reconditioning an old craftsman drill. spline puleys

timos-

timos-

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
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I am considering taking home a benchtop drill press from work. They are tossing it b/c the spline pulley is stripped. Looks like the spline was replaced about 19 years ago but the service is not offered anymore so ...I can take it home:) But can I fix it? I am not coming up with much on google for spline pulleys.
It is a craftsman 100 I think. Very nice machine except for the pulley problem. Anyone here with experience with these?
 
timos- said:
I am considering taking home a benchtop drill press from work. They are tossing it b/c the spline pulley is stripped. Looks like the spline was replaced about 19 years ago but the service is not offered anymore so ...I can take it home:) But can I fix it? I am not coming up with much on google for spline pulleys.
It is a craftsman 100 I think. Very nice machine except for the pulley problem. Anyone here with experience with these?
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Hey Tim,
I've done a few of the old Craftsman presses. You can find parts on ebay, or just hit up Craigslist and get another one.
Hard to believe the pulley is stripped. I don't know what it would take for that to happen. Can you post some pics of the issue?

I might have some parts laying around, I'd have to look. Maybe even some nice new bearings.

Craftsman150Finished1.jpg
 
It is a 150 model actually. It looks like who ever fixed it did not actually use a spline pulley, it looks like a straight bore.. . I can wiggle the pulley, there is a TON of play. No visible set screws either. Im not sure how it is being held on...maybe a retention ring at the bottom.
 
timos- said:
It is a 150 model actually. It looks like who ever fixed it did not actually use a spline pulley, it looks like a straight bore.. . I can wiggle the pulley, there is a TON of play. No visible set screws either. Im not sure how it is being held on...maybe a retention ring at the bottom.
Click to expand...

http://www.hammerwall.com/download_manual/19382/

It appears there is a snap ring in the bottom. Is it the pulley bore/shaft that has slop, or the bearing? Either way, it can likely be fixed, I'd snag it.
I actually found an old Craftsman 150 benchtop model where I work a while back. I brought it home, but haven't done much with it yet. There's no power switch, but I think I'll just get a foot pedal for it anyway.

Good luck with the repair!
 
I can't help you with fixing the drill press, but I have a craftsman drill press that is over 60 years old and it is much much better than anything you can buy today. I have three more modern drill presses and they are cheap compared to the old Craftsman.
So, if you can get it fixed you should have a fine piece of machinery.
 
I think it is the garage journal forum that goes into many rebuilds of this classic press in good detail. :)
 
I have used a standard single groove cast iron pulley and bored it out a bit until it was a tight fit on the splined shaft. They have a set screw, and you can drill and tap it for a second one. Switch the motor to 3Phase and a VFD.

Check the quill for slop and runout. Replace the bearings if needed.
 
They also have a 3rd pulley you can add called a slow speed pulley. It's quite pricey on ebay though. If you can make your own...
 
Brock47 said:
They also have a 3rd pulley you can add called a slow speed pulley. It's quite pricey on ebay though. If you can make your own...
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There's at least one or two threads on the Garage Journal boards and elsewhere that show some "home brew" methods that are pretty straight forward. Really, you're just adding a small jackshaft and an additional step pulley, though if I'm not mistaken, the original speed changer has eccentric bushings to tension the belts. If you could find the same step pulley diameters as the drive and spindle pulleys, this really shouldn't be a problem with a link belt.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
There's at least one or two threads on the Garage Journal boards and elsewhere that show some "home brew" methods that are pretty straight forward. Really, you're just adding a small jackshaft and an additional step pulley, though if I'm not mistaken, the original speed changer has eccentric bushings to tension the belts. If you could find the same step pulley diameters as the drive and spindle pulleys, this really shouldn't be a problem with a link belt.
Click to expand...

It would probably work out. They are nice presses if you make sure your bearings are good. I must have bought/sold 6 of these things a couple years ago and restored two of them. It was a lot of work but fun.
But when I got my mini mill I didn't really need it anymore.
 
I will most definitely snag this drill press then. It may be awhile before I get a mini mill. Thanks for the input guys and I had never heard of garage journal before.

Brock your presses look great, i may contact you soon for some advice/ tips if you dont mind :)
 
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timos- said:
I will most definitely snag this drill press then. It may be awhile before I get a mini mill. Thanks for the input guys and I had never heard of garage journal before.

Brock your presses look great, i may contact you soon for some advice/ tips if you dont mind :)
Click to expand...

Absolutely
 
This pully still attached by a snap ring but otherwise just wiggles all around that spline
aBCcJq9.jpg
 
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