Help Me With My Drill Press

[hailwood1965]

I have never owned a drill press but I am going to get this one up in my garage. I have used a drill press, but never worked on one.

It turns on and it spins. Motor sounds good.

The motor and belt drive system is 100% hairball engineering. What should I do to make this operate without a block of wood as a part of the drill? How was it operated when new?

Any help or suggestions welcome.

This is the drill I purchased at the widow garage sale.

 

[lilredex]

Make the rods longer in the first photo to eliminate the block of wood. Looks like a washing machine motor and auto clutch for the drive....should be OK.

 

[RTM]

Often that rod just pushes the motor away til you have sufficient belt tension. Was it broken off, replaced? Not sure your motor is wrong, that little stubby rod isn’t going to go from changing the belt to full tension on the belt with that very little bit of throw, IMO.

Edit: yeah, as noted below, too long a belt seems more obvious. Silly me

 

[Zeus36]

That is the wrong rear belt. Use a shorter rear belt. Remove the block of wood and swing the motor to the adjustment rod. Measure the amount of space between the pulley stack and the old rear belt. Take the old belt in to an auto parts store and tell them how much shorter of a belt you need.
That motor is currently running offset and in the wrong position. Look at its location in reference to the opening in the bottom of the belt guard. The three pulley shafts should be in a straight line.

 

[kbuhagiar]

The motor mount plate is missing, it probably broke or was damaged and was removed. The wood block is acting as a lever to remove the slack from the belt.

You need to find a replacement motor plate, when installed correctly it should look something like this:

The belt tension is set via the thumbscrews mounted on either side, which allow the motor to slide in and out in relation to the drill head.

 

[MongoTA]

Agree, easiest would be to get a shorter belt. Belts look like they could be replaced. The motor plate should touch the spring bolt. My smaller drill press is very much like that. Got it out of my Dad's barn many years ago, mine is near 50 years old.

Lemme grab a photo...or three.

 

[American Locomotive]

The motor mount plate is there. Someone probably replaced the rear belt with one that was too long, so the spring-loaded tensioner dealy couldn't even touch the plate.

 

[kbuhagiar]

The motor mount plate is there. Someone probably replaced the rear belt with one that was too long, so the spring-loaded tensioner dealy couldn't even touch the plate.

I respectfully disagree.

Look at picture number two. That motor is swinging in the breeze, not even close to being centered in the belt cover opening. Then take a closer look at the plate you are referring to; that is the plate that is normally welded to any electric motor for mounting purposes. There should be second plate mechanism bolted to that motor plate that provides the means to adjust the motor in or out.

Also, that twine tied to the motor plate appears to have been used to keep the motor in place, but I can't see what it's currently anchored to.

 

[GeoBruin]

I respectfully disagree.

Look at picture number two. That motor is swinging in the breeze, not even close to being centered in the belt cover opening. Then take a closer look at the plate you are referring to; that is the plate that is normally welded to any electric motor for mounting purposes. There should be second plate mechanism bolted to that motor plate that provides the means to adjust the motor in or out.

Also, that twine tied to the motor plate appears to have been used to keep the motor in place, but I can't see what it's currently anchored to.

I think American Loco is right. The motor plate is there, you just can't see it because the mounting plate on the DP is larger and is in the foreground. You can see a bolt though both plates, presumably holding the motor to the plate on the DP. It's a simple matter of a too long belt. With the right size belt, the motor swings back toward the press, centering the pulley and allowing it to be captured by the adjusting bolt.

 

[The Cobbler]

there's definitely something funky going on with that motor mount. the motor should be more centered in the opening . it appears the motor plate is swinging on a hinge to tighten the belt rather than being pushed out on both sides to keep it centered .
show us some pics of the other side of the press

 

[The Cobbler]

your motor mount should look something like this

 

[GeoBruin]

there's definitely something funky going on with that motor mount. the motor should be more centered in the opening . it appears the motor plate is swinging on a hinge to tighten the belt rather than being pushed out on both sides to keep it centered .
show us some pics of the other side of the press

I think you are right on the hinge, but that's not so uncommon.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^ could be, then I would agree the belt is too long.

 

[whateg01]

Often that rod just pushes the motor away til you have sufficient belt tension. Was it broken off, replaced? Not sure your motor is wrong, that little stubby rod isn’t going to go from changing the belt to full tension on the belt with that very little bit of throw, IMO.

Edit: yeah, as noted below, too long a belt seems more obvious. Silly me

That block of wood is easier to tension the belt with than the original jack screw. And here, imo, than the sliding rods that many have. The sliding rods never want to slide as easily as they should. I wish they would have stuck with the pivoting motor mount.

As others have said the belt is probably too long. But the threads on that jack screw look messed up too. That's probably another part of the reason for the block of wood. They probably couldn't get the screw to move easily.

 

[whateg01]

your motor mount should look something like this

Incorrect. This motor mount doesn't slide. It swings.

 

[American Locomotive]

I respectfully disagree.

Look at picture number two. That motor is swinging in the breeze, not even close to being centered in the belt cover opening. Then take a closer look at the plate you are referring to; that is the plate that is normally welded to any electric motor for mounting purposes. There should be second plate mechanism bolted to that motor plate that provides the means to adjust the motor in or out.

Also, that twine tied to the motor plate appears to have been used to keep the motor in place, but I can't see what it's currently anchored to.

One side of the plate is hinged.

Look at the plate carefully. You can see the top of the plate is thin, and then you see the much thicker motor base bolted to it. You can also see the bolts going through the plate, into the motor base.

 

[MongoTA]

The two belts should be identical. If you want to go to a little trouble, remove both belts. Take the front belt and wrap it around the middle and rear pulleys. Your motor should be pulled inline with the other two pulleys and close to center. The motor mounting plate might even engage your tensioner as it is currently set.

Regardless...while it's a bit chewed up, measure the shorter front belt in three places:

Measure the outside width. Measure the thickness of the belt. Measure the length around the outside of the belt. You can wrap a piece of string around the belt and measure the string to get close, or if you removed the belt off the pulleys, draw a pencil line on outside of the belt and measure the length of the belt along the outside, starting and ending at the pencil line.

If it looks like at one time it might have been close to 3/8" outside width, 7/32nds" thick and 23" outside diameter, then get yourself a couple of new 3L230 belts and you'll be done with it all. Probably $5 each or two for $10 for a couple of basic FHP v-belts.

If your measurements are different go here and enter your numbers in the filter on the left.

Enjoy your new drill press!

 

[uart]

Also, that twine tied to the motor plate appears to have been used to keep the motor in place, but I can't see what it's currently anchored to

LOL, that piece of twine isn't holding anything in place, except maybe the chuck key. I'm guessing that the chuck key is just hanging off the end of it.

 

[gungatim]

I respectfully disagree.

Look at picture number two. That motor is swinging in the breeze, not even close to being centered in the belt cover opening. Then take a closer look at the plate you are referring to; that is the plate that is normally welded to any electric motor for mounting purposes. There should be second plate mechanism bolted to that motor plate that provides the means to adjust the motor in or out.

Also, that twine tied to the motor plate appears to have been used to keep the motor in place, but I can't see what it's currently anchored to.

the plate is there, what do you think the motor is bolted to? you can clearly see the bolts from the motor mount plate to the motors mounting plate.

 

[kbuhagiar]

the plate is there, what do you think the motor is bolted to? you can clearly see the bolts from the motor mount plate to the motors mounting plate

I think American Loco is right. The motor plate is there, you just can't see it because the mounting plate on the DP is larger and is in the foreground. You can see a bolt though both plates, presumably holding the motor to the plate on the DP. It's a simple matter of a too long belt. With the right size belt, the motor swings back toward the press, centering the pulley and allowing it to be captured by the adjusting bolt.

One side of the plate is hinged.

Look at the plate carefully. You can see the top of the plate is thin, and then you see the much thicker motor base bolted to it. You can also see the bolts going through the plate, into the motor base.

LOL, that piece of twine isn't holding anything in place, except maybe the chuck key. I'm guessing that the chuck key is just hanging off the end of it.

Message received, lol! Mea culpa.

After reviewing the picture on a higher resolution display I take back my previous comments.
I was not aware of the hinge-style belt tension system, I've never seen it before.
Also, that's good news for the OP as it should make for an easier fix (new belt).

I hereby resolve to only comment on GJ when using my desktop PC with 32-inch monitor.

 

[RTM]

.

I hereby resolve to only comment on GJ when using my desktop PC with 32-inch monitor.

Yeah, am guilty of looking and leaping to faulty conclusions while on my phone, then regretting that later. Occasionally I catch it before others do...

 

[hailwood1965]

Thanks much to everyone who contributed. I'm going in on the drill this weekend and have all your responses printed out.