Hey all, I'm back again. Quite possibly biting off more than I can chew this time. With the post drill project still in process I am seriously considering taking this on additionally for the winter. Now I have to explain that I have no experience with these drills but I believe I possess a fraction of common sense, a hair of mechanical ability and the annoying habit of asking too many questions of those who know better before I get my fingers where they don't belong (still have all nine). I have never owned one and if I'm lucky that may change. This appears to be a Rockwell 20" There aren't quite enough photos for my liking and the definition is not quite what I would like so I am going to take a trip to look in person. If anyone has any input as to what to look for, suggestions, experiences parts that are commonly damaged or missing etc. let er rip please. I know to check babbitt bearings, the frame for cracks and damage, gears for excessive wear and missing teeth, maybe take a dial indicator and check for run out on the quill. I believe the motor looks like it may be a 3 phase. No photos of the tag. It seems I read somewhere someone had a Rockwell with a 1ph. Maybe repowered? Does anyone have any idea of age or when Rockwell quit making the 20"? Oh I may post this thread on other forums in search of information so please don't be offended if you see it again. Thanks so much for everyone's input. You all are great
Ryerson & Son 20" camel back
- Thread starter Todda323
- Start date
jabberwoki
Well-known member
Looks like a sweet candidate.
crguy
Well-known member
For starters, it looks like it was a lineshaft powered machine to start with and the electric motor has been added on. And, don't expect to get runout measured in a few thousandths on an old machine like that.
TurnipTruck
Well-known member
I have some brief involvement in this:
Not a Rockwell, says "Ryerson & Son Chicago Ill" right on it.
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=2255
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=2255
sorry all. I think this may be the other side. I should have included this pic as well. This is where I got the "Rockwell 20" from. Im not sure how Ryerson & Son fits in with Rockwell or vise versa. If I had to give a guess maybe one enlisted the other to manufacture or sell for them? Any input on that would be pretty cool to know.
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RTM
Well-known member
They were also my steel supplier of choice back in the 80s, working in SoCal
As an update I have done a little research and I found that Ryerson and Son was a steel manufacturer out of Chicago. At some point I think I read they moved part or all of their operation to a part of Chicago called "Rockwell." Im not sure but I I'm hesitant to believe the "Rockwell" embossed on it is referring to the famous tool manufacturer for the above reason. I have found a few catalogs on another web site leading me to believe Ryerson either manufactured tools to some degree or had them manufactured with the Ryerson name. I was able to locate a printing under the Ryerson name for a 21" drill press. In doing some research on the Ryerson name as opposed to the Rockwell name I have found a bit more information out there. Thanks for the input guys. I really appreciate it. I am heading down tomorrow to take a look. I'm not sure but I'm hoping the motor is not a 3 ph but a 1 ph repulsion induction motor. If any of you all have any suggestions as to what I may want to keep an eye out for please let me know. If anyone has pictures of one of these let er rip. I'd like to do a parts comparison to see if its missing anything.
For better or worse. Here she is boys. I started the cleaning and inspection phase. So far nothing sticks out as unsatisfactory to me. Im curious because the babbit on the main shaft didn't have shims. I'm hoping one of you don't tell me they will need replacing sooner as opposed to later. Everything seems pretty snug after cleaning shafts and bearings etc. with no excessive play. I am still cleaning up the quill of surface rust. I'm hoping by cleaning it I will not introduce play because I was pretty pleased as it had no detectible play by hand when extended.
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slowtwitch73
Well-known member
I would try to run that babbit.. looks like it was done well. Oil it up and cross fingers.
Well fellas. We got deflection after a little cleaning of the quill. It's not a surprise though. Only one quick check shows .02. But that is for later i think. First things first. I have been fiddling with this thing for a few days now and can't seem to figure out the trick to pulling the main shaft. Maybe I'm overlooking something simple but I think i could use a kick in the pants to get me headed in the right direction.
I did start on the motor and WOW! Full is the word that comes to mind. I still have to do some cleaning and then bench testing but by appearances I think I have something to work with.
I did start on the motor and WOW! Full is the word that comes to mind. I still have to do some cleaning and then bench testing but by appearances I think I have something to work with.
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Looking at a couple of those caps with babbit in them it seems that the babbit is proud of the caps so that the cap itself would have a gap to its mating surface. Is it possible someone has been there and lost the shims? Were the cap bolts loose so that the shaft could turn freely?
In doing some research on my machine I found that the lower shaft should turn in the 350-400 rpm range. I offer this as a data point in case you have to replace that motor.
lg
no neat sig line
In doing some research on my machine I found that the lower shaft should turn in the 350-400 rpm range. I offer this as a data point in case you have to replace that motor.
lg
no neat sig line
Thanks for the info Larry. Good to know and will go down in my notes. It is possible someone has messed with the shims. When I got it the bolts were just a little beyond hand snug but came out quite easily with less than a quarter turn of a socket. The shaft would turn by hand without much effort. The gentleman I bought it from picked it up from a farmer intending to scrap it. The gentleman was familiar with the type of drill press but seemed, like me, to never have owned or operated one. Although I did not ask him directly that was the impression I was left with. I did get around to testing on the motor and man I think we are in business. Meg of the windings and commutator testing is on the money. I may need to fab another spring for the shorting necklace but other than that the motor is coming along quite well. Photos will follow once cleaning is complete.
Well fellas its been a while. I had whatever crud is going around. I ended up pulling the main shaft and cleaning some of the bits and pieces up. I have been working on the motor because we will never know how this thing runs if I don't get power of some sort going. So.. on to questions about the motor. I wired it up for 240 and gave it a test run. Seems to be fine so far. Throwing a little paint on it and here it is
I know this may be better suited for the electrical forum but because it directly relates to the drill press and in an effort to consolidate information and not have several topics about the same thing spread out over one site I will ask here. I apologize if posting the question here and not in electrical offends. If it needs to get moved I understand though. I am hoping you guys don't break me up too bad here. I am not an electrician and have never done this before but I had this old station control switch laying around. I was thinking it would be decent if it would work with the contactor shown to work out a holding circuit. What do you all think? If you all think it would work how would I wire this up, and remember my lacking in electrical means I don't read diagrams so well. So if possible drawings in crayon please. I wasn't a Marine so I won't eat them.
I know this may be better suited for the electrical forum but because it directly relates to the drill press and in an effort to consolidate information and not have several topics about the same thing spread out over one site I will ask here. I apologize if posting the question here and not in electrical offends. If it needs to get moved I understand though. I am hoping you guys don't break me up too bad here. I am not an electrician and have never done this before but I had this old station control switch laying around. I was thinking it would be decent if it would work with the contactor shown to work out a holding circuit. What do you all think? If you all think it would work how would I wire this up, and remember my lacking in electrical means I don't read diagrams so well. So if possible drawings in crayon please. I wasn't a Marine so I won't eat them.
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