Help with Bridgeport

[Skyking1992]

I have a crew coming tomorrow to move a bridgeport mill from my folks house to my garage. I want to rotate the head to lower the center of gravity. How do I do that? I seem to remember one bolt is a clamp or lock, and another rotates the head. It's been a long time since I've done anything with this mill.

The background is that my Dad bought this mill new for his small machine shop. Several years ago, he sold the property and moved to a smaller house in the city. Most of the machines were stuffed into half of a two car garage. He is now 99 years old and in good physical shape, but has lost much of his mental capacity. I'm sure he would have no idea how to operate any of the equipment. I remember him saying not to ever get rid of the machines. He said "you'll spend the money and the machines will be gone. Take care of them and they'll outlive you." So my mother wants some more space in the garage and wants the machines gone. In addition to the mill is a south bend lathe, doall band saw, delta drill press, grinder, belt sander, etc. I was turning cranks on the mill and lathe when I was pretty young, but I regret that I didn't learn as much as I could have from my Dad as far as being a machinist. I've taken a lathe class at the local community college and will do the same for the mill. And I know you guys are always here to help!

Thanks,
Skyking

 

[Duck]

Skyking, there's four 3/4" nuts on the face of the mill head.
Loosen those, then snug them back up barely.
There's a worm screw on the right side of the mill head, just behind the quill lever. It's also 3/4".
Turning this worm screw will rotate the head right or left.
The head has some weight to it, and gravity comes into play too.
That's the reason for having a little drag on the four face nuts.
Note: the worm screw you want to turn is on an angle. The straight up and down worm screw that's in the same vicinity will nod the head forward and back.
Hope I didn't confuse you too much.
Duck

 

[Skyking1992]

Thanks for the help Duck,

I just googled a manual with pictures, so what you say makes sense. I'll give it a try first thing in the morning.

Skyking

 

[fatboy99]

Also take 2 4x4,s stacked up under the knee and lower it down on them with slight pressure to keep the screw from getting damaged. The company I bought my mill from repaired them and they did this for me when I picked it up. Thay was the reason they gave me for doing it.

 

[lametec]

Personally I don't rotate the head. Rotating the head lets oil and grease run "up" (which is now down), and get in places (brake, belts) it shouldn't be.

I just lower the knee all the way and go at it.