I currently have a Pacific Bay power wrapper with the plastic chuck and I would like to upgrade it to the Alps chuck. Any tips on installing it and making sure it's as straight as possible. I haven't picked up the chuck yet so if it's way easier then I'm expecting it to be sorry in advance. I've also ordered roller stands and a 4 thread carriage from AL Engling. Looking to build a much better wrapper then what I have now.

Tyler,
I am assuming that you are purchasing both the head stock and chuck for the upgrade. If so, one simply removes the original pac bay headstock and chuck. Then, one simply slides the new headstock and chuck in place, tightens it down and after installing the belt - you are set.

When I look at the original pac bay wrapper, it appears to me that that particular wrapper uses a plain shaft for the head stock shaft with a bored hole for the headstock. '

The alps headstock and chuck uses essentially a rebranded Taig headstock and chuck that has ball bearings with properly machined threads on the chuck end, and the chuck has properly machines threads, so that the chuck simply screws down tight on the headstock shaft and the chuck will run true.

As far as I know, I don't think that the alps chuck will fit onto the stock pac bay head stock shaft with the plastic chuck removed. But, forgive me if I am wrong.

Best wishes.

If this is what you are buying, you only have to be sure that your headstock mount is centered over the center of your power wrapper to be in line with your rod rests and the centerline of a straight rod chucked into the chuck needs to be exactly parallel with the centerline of your power wrapper.
[getbitoutdoors.com]

Best wishes.

Tyler,
Everything Roger mentioned is (as usual) correct.
Allow me to add:
Before removing the old tailstock, chuck-up a short (<6in) metal rod/ tube of some sort (the straighter = the better) in the upgraded headstock. Position the upgraded headstock pointing toward the old one and check the alignment to make certain both are the same height. This is not a precision metal lathe so they do not have to line-up precisely but, obviously, the closer = the better.
If you plan on doing ANY turning, purchase a matching tailstock with a live-center; it will prove to be invaluable!
Good luck! I’m sure you will love it. Let us know how it turns out.

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Really a great addition to your wrapper. I believe when I did it (I also have a PacBay wrapper) I had to drill two holes to mount it with 4 bolts. Bolt it down with the two that fit and make sure it is perfectly square, then mark center for the holes. Unmount the chuck and drill the new holes. When you re-mount the new chuck, leave the the bolts loose before tightening them. Make sure it is square and tighten them down all the way. You can use a lead pencil to mark the squareness at the front of the chuck on the base to use as a guide when you tighten it down. Your new set up sounds really cool.

I also have a Pac Bay power wrapper that I upgraded with the Alps chuck. It was the best investment I ever made as far as my wrapping equipment goes. It was as easy as easy can get. I didn't have to drill any extra holes and the holes in the Alps chuck lined up perfectly with the holes that were drilled for the cheap plastic Pac Bay chuck.

As far as that plastic chuck goes, I understand wanting to keep cost to the consumer down, but man that thing was lacking in so many ways when compared to the Alps chuck.

You are going to love the Alps chuck.

Thank you all for your feedback! Sounds like a straightforward upgrade. Planning on stopping by Get Bit and picking up the Alps chuck this Monday or Tuesday. And I should have my new roller stands and thread carriage early this coming week.

And thank you Mark for the tip about using a straight piece of metal rod to check the alignment between old and new. And I don't plan on using it for any turning as I had a friend of mine help me make a cork lathe with an old corded drill that I bring outside to turn cork and eva.

And yes I'm planning on buying the whole assembly like the one Roger posted the link to.