The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Ben Pearson Muffler Shop, Ben Pearson Tubemaster

Now look what the cat dragged home:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/167615603
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/167615604
Got a deal I couldn’t refuse on this Ben Pearson Tubemaster. Only
problem is it’s missing a LOT of stuff.
The motor and pump work, the lower/inner swage cylinder extends, the
upper one…..well, I haven’t figured out what’s missing to make it work.
It only had two die sets, both not much use for a Stovebolt exhaust and
it has no bend card index. The trays that hold the accessories are missing
also.
Question is…..anyone got one of these in their shop what can point out
what’s missing from it???? I’ve only been able to find a manual for a newer
model and it’s obvious the controls are different. I’ve been looking for bend cards
but came up empty there also.
Denny Graham
“NOT”, bending pipe in Sandwich, IL

DG;

You probably already know this, but Ben Pearson is still in business out of Pine Bluff AR. I would give them a shout and see if they have any documentation on your model. That should get you started on the plumbing. BTW, I'm jealous.....


SimS

Hard to see in the photos, but, like electrical stuff, you need out of the pump to a valve (comparable to a switch), from the valve to the cylinder, from the cylinder, fluid needs to return to tank one way or another. Hydraulic cylinders need pressure at the base to go out with fluid returning from the rod side. If it isn't a spring or load return, then the cylinder will need pressure on the rod side with fluid having a return at the base side for that rod to go in.

A 3000 psi pressure gauge can be your friend here.

Oh yeah, been to Ben's site, nothing on the model MS19, and I did try to send an email but their
contact page doesn't work. Tried phone but it's Saturday, I'll give them a call Monday. And, I am
aware that they've been in business since the 70's. In fact, this bender came from a shop in
Pine Bluff, AR just up the road where it was made originally.
Mark, all the hydraulic lines are there and it appears all the electrical is there also, It's the hard stuff that
that's hung all over the frame that I'm wondering about.
This isn't quite as fancy as the latest models, so it doesn't do much good to study the pictures of them.
And.....the latest BP bender, i.e., model MC59 and MC59HS have a lot of extra attachments hung on them
to handle the latest type connections.
They kept talking about a knee control and the door to the electrical box was all bent up and smashed in,
but at least it was there, laying in the tray under the frame. After a bit of study, I found two micro switches
on each side of the electrical box and noticed a long 1/4" rod run thru the front edge dividing the box in half.
After I beat the box cover back into submission with my slapper and shrinker/stretcher and laid it up on the
electrical box where it belonged. It dawned on me that the pin was actually an axle that the door pivoted on
and the outer edges of the door operated the micro switches, it even says RAM IN RAM OUT....on the
door and it's right about at knee height......DUH !!!!! So the electric box door is the knee control for the ram.
Now....I need to do some disassembly, actually a lot of disassembly of old rusty bolts, screws, shafts etc., and
clean and polish guide rods and surfaces. Need to drain fluid that may have been in the system for forty years
and flush out the system, refill with fresh 46 AW, then.....I'll see if all three of the cylinders will operate.
Also missing a handle, bracket and seals for the expander valve, so I'll have to make those. If it all passes
the initial test, then it's a total disassembly,sand blasting, polish and stone all the machined surfaces,
fabricate some new (missing) tool trays for each of the sides, paint and new decals. Lastly try to find
a bend card file that has AD specs in it. Looking for a week for one of those, nothing sofar.
Well.....I might be done by the 4th of July If I work real hard at it, burn the midnight oil and let the
grass grow up to my ars.
All of this just so I can bend my own "correct" exhaust system for AD trucks go figure!!!!.

So......you still jealous SimS?????

Denny Graham
Pipe Bender hopeful in Sandwich, IL

[quote=So......you still jealous SimS????? [/quote]

Yes I'm still jealous. 95% of the fun will be getting the darn thing running and humming. The last 5% comes when you finally get that "correct" exhaust. Best of luck.

SimS

I'll need it, thanks.
Denny G

Okey dokey.......getting parts apart and getting parts ordered and getting parts coming in.
But......there is one little piece of tin that I can easily and would rather make since it would
cost me fifty bucks if I were to buy it from Ben Pearson.
It's the Expander Acme Nut Sight Gauge. The one on this bender is broken off at the point
where the two screws attach it to the flange. (picture) http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/167643846
Man of man.....if anyone knows anyone or a shop where/who has one of these, I would sure
appreciate it if you could take 5 minutes and measure the "length/width/diameter of the
alignment hole and the distance the hole is from the flange face.
Thanks
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL