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I have been reading every post I can find on this quill bearing issue. One comment I read said a very little play is normal. I grabbed the end of my quill (where the arbor attaches) and pulled on it (straight out). It moves about 1/16". That seems to be too much to me. I have ordered a dial indicator to measure the runout so I will know more in a few days.

awatson6 wrote:I have been reading every post I can find on this quill bearing issue. One comment I read said a very little play is normal. I grabbed the end of my quill (where the arbor attaches) and pulled on it (straight out). It moves about 1/16". That seems to be too much to me. I have ordered a dial indicator to measure the runout so I will know more in a few days.

I'm confused. Run out is wobble in the axis of rotation of the quill. The quill will move side-to-side and/or up-and-down within its bore. Run out is not a linear in-out motion. In fact, when you say you pulled the quill "straight out" do you literally mean you pulled the quill in the direction it would extend if you were using it in horizontal boring/drilling mode? If that's what you experienced I don't think you were experiencing run out in the bearing(s) at all. The quill is designed to extend for horizontal boring/drilling. If the quill was fully locked when you did this test, the quill lock may be worn. If the quill wasn't locked, I'd guess you were feeling backlash between the gears of the rack and pinion that extends the quill.

Al

Excellent point. My inexperience is showing. This is what I am trying to sort out. Yes, I did pull the quill shaft straight out horizontally. The quill was fully locked. I went back and extracted the quill from the machine and (while holding the quill in my hands) I could still pull the shaft horizontally and get 1/16" play. Does this eliminate the quill lock and the backlash between the gears of the rack and pinion issues?

awatson6 wrote:Excellent point. This is what I am trying to sort out. Yes, I see the difference and back lash is probably my problem. How do I proceed to address this issue.

I don't think you have an issue unless you are getting in/out movement with the quill locked locked down. If you are able to pull the quill out with the quill lock fully locked then the quilll lock likely needs attention/replacement. I've never had to work on mine, so hopefully someone else will chime in on what's involved. But first make sure you are getting in and out movement when you pull on the quill with the quill lock engaged.

Incidentally, some backlash is inherent in any rack and pinion system. I don't know what's "normal" for the Mark V quill. I suspect if there's "excessive" backlash (whatever that is) it is because there is wear/damage in the quill rack or quill feed pinion and removal and replacement is the likely repair. Again, however, I doubt you've got a problem.

EDIT: Your reply was edited while I was typing this up. I'd say if you took the quill out and still experienced this it isn't the quill lock and it isn't the rack and pinion. I'm not sure what you are experiencing at this point. Wait and someone else will chime in.

There is no way you should have 1/16" in-out movement in the spindle.

One possible reason for this is a missing retaining clip that holds the bearing in place or perhaps it is not seated in the groove in the quill housing. This is part number 64 here -- http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/part ... xpview.htm

You'll have to look behind the aluminum keeper ring part number 65.

pennview wrote:There is no way you should have 1/16" in-out movement in the spindle.

One possible reason for this is a missing retaining clip that holds the bearing in place or perhaps it is not seated in the groove in the quill housing. This is part number 64 here -- http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/headstockassemblyexpview.htm

You'll have to look behind the aluminum keeper ring part number 65.

I have no solution to offer but I did confirm that there is NO linear movement of the spindle shaft on either of my two machines.

If I had the problem, I would pull the shaft and bearings out of the quill housing for a close up look see. I have never had a quill disassembled.

The closest I have been has been via photos posted here by reible. His photos are almost like being there.

Nick discusses quill maintenance in this Sawdust Session.

There was almost 1/8" movement in my '63 when I first got it. That was the first thing that got replaced. There was some runout also, but I don't remember how much.

jimthej wrote:There was almost 1/8" movement in my '63 when I first got it. That was the first thing that got replaced. There was some runout also, but I don't remember how much.

WHAT was replaced?

Please bear with me. I am sorta new at this (as if you could not tell). I plan to take the quill to a local machine shop and ask them to press the shaft and bearing out in hopes of finding that the bearing is not seated correctly. Does that seems like a logical next step?