Is the quill spring essential?

[Anomalocaris]

I have finished tearing down my second hand ShopSmith mark v and am starting to put her back together. Most everything is in good condition best I can tell. One glitch is the quill spring broke on me while taking the quill out. I disassembled it enough to peak inside and confirm the quill spring sheared right in front of the hole you loop over the washer, so there is no way really to reattach it. My question is can I just get away without it for now and replace it later. I am anxious to get the thing running again and don't really need the auto retraction for the drill press if that is all it does.

[algale]

I do believe that's all it does.

I also think if you search the forum, you will find some people have successfully drilled a new hole and used a shortened spring. It's tricky but can be done.

[rpd]

Drilling new holes in the end of the spring is not that difficult. I did it on one of my 10er quill springs. http://shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewtopic ... 49#p139749
Getting the spring back in the housing and the spring end over the pin on the shaft are a bit more challenging but doable. Also be sure you wind the spring in the proper direction.
Good luck.

[dusty]

I have finished tearing down my second hand ShopSmith mark v and am starting to put her back together. Most everything is in good condition best I can tell. One glitch is the quill spring broke on me while taking the quill out. I disassembled it enough to peak inside and confirm the quill spring sheared right in front of the hole you loop over the washer, so there is no way really to reattach it. My question is can I just get away without it for now and replace it later. I am anxious to get the thing running again and don't really need the auto retraction for the drill press if that is all it does.

Lock the quill on move on until you have the time, patience and parts to do the repair.

As has already been stated - you can drill a new hole and then reinstall the spring. Good luck which ever way you decide to go (new or repaired). Be aware, the quill spring bites!!

[Anomalocaris]

Not sure why it didn't occur to me to drill a new hole. Any idea what size drill bit I should use?

[JPG]

Not sure why it didn't occur to me to drill a new hole. Any idea what size drill bit I should use?

It needs to be a key slot shaped hole. The 'hole' needs to fit over the stud on the quill shaft. The narrower slot needs to be smaller than the head, but larger than the shaft of the stud.

The stud slips into the narrow portion when tensioned(advancing quill).

The stud(actually a drive screw) is essentially non-removable(intentionally).

[rpd]

Not sure why it didn't occur to me to drill a new hole. Any idea what size drill bit I should use?

Sorry, it has been several years and I don't recall sizes.
You need to drill two holes, over lapping to make a keyhole shape. The larger one big enough to accommodate the head of the rivet, the smaller one the size of the shaft of the rivet. If there are small points at the waist where the two holes meet, that is ok as it helps retain the spring on the rivet when installed.

ps Do you live near the Burgess Shale.