and new oil seemed to make it better. So far it still works.
Just to let you all know, I have not done anything with this situation yet since I tried to fiddle around with it Sunday night. I have been so swamped at work that I really don’t have time to write this response let alone call down to Florida. I will keep you posted but I have to admit that it’s not my 100% top priority right now. Things are waaaaay hectic on the job and I really need to keep focussed on that right now. I will get to it, it just make take a few days. I will keep you posted as to what happens.
Thank you for all the input. Let me just say, I LOVE MY RENZETTI TRAVELER VISE and I like the Renzetti company very much. I was just curious if it ever happened to anyone else.
Joe, if the black lubricant was a powder, then it might be moly-sulfide (molybdenum disulfide). If that is the case, then I wouldn’t use any sort of oil that could mix with it.
It’s just as important to take care of a rotary vise the same way you would take care of your reels or anything else with moving parts.
So around this time each year before I get into full tying mode, I break down my Traveler vise, clean it and give a fresh coat of light grease on the rotary shaft and small drop of oil on the thumb screws and/or the cam lever/ball bearings.
Even doing the above, the rotary shaft will wear down eventually causing some wobble. I purchase my Traveler back in 1993 and use it a lot, I finally had to replace the rotary shaft and collet in 2005.
Several folks have mentioned lubricating. Perhaps a good idea, but I’m not sure I’d use WD40. As popular as it is (I do use it in some applications) it is intended to be a water displacing substance (Hence WD), not a lubricant. Nor is it a penetrating oil, though in some applications it does seem to work that way. A light machine oil like 3&1 oil, reel lubricant or sewing machine oil might be a better choice if you’re going to use oil.
Very true…and definitely don’t use the WD 40 aerosol can type …it leaves a varnish like residue…I’ve been told it’s the propellent…the bulk WD does not
Like some of the other guys have said, any moving parts need some lubrication. I’m a machinist by trade, and this sort of problem comes up often in my line of work. Especially in the case of dissimilar metals like you’re dealing with, aluminum and steel, most likely hardened steel. I emphatically second the info regarding WD-40. It is an excellent product for it’s intended purpose, but is a poor lubricant. Best plan…
Dissasemble the thing altogether, get all the parts thoroughly clean with some sort of solvent, and completely dry. Use fine emery, 340 grit at the coarsest, and shine up the shaft and bore where the siezing occurred. Then reassemble using (sparingly) a light grease like Gunslick or Never-Seeze. It should be dissassembled, cleaned and lubricated at least yearly. If it’s not siezed up, like in the future, this periodic service will be a snap. This, of course is only my reccomendation, I’m not a factory rep, nor really anyone special, just my humble input. I am confidant, though that it’s really only a small problem, and your trusty vise can soon be good as new :lol: …ModocDan
i emailed renzetti about your problem and any maintenance requirments with their vises. below is the repsonse, by the way within 30 minutes.
Thank you for contacting us. We recommend oiling the moving all parts. a drop of sewing machine on all metal screws is advisable.
As far as the rotary head. The vise is lightly grease when we assemble it. Depending on how often you use the vise, we recommend that one or twice a year you disassemble the vise and lightly brush the shaft with a clear silicone grease. after each use wipe your vise with a cloth rack to remove any oil /acid from your hand left on the vise from tying.
The 7 year old must probably had a traveler. If the vise is not adjusted properly, storage in a humid room and not taken care off, it may cause the problem he is having. In some occasion metal shaving gets on the rotary head and also may cause this problem.
Follow recommendations on paragraph 1 and 2 and you will be trying for ever.
Thank you so very much and We wish you a Merry Christmas
Lily Renzetti
Okay, so now anyone who has a Renzetti knows how to perform some ‘preventive maintenance’.
What was the end result with the vise, the one that seized up, whose owner started this thread by asking for advice? Did he send it in and was it repaired or is that vise beyond repair?
I have an Anvil, as one of my rotary vises and it once seized up on me, a lot like you describe your Renzetti had done.
I couldn’t figure mine, out, either until I completley took it apart and found that where I’d been regularly oiling it, the oil I’d been using, mixed with Anvil’s factory applied white grease, was making some sort of “cement” out of the two, opposing, lubricants!
Not ALL, lubricants get along well and end up,not playing nicely, with each other. I had to scrape, the residue and mess, my own oil and Anvil’s grease had made together, then it worked fine. After, that, I only use ONE lubricant on my vise and that’s always a good brand of white grease in very small quantities.
Also, below is a description pertaining to WD-40 and its uses, taken directly from their web site. It seems WD-40 gets all kinds of rumors and theories started about it, so maybe this will help a little bit, to clear that up.
CLEANS: WD-40 gets under dirt, grime and grease to clean. It also dissolves adhesives, allowing easy removal of labels, tape and excess bonding material.
DISPLACES MOISTURE: Because WD-40 displaces moisture, it quickly dries out electrical systems to eliminate moisture-induced short circuits.
PENETRATES: WD-40 loosens rust-to-metal bonds and frees stuck, frozen or rusted metal parts.
LUBRICATES: WD-40’s lubricating ingredients are widely dispersed and tenaciously held to all moving parts.
PROTECTS: WD-40 protects metal surfaces with corrosion-resistant ingredients to shield against moisture and other corrosive elements.
I hope, you get your vise fixed and up and tying again soon!