Drill Press Quill Retract ?

[TooTall]

Hi,

New to the forum and new to me . . . a sweet Shopsmith 10 E.

I'm wondering if there was ever a return spring like on a conventional drill press, that pulls the quill back up into the headstock.

Thanks,
T

[ERLover]

I am not 100% sure about all models/versions of the 10, but my 3 do. Yours maybe broken or needs to be wound tighter.

[jsburger]

Hi,

New to the forum and new to me . . . a sweet Shopsmith 10 E.

I'm wondering if there was ever a return spring like on a conventional drill press, that pulls the quill back up into the headstock.

Thanks,
T

Yes, it should have a spring. The spring is inside a housing on the quill feed pinion shaft on the side of the head stock with the logo. The inner end of the spring has either become disconnected from the shaft or the end is broken off. Either case it is fixable. You need to remove the quill and then remove the pinion shaft to determine the problem.

[TooTall]

Right on, thanks folks.

I said to someone last night that there was probably a coil spring behind that cover.

How easy is it to pull the quill?

Thanks,
Terry

P.S.
I was worried about some bearing rattle so yesterday I tried various ways of pressure feeding bearing grease up against the bearings and I quieted it down significantly.

Then, stupid me, I retract the quill which had been fully extended that entire time— which wouldn't have been that way with an intact return spring — and the shaft and bearings went whisper quiet, even using my mechanics stethoscope at the bearing housings, not a sound. Whew!

[jsburger]

Right on, thanks folks.

I said to someone last night that there was probably a coil spring behind that cover.

How easy is it to pull the quill?

Thanks,
Terry

P.S.
I was worried about some bearing rattle so yesterday I tried various ways of pressure feeding bearing grease up against the bearings and I quieted it down significantly.

Then, stupid me, I retract the quill which had been fully extended that entire time— which wouldn't have been that way with an intact return spring — and the shaft and bearings went whisper quiet, even using my mechanics stethoscope at the bearing housings, not a sound. Whew!

Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds.

[TooTall]

You wrote,

"Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds."

I need to see how the spring is attached and what it looks like in order to understand what you said.
Any chance of a photo or photos?

For example: when you say, "don't let go of the handle" do you mean keep the handle in one position, or just hold it and go around with it while the handle slowly revolves as the quill is extending (if attached, that is) ?

Thanks; appreciate the stellar help!
Terry

[rpd]

You wrote,

"Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds."

I need to see how the spring is attached and what it looks like in order to understand what you said.
Any chance of a photo or photos?

For example: when you say, "don't let go of the handle" do you mean keep the handle in one position, or just hold it and go around with it while the handle slowly revolves as the quill is extending (if attached, that is) ?

Thanks; appreciate the stellar help!
Terry

This thread has pictures. http://shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maintenan ... 14335.html
If the spring is engaged and you remove the quill, letting go of the handle instead of slowly turning it back will result in it snapping back and probably damaging the spring or having it disengage from the pin. It is also painful if it hits you hand.

[jsburger]

You wrote,

"Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds."

1. I need to see how the spring is attached and what it looks like in order to understand what you said.
Any chance of a photo or photos?

2. For example: when you say, "don't let go of the handle" do you mean keep the handle in one position, or just hold it and go around with it while the handle slowly revolves as the quill is extending (if attached, that is) ?

Thanks; appreciate the stellar help!
Terry

1. The pinion shaft has a round headed pin in it. The end of the spring has a key hole shaped slot in it.

2. Once you wind up the handle to extend the quill and free the quill from the pinion gear and pull it out the spring is wound up tight. If you just release the handle at that point the pinion shaft will free wheel and when it unwinds all the way the spring may detach from the pin. So just hold it and go around with it until the spring is relaxed.

[rpd]

Oh, and welcome to the forum, and congratulations on acquiring a 10ER.

[TooTall]

RPD,

Thanks.
It is actually a 10 E rather than a 10 ER/

I see you're in Victoria!
I'm on Salt Spring and the Shopsmith was here on the island. Got it from an 85 year old classical guitar maker. His guitars sell for $ 3000. and up and he used a super thin saw blade and the Shopsmith to cut his fret wire slots to perfection.

And yet I hear people put down the table saw attachment as though it's not a serious tool.

Cheers,
terry