Extensible lock

A lock for securing a wear member on a support structure of an excavator, the lock comprising a base and a body which are threadedly coupled together for relative motion in an axial direction to vary the length of the lock between an extended position that secures the wear member to the support structure and a retracted position that permits removal of the wear member from the support structure, said body including a bearing face for engaging the wear member in said extended position.

A lock for securing a wear member on a support structure of an excavator, the lock comprising a body, a base, a spring applying an outward biasing force between said body and said base to hold the lock in an extended position and secure the wear member to the support structure, and a retractor for shortening the length of the lock to release the wear member from the support structure.

A method of securing a wear member onto a support structure of an excavator, the method comprising adjusting an extensible lock to a retracted position independently of the wear member, placing the lock into a hole in the support structure, placing a wear member onto the support structure, adjusting the lock in the hole to an extended position to engage and hold the wear member on the support structure.

A method of replacing a wear member mounted on a support structure of an excavator, the method comprising retracting an extensible lock received within a hole in the support structure so as to disengage the lock from the wear member, removing the wear member after the lock is retracted, placing a new wear member on the support structure, extending the lock to engage and hold the new wear member on the support structure.