I'm in the same situation... I was given a friend's grandmother's DLC-7. The sheath is broken, but I have the pieces and also a newly purchased sheath.
It looks like the sheath should just slide on. The metal of the sheath base isn't the same metal as the shaft. Do you think heating the old sheath would work? Would the sheath expand more/faster/differently than the shaft (and pop loose)? Is getting something hot to assemble it standard manufacturing practice?
I'm just guessing here, and I don't have the tools to try it, but I'm imagining putting an insulating cover over the motor base - leaving just the sheath exposed - and heating it with a heat gun. Perhaps the sheath could then be pulled off with pliers while it's still hot. ????
If you figure anything out, please be sure to post back here. Thanks.
Do, January 2010
