Adjustable locking levers LS514 bushing black

Adjustable Clamping Levers LS514 with a bushing solve an everyday problem in every machine build: the lever that ends up in the way once the joint is tightened. The handle is lifted, turned freely to a new position and let down again; the toothed ring then takes a fresh grip and the lever locks at the angle you chose yourself. The tightening torque is not affected by where the lever points, so you can always park it where it does not clash with guards, edges or nearby parts.

The lever body is in glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic with a matte surface. The glass fiber reinforcement gives a stiff lever that does not spring in the hand during tightening, and the matte black surface takes workshop handling without looking worn. The toothed ring is in plastic and the internal thread sits in a brass bushing, which gives a clean thread run against the stud even after many changes of position.

The series covers thirteen versions that are picked directly on the product page. The lever lengths are 43, 52, 65, 80 and 94 mm and the threads run from M4 to M10; the thread depth varies between 8 and 18 mm depending on size. The combinations are chosen so the leverage stands in proportion to the thread, from small M4 levers for precision mechanics to 94 mm levers for M10 joints that have to be pulled up with real hand torque.

In Swedish workshop industry this type of clamping lever sits on clamping fixtures, adjustable stops, machine guards, welding tables and all equipment where something has to be released, moved and clamped again without tools. Designers also use them for height and angle adjustment on conveyors and packing machines, where the operator changes the format several times per shift and an ordinary hex screw would call for a wrench every time.

Fitting takes nothing more than screwing the lever on and tightening it; in the joint it works as a nut with leverage and follows the same rules for thread engagement. If the contact face has to be protected, for example against painted sheet metal or aluminum, you put a washer or a pressure plate in between so the rotation of the lever does not mark the material.

The plastic toothed ring suits normal hand torque and environments without heavy soiling. If the joint is changed very often, or if it sits where chips and wear are a factor, the sister series LS55 with a steel toothed ring is an alternative that takes more cycles. For most fixtures and guards LS514 is plenty, and the plastic toothed ring makes the lever easy to reset.

A practical piece of advice when sizing: choose the lever length by the torque the operator actually has to be able to apply by hand, not by what looks proportionate on the drawing. A lever that is too short ends with the operator reaching for a tool, and then the whole point of the clamping lever is gone. Also check the swing radius so the handle can be lifted and turned freely all the way around in its most exposed position. Full dimensions for each version, including hub and hole dimensions, are in the manufacturer's data sheet; the levers are supplied in packs of 50 or 100 pieces depending on size.

The ergonomics of the lever are also a working environment question. When the operator does not need a wrench, both the hunt for the tool and the skewed wrist angles that come from getting a wrench into a tight space disappear; the clamping lever is operated with a straight wrist and then parked in a position where nobody catches themselves on it. On equipment that is reset often, that detail usually shows in both the pace and the mood of the person at the machine.

Not sure whether a plastic toothed ring is enough in your application, or do you want to compare it with LS55? Get in touch with us.