Craftsman Drill Press "Interchange"

[JG Owens]

When I restored my 69' Barracuda, there was a book called the "Interchange Guide' that listed all of the parts from other Mopars that could be used on a particular model. I picked up this drill press on Saturday and it's missing the pinion cover and the pinion is not retracting the quill. I'm guessing the spring was meant to help but it doesn't. This model is made by Central Specialty, a division of King-Seely who made the next generation as well. My question is, are there interchangeable parts between the generations from the same era? Such as between the 103.0305 and the 103.23640 as pictured?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Frank Lee is going to be the go-to guy on the answer to your question but I'm going to guess the later KS presses aren't interchangeable with the Mohawks. I have a Mohawk but none of the later models. You're correct that the spring housing knob is critical in retracting the quill. It "catches" the spring coil and allows you to wind it up. Your best bet is probably (unfortunately) eBay for the part.

 

[Rileysan]

There's a thread in the general tool forum (should be in vintage tools, imo) that covers these quite thoroughly. If you can't find what you're looking for, ask in that thread. Good luck!

Brian

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227480

 

[JG Owens]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it!

 

[FrankLee]

That early K-S machine used a flat clock-style spring. The later K-S machines had a torsion coil spring. The pinion shafts are very different to utilize each spring.

Spring assemblies from earlier Atlas-made machines resemble that K-S design. There’s a slim possibility that they could work. I have an Atlas head casting and will take measurements shortly.

EDIT: My casting is for the ratcheting spring housing so it doesn't apply. Here is a link that shows the spring housing to which I was referring:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8357923

I don't have any measurements, but someone should be able to take them.

 

[JG Owens]

Thank you Frank, I appreciate the reply.

 

[JG Owens]

In most cases with the 'Mohawk', will the entire spring assembly need to be replaced or is the problem with the missing spring housing knob?

Thanks

 

[JoCoSawdust]

If the spring is in good shape (not snapped off on the end or deformed), all you should need is the knob. If you find somebody parting a machine out, they'll more than likely be selling the spring and knob together and that's fine. If you go on YouTube, it's full of videos showing how that style of spring/housing assembly works. Brand doesn't really matter, the concept is the same. Your battle is that while the Mohawks certainly aren't "rare", they did have a fairly short marketing life. They only appeared in the catalog for two years. To see a Mohawk for sale isn't unusual. I don't see as many of them being parted out as I do the later KS machines.

 

[JG Owens]

The Mohawk is at the back of the line for attention and probably won't see any restoration for about a year. This gives me time to familiarize myself with it and its parts. Thanks again for all of the good info.