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Craftsman Drill Press Information Belts, Bearings, Chucks, Keys, etc…1946-1984

Placeholder17

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Hello all, I am cleaning up a vari-slo attachment and found that the interior bore of both variable pulleys was packed full of grease. However, as all pulley bearings were double-sided shielded, I don't know what purpose this grease served.
  1. What is the point of packing the vari-slo pulley bores with grease?
  2. Do you oil the external face of the bronze shaft/bore in the center of the pulleys on which the variable step slides up and down?
 
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jd5000

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Hello all, I am cleaning up a vari-slo attachment and found that the interior bore of both variable pulleys was packed full of grease. However, as all pulley bearings were double-sided shielded, I don't know what purpose this grease served.
  1. What is the point of packing the vari-slo pulley bores with grease?
  2. Do you oil the external face of the bronze shaft/bore in the center of the pulleys on which the variable step slides up and down?
Mine was packed full of grease, too when I restored it https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...nformation-thread.484456/page-9#post-11281238

I ended up cleaning it out during the restore, but didn't see the point of it. Still, I put a light coating of Super Lube in it just in case, before assembling it.

I'd be interested in hearing what others think of why the grease was in there, though.
 

FrankLee

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It’s been a long time, but iirc, there is a small hole in the wall of the inner cylinder. It allows lubrication to reach the sliding sleeve with the middle sheave.
 

FrankLee

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Mine was packed full of grease, too when I restored it https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...nformation-thread.484456/page-9#post-11281238

I ended up cleaning it out during the restore, but didn't see the point of it. Still, I put a light coating of Super Lube in it just in case, before assembling it.

I'd be interested in hearing what others think of why the grease was in there, though.
It’s been a long time, but iirc, there is a small hole in the wall of the inner cylinder. It allows lubrication to reach the sliding sleeve with the middle sheave.
Here's a link to another site with photos.
 

Placeholder17

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Thanks for the info. On both pulleys, the variable sheave slid up and down fine while I had the pulley submerged in acetone for grease removal, but afterwards they froze up again. I presume this is dried grease between the shaft and sheave bore that I can't access.

I removed the set screws holding the fixed end sheaves in place, but they are extremely tight on the bronze shafts and I don't want to go banging away with a hammer when all metal involved (bronze and aluminum) is soft. Has anyone else separated the sheaves before, and how?
 

Placeholder17

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A minor note for posterity...I wasn't comfortable disassembling the pulleys per the post #439 link above as I have a small vise with minimal clearance below the jaws.

I lubed the outer face of the bronze shafts with SAE 10 compressor oil and forced the variable sheave to each end with a lot of finger pressure, and once the sheave bore had fully passed over the oil both ways, it immediately went back to sliding over the whole range of travel without effort.

I am curious though...I found the hole in the inner bore of the bronze shafts and it looked about 1/16" diameter...quite tiny. I would think the grease would clog it. What grease have you guys used to fill the pulleys?
 

DDOPWD23

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Glen Rock, NJ
I bought this bench top about a year ago to take some parts from it. When I saw it in person I knew I couldn’t do that to a survivor like this. The owner who originally bought it passed away and his shop was being sold since no one wanted it.

I picked it up for $75 and put it under my work bench. I recently pulled it out just to clean it up before I get ready to move. It’s amazing what a simple cleaning will do. The original paint is in pretty good shape along with everything else.

The motor tag is really the only thing that got some weird tarnish on it that I can’t seem to get off. When it’s wet by a cleaning agent it seems to go away. Then after a few minutes it comes back.

All it all not bad just to leave it as is, I’m sure I will clean the column up a little bit and the spindle pulley bearings are grinding for sure but it does run smooth that is for sure.
 

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jd5000

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It’s been a long time, but iirc, there is a small hole in the wall of the inner cylinder. It allows lubrication to reach the sliding sleeve with the middle sheave.
That's a tiny hole, I wonder if it would actually work? I'm thinking a small, directed squirt of Super Super Slick Stuff once every few years would be a lot easier and more effective. Thoughts?
 
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drs3317

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Jan 31, 2016
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Western Maryland
Hello all,
My neighbor thought he was buying a nice older 103 drill press and over paid. It has several issues and he asked me to help him with it. It was missing a couple parts, one feed handle and knob, the head stock lock handle, and the chuck key. I have to dig around my stock but I think I have each of these. However, the worse is head stock spindle pulley. Somehow it got broke in a couple places so will need a new one. The bearings are really rough so I'm thinking maybe someone tried to use a puller to remove it. I do have new bearings in the shop but does anyone have an extra pulley they are willing to sell? Since we are this far apart I told him I would do a complete rebuild for him since he has always helped us in the past watching our place and feeding our dog when we are away.
Thanks, Danny
 

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FrankLee

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Hello all,
My neighbor thought he was buying a nice older 103 drill press and over paid. It has several issues and he asked me to help him with it. It was missing a couple parts, one feed handle and knob, the head stock lock handle, and the chuck key. I have to dig around my stock but I think I have each of these. However, the worse is head stock spindle pulley. Somehow it got broke in a couple places so will need a new one. The bearings are really rough so I'm thinking maybe someone tried to use a puller to remove it. I do have new bearings in the shop but does anyone have an extra pulley they are willing to sell? Since we are this far apart I told him I would do a complete rebuild for him since he has always helped us in the past watching our place and feeding our dog when we are away.
Thanks, Danny
I've got a spindle pulley here: (post #18)

Send a pm.

What is the model number? Any more pictures?
 
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exmaxima1

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Jun 25, 2011
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Midwest
I picked up a Craftsman 150 drill press and the depth gauge looks different from anyone I’ve seen before. From the motor I believe it was made in Nov 1962. The model number on the base—-103— indicates it is King-Seeley.

Has anyone else seen a depth stop like this?
 

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FrankLee

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I picked up a Craftsman 150 drill press and the depth gauge looks different from anyone I’ve seen before. From the motor I believe it was made in Nov 1962. The model number on the base—-103— indicates it is King-Seeley.

Has anyone else seen a depth stop like this?
The oe feed stop assembly on a 150 consists of three components; the bracket, the rod and the stop.

That assembly has only one original part; the rod. The rod is acme threaded 5/8-12.

You have two feed stop knurled nuts. The original part should be a rapid-adjust collar.
1778107492298.jpeg

That feed stop bracket was originally a mortising frame that was cut down.
1778108746449.png
 
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Gap0891

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Jun 7, 2026
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2
Craftsman 113.24590 80s I'm guessing? Can someone point me to a youtube video or thread here that tells me how to remove the two bearings inside the head for the front pulley? I've looked high and wide. Do these come our from the bottom up? Are people just putting the head on a press and pressing them out? Right now, I have a large thick wooden dowel to stick in from the bottom and bang it upwards with a mallet. I do see there's a locking clip on the bottom when I shine a light in there. Assuming that would have to go on first then the bearing, so that's why I'm thinking from the bottom up. This is my first drill press that I'm restoring and I don't want to booger it up. It looks like there's some sort of roll pin from the side of the head somewhat aligned with the sleeve that sits in there. Do I have to do anything with this?

Many, many, thanks. Also, this forum has been super helpful! Just made my account the other day when I realized I couldn't find the answer to my question.
 
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11b30b4

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Jul 16, 2020
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Location
GA
Sorry to get back to you so late. here is the link for your owners manual.
vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/4824.pdf
As for removing the spindle pulley assembly, this video shows it at 7:04
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" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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