
A-3TM Drilling and Tapping Machine
Installation and Operating Instructions
6
2. Set position of motor switch to
give clockwise rotation of boring
bar.
3. Start drilling operation and
continue drilling until the operation
is completed. Completion of drilling
operation can be easily detected by
torque required to resist power unit
and sound of power unit
NOTE: The tapping line is located
just below the thrust collar on
the boring bar. A distance of 11/4”
below the tapping line is limit
for use of automatic feed. Actual
drilling is always completed
before this distance is reached.
4. Loosen wing nut on feed yoke
drive socket and swing socket open.
5. Start motor and rotate feed yoke
clockwise by hand to engage tap
part of tool into main. Continue to
rotate feed yoke until tap is securely
started into the main. At this point,
turn operating screw on locking
mechanism counter-clockwise to
unlock the pivot arm and remove
the feed yoke from contact with the
thrust collar. The boring bar will
move downward allowing the tool to
feed itself.
NOTE: Feed yoke should remain
in contact with the boring bar
thrust collar and follow the thrust
collar down when machine is
being used on high pressure
mains, thin wall steel pipe or
asbestos-cement pipe. DO NOT
overfeed faster than the tap
is cutting as this will strip the
threads being tapped in the main.
DRILL AND TAP – Power
Operated Method
Using Mueller®H-603 Electric
Power Operator, H-604 Air Power
Operator or H-705 Hydrallic
Operator
The A-3 Drilling and Tapping
Machine has been designed to
permit the use of a power operator.
The power operator will drive the
combined drill (or shell cutter) and
tap and provide automatic feed
during the drilling operation.
IMPORTANT: When using H-604
air motor power operator install
an in-line lubricator as close to
the unit as practical and adjust
for slight oil mist from exhaust –
maintain pressure of 90psig. We
recommend the use of a gage
at the throttle to determine the
actual pressure of AIR AT THE
AIR MOTOR.
NOTE: Units are suitable for:
• Power drilling with automatic
feed 1” through 1” inclusive with
combined drill and tap.
• Power drilling with automatic
feed 11/4” through 21/2”inclusive
with shell cutter and tap.
• Power drilling with hand feed
11/4” through 2” inclusive with
combined drill and tap.
The gear case attaches to the
machine by the means of two
sockets. The inner or small socket
drives the boring bar. The outer
or large socket drives the feed
yoke through a gear reduction
as the boring bar is rotated. The
resulting feed on the drill is .010”
per revolution of the boring bar. The
motors are equipped with a squeeze
type trigger throttle. If for some
reason a drill should stick, the motor
can be shut of quickly.
1. Place the gear case and motor
on the drilling and tapping machine
aligning the sockets with the square
shanks on the boring bar and feed
yoke. Socket which contacts feed
yoke should be closed and wing nut
tightened securely.
6. Continue tapping operation until
tapping line on boring bar is flush
with the top of the feed sleeve part
of the cap.
IMPORTANT – WHEN TAPPING
A/C PIPE: Only hand operation of
the A-3 machine is recommended
when working on A/C pipe,
especially if it is not under
pressure. If a power operator
is used, its extra weight on the
boring bar can cause overfeeding
of the tap and result in striped
threads. When tapping A/C
pipe with one-piece CEM-RES®
Combined Drills and Taps, it is
advisable to exceed the tapping
line enough to allow corporation
valves to be inserted with only
one to three threads exposed.
The exact amount may be
determined by making a “shop
tap” ahead of time.