Problem with my Delta Drill press

[metalhead212121]

I can't get the chuck to spin freely.

Quick back story... I bought it used off craigslist. When I first bought it I had minor trouble getting the chuck to spin freely. I was using it tonight and now it was really tight. I squirted some oil where the chuck spins hoping to free it up a bit. I ran the chuck back and forth a million times and it seemed to be working but NOW it REALLY doesnt wanna spin.

How screwed am I? Is replacing a chuck expensive to replace? Should I just throw the drill press in the scrap pile?

Just for STUPIDITY I'll post a picture of what Im having trouble turning..... (Not sure if Im using the right terminology)

 

[Outlawmws]

Lets get this straight. The part you re having trouble with is the chuck where it tightens on the drill bit, or the spindle (the shaft the chuck is attached ot) and up inside the quill assembly?

 

[metalhead212121]

I can't put a drill bit in the drill press and tighten the chuck. When I use the key to tighen or lossen the chuck I gotta use A LOT of force. When I would hit a "tight" spot I'd use a wrench on the key to help me work it back and forth. Im sure that's not exactly the smartest thing in the world to do.... I'm just frustrated with it...

Thanks for the quick response.

 

[Outlawmws]

The chuck can be pressed apart and completely disassembled. It sounds like something in is gumming up the threads, so I'd probably start with something like MEK inside and soak it some before and see if that frees it up.

 

[metalhead212121]

OK... I'll hit up Lowes or Home Depot tomorrow and see if they carry MEK.

Stupid Question.... Can I cut the top half a plastic bottle off and fill it with MEK and have the have the chuck sit in MEK for a day or two or should I be looking at taking the chuck off the drill press???

Im completely clueless as to how to fix this. Ive never taken apart a drill press before.

 

[Outlawmws]

MEK evaporates VERY fast (and is flammable so be careful)

A small container should work fine, But the kind of plastic that is needed is like LDPE, which isn't commonly found in households. (MEK is commonly used as a solvent for plastics,and will eat most paints like candy...)

Maybe a small glass jar (small jam jar?) and stuff the top with paper towel or something (not plastic) to reduce evaporation.

 

[metalhead212121]

OK.. thanks for the heads up! I'll report back in a day or two.. thanks again for all your help!

 

[larry_g]

I'm not seeing enough of the chuck/spindle interface in your picture to see if it has a ring for wedging the chuck off the spindle. Common to a lot of drill presses is a JT 33 taper on the spindle and the chuck will wedge off fairly easily. Search out Jacobs chuck rebuild on the net and you will see what needs to be done. MSC catalogue has some information
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=1686&PMITEM=08590077&PMCTLG=00

good luck.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rsanter]

If it's that hard to turn and you have already oiled it I suspect that chuck has debris or shavings in it.
Personally I would look at replacing it, I bet it will be $50 or less for a decent chuck

Bob

 

[lilredex]

Have had similar problems with newer DP's and just changed the chucks to inexpensive keyless types. No problems since. These guys bite on rather tightly and I keep a rubber strap type wrench close by, to bump release them. Got these for around $25 ea.

 

[rsanter]

Have had similar problems with newer DP's and just changed the chucks to inexpensive keyless types. No problems since. These guys bite on rather tightly and I keep a rubber strap type wrench close by, to bump release them. Got these for around $25 ea.

This

 

[Jagmandave]

I had trouble with one of mine once, turns out on some of these the chuck is held to the shaft with a screw rather than a taper, and said screw had backed out, so when the parts of the chuck would move it would lock up on the screw. Tightening the screw back up fixed it, and a little locktite on the screw meant it wouldn't come out again..

Open the jaws as wide as they'll go without forcing it and take a look up in there, if you see a screw head, that could be all it is. You might have to togihten them slightly again to move the screw.

If that's not it, it's shavings or debris caught in the works in the chuck, if you can't take it apart to clean it out I'd just replace it.

I never could get those hand tighten chucks tight enough not to spin the bit if it encountered a tough spot in the hole I was drilling, I use a keyed chuck.

 

[lilredex]

I never could get those hand tighten chucks tight enough not to spin the bit if it encountered a tough spot in the hole I was drilling, I use a keyed chuck.

Agreed, there is lots of junk out there, and then there are these.............

http://www.cdcotools.com/index.php

#25013 are the ones I have, and I would never go back to the original keyed version.

 

[metalhead212121]

Update.....

Went to Lowes and picked up MEK. It only came in one size (BIG) and was about $25. Lowes didnt have ANY chucks for sale. Went to Home Depot and they DID have chucks for sale but none of them would have worked for my drill press. Home Depot DID NOT have MEK for sale. As a last ditch effort I went to Sears... They said they sell chucks but they didnt have any in stock. I wasnt expecting Lowes, Home Depot or Sears to be able to help me. Since they are all pretty close to each other I figured it couldnt hurt to look. Right now I have the chuck soaking in MEK with a rag on top of it. We'll see what happens.

I do think I should just break down and just buy another chuck. I'm just clueless as to what kinda chuck I should get. Thats why I was hoping I could physically see one while I was at Lowes, Home Depot and Sears. I did see the link lilredex posted.... Im wondering how how the quality of the stuff is. Just seems the prices are REALLY low.

I was able to take my drill press apart and pry the chuck off with some (but not much) difficulty.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[FJRick]

How screwed am I? Is replacing a chuck expensive to replace? Should I just throw the drill press in the scrap pile?

Umm, Yeah I think you should just throw it in the scrap pile, just tell me where that scrap pile is before you do it!

To remove the chuck from your drill press you just use a drift key to knock the chuck out. If you lower the quill of the drill press a couple inches you'll see a slot through it and the top of the chuck shaft inside the slot. put the drift key in the slot and give it a tap with a hammer to knock the chuck out, put your hand under it to catch the chuck before you tap the drift key.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Search for a thread about rebuilding chucks. Bull did it. I did too and only used a block of wood w/ a hole and a brass punch. Real easy to do. I guarantee the cjuck you find for $50 or less will be junk compared to what's on there now. Good chucks are not cheap.

Here's a link to doing it.

http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/Default.aspx?Page=JacobsChuckRebuild&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

 

[metalhead212121]

I was able to get the chuck off the drill press.... its beat. Now it basically doesn't wanna turn at all. Maybe I'll keep it as a paperweight. I dont think its even worth it to try to take it apart. Thanks for the link Rory. Can anybody recommend a place to buy another chuck online?? Like I said before Lowes, Home Depot and sears couldnt help me.

 

[camarotoolman]

I can't remember, I bought 1 from inco, neco or something like that. As above, the jacobs are high, imports not to bad.

 

[lilredex]

Update.....

I did see the link lilredex posted.... Im wondering how how the quality of the stuff is. Just seems the prices are REALLY low.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Yes.............the prices are low, that's why I posted the link.

But.......the quality is there! Mine have been in use for several years without any issues. Surely cannot say that about the keyed junk that came with my two DP's.

Those same chucks are also sold locally, like at Busy Bee for $60-70, ON SALE!

Look Here............http://www.busybeetools.com/categories/Hand-Tools/Chucks/Drill-Chucks/

It is their B2213..........same chuck!

 

[Outlawmws]

I was able to get the chuck off the drill press.... its beat. Now it basically doesn't wanna turn at all. Maybe I'll keep it as a paperweight. I dont think its even worth it to try to take it apart. Thanks for the link Rory. Can anybody recommend a place to buy another chuck online?? Like I said before Lowes, Home Depot and sears couldnt help me.

Define beat? pics?

Unless you have taken it apart, you really can't assess the condition. The MEK should have dissolved any gunk, if it is tight, get some light oil up in there, (think gun oil, 3 in one, etc...) If it is still tight, I'm guessing there is some swarf that got up inside, and disassembly will allow that to be cleaned.

 

[Jagmandave]

I got mine from Beaver drill, here locally in KC. IIRC they were "Jacob's" brand?

 

[A_Pmech]

those cheap "multi-purpose" chucks, including the Jacobs brand, tend to strip nut and jaw threads rendering them tight and useless.