Restoring Rockwell Drill Press 1124

[thewaydown]

I'm restoring a floor model Rockwell drill press model 1124 (pretty sure its almost identical to the 15-081, but im not sure, cant find a manual for it). Before I get started, I'd like to get an idea of what I'll need to order so I'll have it ready to go.

Below is a picture of the chuck. Its a Jacobs No. 34 and reads "cap 0-1/2" next to it. I'm not sure how to remove this particular chuck. I've done some research and havent found a definitive answer. Does this particular chuck come with the taper attached? Would I just disregard the threaded portion just above the chuck? From what I've read, it seems like the threaded portion is for attachments, or for a different style of chuck that would thread on instead of wedge into the quill with a taper. Would wedges work for this style? It looks like the gap between the top of the chuck and the threaded portion is about 5/16", I dont know if that gap is too big for wedges to work.

I'm planning on replacing the quill bearings as well. Does anyone know what particular bearings I'll need and how many? Will I be able to do the bearing job without special tools? I don't have any sort of press, other than a small arbor press. I was also reading I might need a pulley puller to get the top pulley off. Is that the only way to do it without breaking the pulley?

I'm going to purchase a link belt also, which is pretty straight forward, but is there anything else I'll likely need to replace on a drill press in this condition?

I appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Zayne

 

[brtibailey]

Hey Zayne: Have you found success in restoring your Rockwell 1124? I have had a 15-017 for many years and now must do bearing work on it. wonder if you have any ideas about those part and if you might have a source for parts. Thank you and good fortunes to you.

Duncan

 

[wjv]

Hi guys - The manual for the Rockwell 15-081, and 15-017 for that matter, is available online (free, but nice to kick back a little something to the host). I'm not sure about the rules of linking outside this forum, but it should be easy enough to find online.

As for that chuck, it should come off with wedges. Or, if you are impatient like me, it is possible to remove with a soft drift and a hammer. Either way, be careful to catch the chuck because once the taper lets go, the chuck will "pop" off rather quickly.

I just finished replacing the bearings in a 15-017, which looks like the same general procedure as the 15-081. The manual has bearing access instructions, so you should be able to get an idea about the process from it. But, it's not difficult. The hardest part was supporting the top spindle bearing while driving home the spindle. I cooled the spindle in the 'fridge before and supported the quill/top bearing in a drilled out 2x4 with a correct sized spacer between 2x4 and the bearing.

As for parts (at least for the 15-017) the spindle bearings are widely available and relatively cheap. I believe they were size 6203. Mine had been replaced before I bought the press with double shielded, so that's what I went with, but seems like single sided shielded bearings would work. I went with "CN" bearing clearance, which was a little more pricey, and perhaps not necessary.

Last, there is one bearing in the pulley that is NLA. It has an elongated inner race with a threaded hole to allow for a 3/8 set machine-screw into the pulley drive gear. The bearing's OD is the same as a size 6205 bearing and I'm making a bushing that will adapt a 6205 onto the original shaft. I can get dimensions if you'd like, but I'm really just pulling from the original in my press.

Again, this was for a 15-017, so I cannot guarantee it works for anything else.

Best of luck!

 

[thewaydown]

Hi guys - The manual for the Rockwell 15-081, and 15-017 for that matter, is available online (free, but nice to kick back a little something to the host). I'm not sure about the rules of linking outside this forum, but it should be easy enough to find online.

As for that chuck, it should come off with wedges. Or, if you are impatient like me, it is possible to remove with a soft drift and a hammer. Either way, be careful to catch the chuck because once the taper lets go, the chuck will "pop" off rather quickly.

I just finished replacing the bearings in a 15-017, which looks like the same general procedure as the 15-081. The manual has bearing access instructions, so you should be able to get an idea about the process from it. But, it's not difficult. The hardest part was supporting the top spindle bearing while driving home the spindle. I cooled the spindle in the 'fridge before and supported the quill/top bearing in a drilled out 2x4 with a correct sized spacer between 2x4 and the bearing.

As for parts (at least for the 15-017) the spindle bearings are widely available and relatively cheap. I believe they were size 6203. Mine had been replaced before I bought the press with double shielded, so that's what I went with, but seems like single sided shielded bearings would work. I went with "CN" bearing clearance, which was a little more pricey, and perhaps not necessary.

Last, there is one bearing in the pulley that is NLA. It has an elongated inner race with a threaded hole to allow for a 3/8 set machine-screw into the pulley drive gear. The bearing's OD is the same as a size 6205 bearing and I'm making a bushing that will adapt a 6205 onto the original shaft. I can get dimensions if you'd like, but I'm really just pulling from the original in my press.

Again, this was for a 15-017, so I cannot guarantee it works for anything else.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the information, that will help me out a lot! I ordered a set of jt6 wedges off ebay from a different manufacturer. They are probably 2x's the thickness of the jacobs wedges, but I think that works to my benefit.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[thewaydown]

Hey Zayne: Have you found success in restoring your Rockwell 1124? I have had a 15-017 for many years and now must do bearing work on it. wonder if you have any ideas about those part and if you might have a source for parts. Thank you and good fortunes to you.

Duncan

Unfortunately I haven't gotten to the job yet. I got side tracked rearranging my tiny garage because of the nice weather. I plan on tackling the press first thing once I'm done putting the garage back together.

I will be filming/documenting the process, so if I get it done and edited before you start yours, maybe that'll answer some questions.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[jmarkwolf]

I saw a Youtube video the other day about removing chucks from older Delta drill presses. Apparently some have a threaded collar that must be removed first.

Do a search on Youtube.

 

[matt_i]

Best friend of the arbor press is the lathe. To avoid pressing on the opposing race (which typically is thought to "ruin new bearings" by brinnelling the races) one typically needs various circular rings of fairly precise sizes. Usually a supply of washers with opened up centers can do the job. Many bearings are press-fit in the inner race and slip or line-line fit on the outer race.

Be wary of using standard grade ABEC3 bearings where the OEM used ABEC5s even though the cheaper versions will fit....it takes away from the performance of the machine in my opinion. I helped my Dad reverse that condition on his drill press quill and it made a noticeable difference.

There are possibly snap rings involved as well. I don't know that model's design intricately so yours could be different.