Modifying/Upgrading a 1955 Greenie

[JPG]

The earliest greenies had: Sand cast "A" headstock, No access hole, Slip clutch, no oil holes.

I have seen the oil holes both on top of the keyway and on the opposite side.

I like the keyway location better.

Looks like you are 'on top of things'!

[Culprit]

getnby41 and JPG, thanks for the feedback on the oil hole locations and the pictures. Can somebody measure the diameter for me please? I know it's not a critical dimension, but I'll sleep better at night knowing that I drilled the right size holes.

As I mentioned in my other thread with the details of reversing the motor, I installed the reversing switch in the headstock, wired up the motor and the switches, and installed a new power cord. The old power cord was 16 gauge, and I thought that was on the small side, even for my old 3/4th HP motor. I also used a strain relief clamp. A countersink bit enlarged the power cord hole in the motor pan, and a Dremel finished it up nicely for the strain relief clamp.

My casters arrived in the mail, so I can now take this show on the road. That makes life much easier working in my half of our two car garage - the half that the Mk 5 has to share with the '76 Ironhead and the 1924 hit and miss engine. My wife uses her half of the garage for the minivan. How boring. Sometimes I feel my garage is one of those puzzles with one piece missing - I have to move 5 other pieces to get to the one I want.

My lesson learned this week is that life is too short for crappy drills. I'm embarrassed to tell you all how long it took to drill the hole in the headstock to mount the reversing switch. The proper size for that toggle switch was a 64ths drill - not a size that I had a good quality drill for. But buried in the bottom of my drill drawer was a large set of cheap drills that I probably bought at a gun show 10 years ago thinking that this would fill in all the sizes I didn't have. I was right, it did. But the lousy drill wouldn't even cut the aluminum headstock right out of the box. It cut enough to make a dimple in the headstock, but once the dimple reached the full diameter of the drill, that was it - no more chips or shavings. Nothing. I've never had to sharpen a bit just to get through a 1/4 inch of aluminum! With a brand new drill, no less. Like I said, that was my lesson for the week.

[judaspre1982]

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[JPG]

Hi Culprit

When you were drilling the aluminum, were you using a slow cutting speed on the drill?
I find in most cases, the bit cuts better at slow speeds.It doesn't take much to heat up the bit and halt the cutting process.
Also , I like to use cutting oil on harder metals. Makes a world of difference.

Dave

And........ drilling progressively larger holes up to the final size helps. Greatly reduces the amount of material removed with each bit, and concentrates the cutting away from the center.

I would not attempt a 15/32 hole with only a small pilot hole. I would need a large drill PRESS do do so! Good clamps also!;)

[Culprit]

Yes, I was trying to go slow, but with a handheld drill, there were a few times I was a little heavy on the trigger. I used a few squirts of oil now and then to keep it cooler.

I should have tried a larger pilot hole than the one I used. I don't remember the size, but it could have been stepped up larger.

[JPG]

Yes, I was trying to go slow, but with a handheld drill, there were a few times I was a little heavy on the trigger. I used a few squirts of oil now and then to keep it cooler.

I should have tried a larger pilot hole than the one I used. I don't remember the size, but it could have been stepped up larger.

Key word in earlier post....Progressively. Reduces chatter and makes rounder holes!
















Means drilling several holes of increasing size.

[robinson46176]

On such holes I am prone to drill it out in a couple of steps and finish the last diameter using a tapered reamer either by hand or in a bit brace. That way I can "sneak up on it".


.

[judaspre1982]

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[fiatben]

Like Judaspre1982, I like a step bit for metal
[ATTACH]15846[/ATTACH]
Had to ruin several other bits before I discovered these. And for what they will do, they are cheap (like $8 cheap for 6-8 hole sizes)

[Culprit]

I've seen those step bits for years and never gave them a second thought. I'll have to go buy one and add it to the arsenal.

I have always used a few drops of oil or WD-40 to help keep beat down, but the wax to reduce grabs sounds like a good idea. You learn something everyday.