Pat Trap question

icecold

icecold

CGN Regular
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Hey folks, we have a Pat Trap doubles machine. The machine seems to break about 25% of the clays during loading, i.e. the clay drops in on an angle not straight down, and takes a hit from the angle iron in which it is stacked in on its way to the loading port. I have taken the turret off and adjusted the timing, but same thing.
It actually seemed to improve but within about 30 clays it started breaking clays again before it gets dropped through the port. The post contacts the top of the clay and fractures it.
I at first thought the turret posts were too low as they were hitting the top off the clay as it dropped. I added a washer under the turret over the shaft, but that did not help.
Bearings seem solid, belt is tight, tray is clean, (until the first broken clay litters the deck), the clays are stacked straight in the turret posts.
This was a sudden occurrence, not gradual.
Any ideas before I send the thing out for a tuneup. Is there anyone who services these in the western part of Canada. I am from the west coast.
Thanks for your help.
 
There are a few people that I would ask, but they are in Southwestern Ontario. I've never seen the problem that you have that a timing adjustment didn't fix. So, that's why I suggested calling Charlie.
 
icecold said:
Hey folks, we have a Pat Trap doubles machine. The machine seems to break about 25% of the clays during loading, i.e. the clay drops in on an angle not straight down, and takes a hit from the angle iron in which it is stacked in on its way to the loading port. I have taken the turret off and adjusted the timing, but same thing.
It actually seemed to improve but within about 30 clays it started breaking clays again before it gets dropped through the port. The post contacts the top of the clay and fractures it.
I at first thought the turret posts were too low as they were hitting the top off the clay as it dropped. I added a washer under the turret over the shaft, but that did not help.
Bearings seem solid, belt is tight, tray is clean, (until the first broken clay litters the deck), the clays are stacked straight in the turret posts.
This was a sudden occurrence, not gradual.
Any ideas before I send the thing out for a tuneup. Is there anyone who services these in the western part of Canada. I am from the west coast.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

If it isn't a timing issue then the target retaining wheel could be applying too much pressure on the target and not letting the target drop properly.

Other things to check are:

- make sure the 2 target retaining wheels move freely
- the o-rings on the target retaining wheels
- the arms that the target retaining wheels are attached to should moved back freely as the carousel rotates
- check the spring on these 2 arms

Good luck. And yes. Charlie at Pat Trap is great help.
 
We had trouble with one of our Pat trap machines last fall. Turned out the elevator shaft was sticking allowing the target to drop rather than being lowered gently. This resulted in cracked birds on the throwing arm and also targets not placed properly against the throwing arm. Just as OP has described.
We oiled everything up and it would work for a while and then the elevator started to stick again resulting in cracked, broken, and or misplaced targets.
One of our more mechanical members cleaned everything up, smoothed and polished a small nylon plastic bushing that interacts with the elevator shaft to keep it aligned. Everything is now working and the elevator is not binding up. Also we now do not lube the elevator shaft !!
Not saying that is the problem with your machine. Good luck.
 
pilon said:
We had trouble with one of our Pat trap machines last fall. Turned out the elevator shaft was sticking allowing the target to drop rather than being lowered gently. This resulted in cracked birds on the throwing arm and also targets not placed properly against the throwing arm. Just as OP has described.
We oiled everything up and it would work for a while and then the elevator started to stick again resulting in cracked, broken, and or misplaced targets.
One of our more mechanical members cleaned everything up, smoothed and polished a small nylon plastic bushing that interacts with the elevator shaft to keep it aligned. Everything is now working and the elevator is not binding up. Also we now do not lube the elevator shaft !!
Not saying that is the problem with your machine. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Almost sounds like our issue. Thanks, going to check that out.
 
broadway said:
If it isn't a timing issue then the target retaining wheel could be applying too much pressure on the target and not letting the target drop properly.

Other things to check are:

- make sure the 2 target retaining wheels move freely
- the o-rings on the target retaining wheels
- the arms that the target retaining wheels are attached to should moved back freely as the carousel rotates
- check the spring on these 2 arms

Good luck. And yes. Charlie at Pat Trap is great help.
Click to expand...


It “seems” free, but a closer look might well be in our interest. Thanks
 
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