Abstract: A method of reducing the formation of burrs during machining of turbine bucket covers of a turbine assembly includes the steps of inserting a filler material in a gap formed between adjacent bucket covers of a turbine assembly, machining the bucket covers to produce a desired profile for the bucket covers, and removing the filler material.

Abstract: An assembly jig is provided for pre-twisting or rotating the closure blade prior to driving the closure blade into the notch opening at the completion of bucket assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly jig is composed of three clamp assemblies, each mounted to the integral cover of the circumferentially adjacent buckets of the notch group. Each clamp assembly includes first and second axially aligned clamp brackets that are clamped the respective integral cover. The closure blade is pre-twisted or rotated by adjusting the gaps between the adjacent clamp brackets and hence the gaps between the axial ends of the closure blade cover and the axial ends of the adjacent auxiliary bucket cover(s) respectively clamped thereto. The force necessary to rotate the closure blade cover may be generated with jacking bolts that extend generally tangentially of the row of buckets, between the adjacent clamp brackets.