Spacers for Changer

[Eldon]

I made my changer fingers 1/16 inch too narrow and I need spacers with the following dimensions.

1/16 inch thick
5/8 inch bore
7/8 inch outside diameter

Sparkplug gaskets - even the old ones I've found are off size.
Brass close nipple cut into rings would work as would fender washers but I want to avoid as much drilling, grinding, filing as possible.
I've made a set out of the same SS I used for my levers but I'm not entirely happy with them and I don't really want to make new fingers.

Any ideas out there would be most helpful.

[Bent]

Eldon,

First off, it is necessary to have a space between fingers, so you did the right thing.

I struggled with this same issue in my project #2. I checked the two main suppliers around here: Facca Fasteners and Spaenaur. Neither of them had the exact thickness to ID/OD ratio that I needed. I ended up cutting the collars off of the nylon bushings I had and grinding them to thickness on the disk sander.
NOT a good idea. Accuracy goes out the window of course.

In fact I did spend some time looking for fender washers and other types with the exact size, to no avail.

I am sorry I don't have any ideas for you. I would have a good notion to spend a little money here and have my buddy make up a selection of stainless spacer washers on his lathe, with the exact thickness needed, and also some plus and some minus. It would be a breeze for a guy with a decent lathe. Figure on a fair bit of waste though...
That's the best I can do for you.
Any better ideas? bring'em on!

[Allan]

1/16" is quite a lot to make up this way but on a different project (non-musical) I made some shim washers using metal from a coke can cut with scissors. I cut the can in to strips and drilled it and then cut to shape. I sandwiched the strips between two blocks of MDF screwed together to do the drilling.

Allan.....

[michaelm]

Eldon, a quick search at McMaster-Carr turned up this item:

Part Number: 91124A101 ; Type: Round Shims ; Shim Type: Shortening Shims for Shoulder Screws ;
Material: Steel ; Steel Type: Spring Steel ; Spring Steel Type: C1075 Blue-Tempered Spring Steel ;
Inside Diameter: 5/8" ; Inside Diameter Tolerance: ±.002" ; Outside Diameter: 7/8" ; Outside Diameter Tolerance: ±.002" ;
Thickness: .062" ; Thickness Tolerance: +.002" ; Fits Shoulder Diameter: 5/8"

HTH.

[Eldon]

Thanks Guys! I appretiate your comments.

[Eldon]

I ended up finding what I neede at our local Home Depot Store. They were in a bit called spacer washers. Good Fit & they make the top of the changer look more uniform.