Ashford TRAVELLER 3 User manual

Ashford Handicrats Limited
415 West Street, Ashburton 7700, New Zealand
Telephone [phone]
[e-mail] www.ashford.co.nz
INSTRUCTIONS
Ashford Guarantee
Thank you for purchasing this Ashford product. In the unlikely event there is
any fault in manufacture, please contact the dealer you purchased it from.
To validate the guarantee, please go to www.ashford.co.nz/product-registration
TRAVELLER 3 SPINNING WHEEL
TSW3080623V1

2
Hex Wrench
Hints
Check hardware against full
size illustration. To make assembly easier use candle wax on the screws. Check the directions carefully.
If the hook is hard to turn
use the Hex wrench.
More Information
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When you use the Hex
wrench, make sure it is at 90
degrees and is at the bottom
of the hole.
*Supplied
Before commencing, please read these instructions
completely, identify the parts and note the assembly
sequence.
Remove any sharp corners or edges and smooth the
surface of the wood with the sand paper provided.
We recommend that the wood surfaces be waxed
or sealed before assembly. This protects the kiln
dried wood from the climatic changes and prevents
it getting dirty or stained. The Beech timber has a
lovely variety of colour and grain. For a silky smooth
matt finish, use the Ashford Finishing Wax Polish to
enhance the natural colours and character of this
timber.
If you are assembling your spinning wheel on a table,
we recommend you protect the surface with a towel,
blanket or cardboard. Ashford spinning wheels are
also available factory finished in clear lacquer.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE ASHFORD TRAVELLER 3 SPINNING WHEEL
Tools Required

3
Real Scale Hardware List

4
Check the holes in the
base for the lazy kate pins
are to the front.
Wax the steel rods in the
treadle rail and the ends
of the legs.
Locate the treadle rail into
the holes in the 2 front legs.
Check the treadle rail rotates
freely. Then tap these legs to
the bottom of the holes in
the front base rail.
Wax, then tap the
2 back legs to the
bottom of the
holes in the back
base rail.

5
Secure the 4 legs
with screws.
Turn the base and
legs over.
Secure the rear
wheel support with
bolt and barrel
nut. This will be
tightened later.
Secure the front
wheel support
with bolt and
barrel nut. It will
be tightened later.
Hex Wrench
Hex Wrench
Note the hole in one
wheel support is right
through. This is the
rear support.

6
Assemble the flyer unit.
Check the shape of the
nylon bearing on each
maid upright, wax then
insert into the correct hole.
Locate the stretchy
drive band between
the wheel supports.
Check the angle of the
nylon bearings and then
secure the maid uprights
with screws and washers.
Do not overtighten. The
maid uprights may be
twisted to remove the
bobbin.
Thread the screw eye into
the front of the maiden
bar and the screw hook
into the back.

7
Locate the wheel with the
groove for the hub pin
to the rear, between the
wheel supports and let it
rest on the 2 base spacers.
Hex Wrench
Secure the maiden bar to
the wheel supports with
bolts and barrel nuts. They
will be tightened later.
Hex Wrench
Lit the wheel into position
and fully insert the crank.
Check the wheel is parallel,
in the centre of the base
and the wheel supports
are tight against the hub.
Then tighten the 4 bolts.

8
Align the groove in the hub
with the hole in the crank.
Rotate the hub pin until
it is a firm fit in the slot
in the hub. Then tap the
hub pin through the hub
and crank.
Hint: Use a lazy kate
pin as a punch to avoid
damaging the hub.
Slide the inner shell of the
conrod universal joint onto
the crank until it clicks
into the groove. Then click
the front conrod onto the
universal joint on the crank.
Note: The ball bearings are
sealed for life and do not
require oiling.

9
Insert the outside conrod
into the large slot in let
hand treadle board.
1. Hold the conrod joint
with one hand on either
side of the treadle board.
2. With both hands, turn the
conrod joint a ⁄ turn.
3. Stretch and slide it into
the small slot and turn
it back a ⁄ turn until it
clicks into place.
4. Repeat the sequence for
the inside conrod and
right treadle board.
Thread 2 screw hooks into
the flyer base. Squeeze and
slide the stainless steel yarn
guides onto the flyer arms.
Apply a drop of oil to the
flyer spindle and slide a
bobbin on.
Ashford spinning
wheel oil is ideal for
this purpose. Locate
the flyer between the
flyer bearings.

10
Cut 55cm (22") o the
brake band. Thread it
through the screw eye
and attach the springs
and tension knob as
illustrated.
Place the brake band
into the bobbin whorl
groove. Do not over
stretch the springs.
Locate the threading
hook in the maiden bar.
When spinning coarse fibres or thick
yarns use the slowest flyer speed
of 5:1. For fine fibres and yarns use
higher ratio.
Flyer
Wheel
When not in use,
always release
the tension on
the drive band
by moving it to a
smaller flyer whorl.
Position the stretchy drive
band around the smallest
grove in the wheel and
then over the largest flyer
whorl. This gives a flyer to
wheel ratio of 5:1.
When changing ratios
ensure the drive band
directly aligns the wheel
and flyer whorl.
55cm (22")

11
Locate the hex wrench into the hole
in the back base rail.
Tap the lazy kate pins into
the base and locate the
spare bobbins on them.
Oil all points on the
Spinning Wheel before use
as illustrated.
Note: The ball bearings are
sealed for life and do not
require oiling.
Tie a piece of yarn called
a leader, approx. 1.5m (5’)
long, to the bobbin.
Thread it through the yarn
guide, around the flyer
hook and pull through the
orifice with the threading
hook. The Learn to Spin on
an Ashford Wheel booklet
will guide you on your
spinning journey.
*For further spinning and plying information refer to “The Ashford Book of Hand Spinning” by Jo Reeve, a 116 page book full
of ideas and inspiration for spinners or visit our website www.ashford.co.nz

Ashford Handicrats Limited
Factory and Showroom: 415 West Street
PO Box 474, Ashburton 7700 New Zealand
Telephone [phone]
[e-mail] www.ashford.co.nz
If the yarn doesn’t pull in:
Brake band tension is
too loose.
Tighten the tension knob.
If the yarn breaks:
Brake band tension
is too tight.
Loosen the tension
knob.
If the drive band falls o easily: