First off, looks to be a fairly well done variable speed DC motor conversion. Measure the distance from the center of the chuck to the column. Maybe 10"? X2 would make it a 20" swing drill press. Need to know to source parts from a comparable machine. the "ladder" is actually a rack gear. Yours looks like it could be taken off and carefully straightened. Note the tapered ends, they are designed to fit into a matching taper cut into the upper and lower collars. This allows the rack to slide around the column as the table is swiveled, but not to move away from the column and get bent like yours. Should be fairly simple to fab a crank handle for the table raiser, or perhaps source one from grizzly or HF. Worst case, could hire a member to fab one up.
HTH, Jim
I believe you are correct on the variable speed. I opened the box up and it was a mess (figuratively speaking. it was actually organized) of wires and circuit boards. Also, when you turn the knob, the speed of the drill changes. Not very smoothly though, it pulses then stables out. Is this a nice upgrade to this drill? Is it just an easier way to change speeds without changing belts? It also added a reverse to the drill, which i could see being very useful.
I will not be around the press until tomorrow, but I will measure it then. Hopefully that will help. Is there any other information I could find out to make things easier?
Unfortunately, the rack gear is broken. One end and taper have broken off. However, I think I can source rack from McMaster-Carr. I just need to figure out the pitch and such. I will also easily be able to fabricate a crank handle.
I plan on replacing the spindle and quill bearings if I can find the correct size. I also plan on disassembling it and thoroughly cleaning as much of it as I can.
