Bridgeport Mill Variable speed drive (2J) reassembly part 2 - Back Gear assembly

Bridgeport Mill Variable speed drive (2J) reassembly part 2 - Back Gear assembly
This video covers the re-assembly of the back gear components of a Bridgeport milling machine variable speed drive (2J). THis is the third unit that was removed in our main disassembly/belt change video. Covered are the re-assembly of the back gear itself, the supporting bearings, the drive pinon assembly, and the gear change (hi/lo) lever.
Reassembling the back gear components of the Bridgeport 2J Variable Speed drive (vari-speed)

[@JerryHudson-vy5kf]

I just want you to know how much I enjoy these videos. I just bought an old Bridgeport 2J and have started the process of rebuilding it. You are a very good instructor. Thank you.

[@ufohunter1805]

Excellent job as usual, can we get assembly part 3 so I can put the rest of my Bridgeport together, it's in pieces I had to stop at the end of part 2, just kidding, great videos just want to see more, Thanks.

[@iggy9651]

thank you so much for posting this !

[@ooooo6839]

is there a part 3 on reassembly, im struggiling with reinstalling the variable speed control properly its only giving me halph the range of speed. (small stop pin broke, replaced now but not quite right)

[@imysteryman]

Can you tell me what causes what is known as the bridgeport rattle. I have all new bearings in my mill head, I am thinking it is the pulley adjuster. John Fink

[@MachineryRepair]

imystery man There are a few things that can cause a "rattle". Does it happen in lo gear, hi gear, both, and/or neutral? One of the most common causes in high speed only is the clutch dogs (the teeth that engage for high speed). These teeth are tapered, and when new they are designed to engage about 1/2 way down. As they wear they eventually bottom out, causing a rattle. Try moving the hi-lo shift lever to see if you can reduce or eliminate it. There is an adjustable plate under the index hole for hi on this lever. This can be adjusted to compensate for a lot of wear. Although they normally cause vibration, another cause can be the movable pulley bushings on the vari-discs. Any slop in these is normally bad news at some level. There are kits available to replace these bushings if they are the older plastic ones. Most of the bearings will not cause a rattle, but I have seen some where a bad bull gear support bearing will cause a rattle in Hi and low, but not neutral. These are the bearings under the large back/bull gear. The slop in the back gear in low can sometimes cause a rattle like noise, especially when cutting, but that is just the nature of the beast. Finally, if there is not a tool in the machine, the drawbar itself may be rattling - try pulling it out. When we recondition a 2J head, we normally replace both belts, the bushings, and all the bearings (in the drive section - not the spindle!!!). Cheap insurance for a longer life.

[@imysteryman]

Thanks for your reply I mainly hear the noise in low gear and neutral, it is very slight in high if any. I replaced all the bearings and the plastic pulley bushings and the belt. The noise I hear sounds like a cross between a belt noise and a rubbing noise. Is there a trick to adjusting the screw with the lock nut right in front of the motor on top of the housing? My mill is a variable speed 2 hp.

[@donschilling8460]

What happened to the wavy washer you took out of this in the disassembly video? Thanks.

[@onepeachster1]

PART 3 REASSEMBLING ?

[@MachineryRepair]

chris mcclure Absolutely in the plans. Just waiting on the time to do it...