Dumb Question - How to Use Air Hammer Beehive Spring?

[Clarkbug]

So I come to the BITOG forums with my hat in my hand asking for help.....

How the heck am I supposed to use a beehive spring on an air Hammer? I was given some tools by a coworker, and never had a pneumatic hammer before. Its an older IR, and has a beehive spring retainer that looks like the one at this link:

https://taylorpneumatic.com/products/t-5210-beehive-spring

I have tried to use it on a couple of different shanks, but I cannot get them through the opening on the spring, and so I am not sure how this is supposed to work. Do you just force the bit through the small end of the spring? Is it the wrong kind of spring for what I want to use it for? I don't really even know if the hammer works so don't want to go get the quick change setup for it if its just easier to buy a whole new hammer...

Appreciate any help anyone can offer, since I would really like to have this available if needed (see my other thread on the Subaru Pinch Bolt project....)

Thank you!

 

[FowVay]

There are differing types of safety springs that are used with pneumatic rivet guns. The beehive spring that you cite is for round sets with the arresting shoulder large enough to hang on the spring.

For sets that are too large to fit through the retaining spring you would use a different type of spring. Air chisels, flat rivet sets, hammer pins, etc., all use a retainer spring with a catch loop.

If you have a beehive spring and you want to use a chisel set then you should buy the appropriate spring for your gun.

This is what you need for chisels, hammers, flat rivet sets, etc. They're $8 at most places that sell tools. You might not find them at Home Depot but you can search aviation tool stores and get all sorts of neat things.

 

[Clarkbug]

There are differing types of safety springs that are used with pneumatic rivet guns. The beehive spring that you cite is for round sets with the arresting shoulder large enough to hang on the spring.

For sets that are too large to fit through the retaining spring you would use a different type of spring. Air chisels, flat rivet sets, hammer pins, etc., all use a retainer spring with a catch loop.

If you have a beehive spring and you want to use a chisel set then you should buy the appropriate spring for your gun.

This is what you need for chisels, hammers, flat rivet sets, etc. They're $8 at most places that sell tools. You might not find them at Home Depot but you can search aviation tool stores and get all sorts of neat things.

View attachment 303160

Ok, so its not me just not being able to figure it out, I just need a different type of retainer spring. Thank you for that! Ill have to see what I can pick up locally that will thread onto my hammer. Much appreciated!

 

[Nukeman7]

Ok, so its not me just not being able to figure it out, I just need a different type of retainer spring. Thank you for that! Ill have to see what I can pick up locally that will thread onto my hammer. Much appreciated!

They are only $2 at Harbor Freight.

 

[Chris142]

Throw that stupid spring away and get a screw on bit retailer. It will work similar to the air couplers .

 

[Chris142]

There are several types available

 

[Clarkbug]

They are only $2 at Harbor Freight.

View attachment 303176

Oh dang. Well, I guess Ill need to go nab a few and get to hammering.

Throw that stupid spring away and get a screw on bit retailer. It will work similar to the air couplers .

I need to see if this hammer actually works. Its a "new to me" but well loved, so didn't want to spend the coin on the quick change adapter for it if its not actually going to work without a full rebuild.

So for a few bucks, will be worth it as a trial run for sure.

 

[crosshairs]

I have tried to use it on a couple of different shanks, but I cannot get them through the opening on the spring, and so I am not sure how this is supposed to work. Do you just force the bit through the small end of the spring? Is it the wrong kind of spring for what I want to use it for? I don't really even know if the hammer works so don't want to go get the quick change setup for it if its just easier to buy a whole new hammer...

You need to unscrew the spring from the air hammer, , put the bit in the hammer, then reinstall the spring.

 

[Clarkbug]

You need to unscrew the spring from the air hammer, , put the bit in the hammer, then reinstall the spring.

Yes, I have unscrewed the spring, but wasn't able to get the spring I have over any of the bits I have.

So wasn't sure if it was user error or the wrong spring or what was up.

 

[Clarkbug]

Well brief update here.

The good news is that the correct spring was the ticket. Turns out the old air hammer still works and was able to hammer away for me a little this weekend. The bad news is that it was on an imitation "Shake and Break" tool, and apparently it was so poorly made that the shank wasn't hardened and has mushroomed in the tool. So now I cannot get it out, at least not easily.

Need to figure out the right combination of a tool holder and striking device to see if I can extract it without destroying my air hammer. Seems like the sort of thing I would want to actually use an air hammer for, which is a little ironic. Oh well.