Sears Drill Press 103.23640 Feed Handle?

[KJ2018]

Hello all,
First post after finding this site, looks like a great resource! Thanks for making it available.

I have a Sears 103.23.23640. Serial No. 22214-103 which was purchased new by my grandfather, my mother’s father. Has the original motor which I’ll have reworked.

My sister still lives in the house where our parents lived, who are now both deceased. Dad acquired the drill press after grandfather passed away in the 60’s, along with a band saw, scroll saw and table saw. Grandfather used to show me how to use the drill press in the mid 60’s when I was in Jr. High School, along with the above woodworking equipment he used.

I recently brought the drill press over to my place, about 9 miles away in South Jersey. A few days ago I was over my sisters to unbolt it from the 8X3ft work bench where dad attached in the late 60’s. I wasn’t prepared for the actual weight! Anyway, turning on its side, we found a pile of sunflower seeds. Back in the 70’s or 80’s I recall there were mice in the house and mom and dad couldn’t figure out how they were getting in. Well, I think we know now. Pretty skinny mice to fit thru those slots. They used to feed birds with “sunflower seeds”. My father smoked pipes and we also found a pipe under the base! Why that was there we will never know. Keep in mind it had been bolted down since the late 60’s and never moved until a few days ago!

Anyway, I disassembled it as much as I could and got it back to my place. Cleaned up the parts in the driveway with the leaf blower and other things, then got it into the basement with the help of my small hand truck. Heaviest thing I ever moved.

Cleaned it up a little more and got it back together with the exception of one thing, which brings me to the reason for this post. As I disassembled it I slid out the feed handle so it wouldn’t get bent and I’ll be $&$#^@ if I can get it to go back thru that hole again!

I did download the pictorial manual I saw on line but it isn’t helping. I see a pad, spring and other stuff in there. Checked here in the site and couldn’t come up with the answer. Thought it would just slide right back in. Do I need to remove the entire shaft?

Thanks for any help!!
Ken

 

[Maui]

The manual I found for your drill press is this one:

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/222/3128.pdf

So it looks like you have the two handle model, correct? I would check for burrs on the end of the handle where it tapers down to the threaded section. Also check around the edges of the hole that it slides through. Burrs on either of these surfaces may be interfering with reassembly. You can easily remove any burrs with a hand file.

Maui

 

[KJ2018]

Hi Maui,
Thanks Maui, that’s the manual I downloaded yesterday that I mention above. The single, two ended, handle shaft is perfectly smooth on both ends.
Two small metal disks and a fiber disk of the same size came out of the hole as well!

I just managed to get it back in the hole but can’t get the metal disks or the fiber one in at the same time!. Theirs a spring behind them.
Ken

 

[FrankLee]

Hello all,
First post after finding this site, looks like a great resource! Thanks for making it available.

I have a Sears 103.23.23640. Serial No. 22214-103 which was purchased new by my grandfather, my mother’s father. Has the original motor which I’ll have reworked.

My sister still lives in the house where our parents lived, who are now both deceased. Dad acquired the drill press after grandfather passed away in the 60’s, along with a band saw, scroll saw and table saw. Grandfather used to show me how to use the drill press in the mid 60’s when I was in Jr. High School, along with the above woodworking equipment he used.

I recently brought the drill press over to my place, about 9 miles away in South Jersey. A few days ago I was over my sisters to unbolt it from the 8X3ft work bench where dad attached in the late 60’s. I wasn’t prepared for the actual weight! Anyway, turning on its side, we found a pile of sunflower seeds. Back in the 70’s or 80’s I recall there were mice in the house and mom and dad couldn’t figure out how they were getting in. Well, I think we know now. Pretty skinny mice to fit thru those slots. They used to feed birds with “sunflower seeds”. My father smoked pipes and we also found a pipe under the base! Why that was there we will never know. Keep in mind it had been bolted down since the late 60’s and never moved until a few days ago!

Anyway, I disassembled it as much as I could and got it back to my place. Cleaned up the parts in the driveway with the leaf blower and other things, then got it into the basement with the help of my small hand truck. Heaviest thing I ever moved.

Cleaned it up a little more and got it back together with the exception of one thing, which brings me to the reason for this post. As I disassembled it I slid out the feed handle so it wouldn’t get bent and I’ll be $&$#^@ if I can get it to go back thru that hole again!

I did download the pictorial manual I saw on line but it isn’t helping. I see a pad, spring and other stuff in there. Checked here in the site and couldn’t come up with the answer. Thought it would just slide right back in. Do I need to remove the entire shaft?

Thanks for any help!!
Ken

Hello Ken and welcome!

Your 103.23640 is a 13-1/2" drill press with a 1/2" diameter feed handle rod with knobs.

I believe that 22214-103 refers to a part casting number and not a serial number.

Is there a date code on the motor badge? That can aid in determining the age.



IIRC, the difficulty in reinstalling the rod is that the shoulder gets caught on the end knob of the pinion shaft or the fiber/leather washer.

There are a couple options which can help. You could fabricate a 1/2" od tube or perhaps drill out a pen cap or barrel to temporarily slip over the 5/16" portion of the rod while reinstalling the feed handle. Something that is tapered will work the best. The barrel of an old Sharpie works perfectly. Remove the guts with pliers.

​

 

[FrankLee]

Hi Maui,
Thanks Maui, that’s the manual I downloaded yesterday that I mention above. The single, two ended, handle shaft is perfectly smooth on both ends.
Two small metal disks and a fiber disk of the same size came out of the hole as well!

I just managed to get it back in the hole but can’t get the metal disks or the fiber one in at the same time!. Theirs a spring behind them.
Ken

We posted in the same minute so I didn't see your description of the feed handle rod.

That is very unusual and the rod is likely not original. Please post some pictures.

If the rod is still 1/2" diameter, the Sharpie trick will still work.

 

[KJ2018]

Hello Ken and welcome!

Your 103.23640 is a 13-1/2" drill press with a 1/2" diameter feed handle rod with knobs.

I believe that 22214-103 refers to a part casting number and not a serial number.

Is there a date code on the motor badge? That can aid in determining the age.



IIRC, the difficulty in reinstalling the rod is that the shoulder gets caught on the end knob of the pinion shaft or the fiber/leather washer.


There are a couple options which can help. You could fabricate a 1/2" od tube or perhaps drill out a pen cap or barrel to temporarily slip over the 5/16" portion of the rod while reinstalling the feed handle. Something that is tapered will work the best. The barrel of an old Sharpie works perfectly. Remove the guts with pliers.

​

Thanks Frank,
Yes, that’s the issue, getting the rod in there with the little metal disks and the fiber one with that spring behind them!! Good tip on the sharpie. I’ll have to buy one! Motor says 1829509 Looking at various web sites, it seems to be around 1955 per that model #103.23640.
I was also considering removing the whole feed shaft and going that route if it would work? Bad idea?
Ken

 

[FrankLee]

Thanks Frank,
Yes, that’s the issue, getting the rod in there with the little metal disks and the fiber one with that spring behind them!! Good tip on the sharpie. I’ll have to buy one! Motor says 1829509 Looking at various web sites, it seems to be around 1955 per that model #103.23640.
I was also considering removing the whole feed shaft and going that route if it would work? Bad idea?
Ken

I don't believe that removing the pinion shaft is going to make it any easier.

There is a photo of the dismantled assembly in the link below. The parts are basically in the order in which they are positioned when assembled.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6347465#post6347465


You may have to hold the spring and disks in position with a small screwdriver on one side while inserting the sharpie barrel from the other side. Then push the sharpie through with the feed handle rod.