Swapping Places: Bridgeport-style Mill Spindle Replacement, Too Much Runout

Replacing the spindle with excessive runout on brand new Bridgeport-type milling machine with new factory replacement. The result is impressive.

[@cmspindle]

Great Job. I can add some fine points if you like. The set screw in the back can mess up the threads by crushing them. This is only a problem when you next remove that nose cap. The best practice is to tighten the nut, check for at least .003 gap between nose cap and quill body. Then transfer punch through quill to threads and drill a spot for the new setscrew. A dab of Vibratite on the set screw will keep it secure for a long time without over-tightening. Be careful not to hit the quill threads drilling. The .003 gap ensures the nose cap is securing the outer races to the Quill's shoulder. Great catch on the overtightening the set screw, very common. This swells the quill and will overwhelm the clock spring that returns the quill. Thank you for checking runout after the Run in has been done. The bearings must channel out the grease then cool to be at running heat. That is they get hot at first then cool when the grease is pushed to the sides. Save your old one if they will let you and bring it to Tualatin with the Quill and I'll grind it for you. Spindles like NW coffee are best when freshly ground as Frank Brian says. He's a portable spindle grinder out of Redmond Oregon. You will find a new world of spindles. Cheers, Bill

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thanks Bill for some great info!

[@PeteBrubaker]

Holy cow, it's awesome to know a shop like yours is so close to me! (Gaston, OR) My R-8 spindle needs new bearings and I had a tool shear off the drive key and spin. It's a DoAll 5hp with box ways, sort of a 5VK clone. Also, if possible, I'd love to swap that R-8 out for a CAT40 spindle. I'll give you guys a call when I get it out.

[@ActiveAtom]

Hi Yuchol, nice to be here, great replacement of your spindle nice to see how you got here with this replacement. Nice shared video as well, thank you. Lance & Patrick.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

I should have sent it to you first to have it polished for me 😁

[@jamesdavis8021]

Great job. I like how you pay attention to details and work carefully.👏👏👏

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

James Davis thanks James🙏🏻

[@johnyoung3103]

That's the "GREAT PACIFIC NORTHWEST" I am your neighbor in Marysville for the last 10 years but only spend my summers here. (retired). Keep up the good work.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thanks John!

[@johnathonmullis4234]

I totally agree man. You chose that mill over other ones based on representations made by manufacturer that there mill performed within a very specific set of parameters, precision if you will. For whatever reason their product failed to meet their advertised level of precision. You didn’t get what you paid for. To suggest that you should just live with it because with the right operator it can still produce good parts is ridiculous. The capabilities of the individual machinist are independent of the advertised specs. Sorry about that but you got me started man. Lol I’ve enjoyed all of your videos are think you’re a good person. It’s good to see that they don’t get away with that mess with you. You’re ability to maintain your easygoing demeanor throughout this is to be commended. Keep the videos coming we brother.

[@alexbarnett8541]

My name brand BP has slightly worse runout than that and doesn't sound nearly as smooth. Also the quill is kind of sticky at times and doesn't retract on its own. Great video and glad you got it within spec and can now sleep at night. 👍

[@chauvinemmons]

That looks like a Kent machine I know these people they are very good people they make very good equipment and they stand behind their equipment they have an excellent salesman his name is Eddie.

[@dashhelggason8776]

Gracias chino justo la información que andaba buscando para hacerme la mini fresadora que quiero

[@brandontscheschlog]

Chevy guy... Me too! Nice job on the repair.

[@stevetaylor2445]

Been an auto tech for 35+ years and never once needed a divided spanner. There are used on some aftermarket parts like rebuilding shocks but that is a specialist job and not factory repair

[@maiknakas]

Dear friend, whenever you can and you have time, you can send me the dimensions of the spinel diameters and lengths because I want to dare to make a copy of your machine, thank you in advance . Maik fro Grecce..Thanks..

[@DudleyToolwright]

Enjoyable and informative video and congrats. I have a variable speed head on my mill (which I purchased new) and left the drawbar wrench in only once, but something got kurfuffled, when I turned it on and the wrench swung around and hit the motor (stalling it). Now it sounds a bit like I lost a tooth on the belt, but I have looked and can't find a thing. The noise is getting louder with time and eventually I am going to have to pay the piper...I wish I could pinpoint the problem. Very enjoyable video.

[@tomclark6271]

Very well done Yuchol. Glad I came across your channel. I'm very interested to see if my BP clone import mill (Acer) quill has a similar left hand threaded nose piece as well. Although the spindle runout is within specs, the quill won't retract completely with the retract spring, so I'm wondering why. I'll have to get the proper spanner also. I live just north of Vancouver USA, so it's good to see a fellow Pacific NW'ner on the KZbin's, putting up with the wet weather. Looking forward to more videos soon!

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thanks for your kind words. I’m sure having lots of fun with this channel. Try loosening the set screw at the rear of the quill. If that doesn’t solve it, you may have to wind (tighten) the “clock spring” on the right side of the head where your will lever attaches to. This will increase the up force. Let me know what you find out!

[@camillosteuss]

Should it not be simpler and safer to just swap the quills? I mean, it should not be more complex than a setscrew and the pinion that drives the quill up and down? I mean, sure, many machines, many designs and variations, but quills are really not all that hard to replace... And i would not like to force a shaft out of the bearings... If i do have to contend with bearing swaps, i like to heat the bearings and cool the shaft if possible, which in your case should be possible, right? I mean, not sure what`s the taper of the spindle, and does it have a drawbar, but if it has, it has a through bore, which allows you to heat up the bearings and the spindle, and then just blast propane or similar refrigerant type gas to rapidly cool the spindle shaft down, and thus allow it to just slip out of the bearing inner race... Anything else is prone to induce damage on the bearing seat of the shaft, which is a terror in a precision spindle situation...

[@mpetersen6]

The run-out could come from a couple of places. The taper of course is one source. Another is the bearing spacers. They need to be as near dead parallel on the faces as most people could reliably measure in a home shop. .00005" maximum. Otherwise the spindle will bend and will orbit around the centerline. When I would rebuild our BP spindles I ditched the factory spacers and made new ones that were shorter by one bearing width. We ran two bearings in tandem with the third to take up the reload. Plus we usually put about another 3 to 5 tenths reload in. Bearing grease Kluber NBU 15.

[@Anenome5]

How did you add the 3-5 tenths preload in?

[@mididon123]

Don, Nice professional-personal presentation. Glad to see you got the dealer to correct the problem. Love your low key attitude, and appreciate the lack of cussing. . . a show of class! You helped me fix my problem on a Bridgeport (1956) with Protrack SMX 3 axis reader and motor controls. Cost way more than my mill, and works great. The factory is about 15 minutes from my house. They did the whole install over 2 days. Looking forward to your videos.

[@wh0tube]

Where do you test your Corvette’s 0-60? 😉 just please dont sniff too much WD-40 when you do that 😁👍great video, thank you 🙏

[@remoman]

Forget the set screw in the nose cap, just put a dab of blue loctite on the nose cap thread. Won't budge until you want it to and no thread damage.

[@joewhitney4097]

Good video, great work on the replacement. Happy they honored the warranty. Thanks for sharing.

[@chauvinemmons]

Instead of drilling a spot for the set screw I guess I have always preferred a small piece of copper which you can nip from a piece of solid 12 gauge or 10 gauge wire a piece no bigger than a small BB you can flatten it ever so gently with a hammer otherwise I think your process is good . 0002 or 200 millionths of an inch on a #1 milling machine is fine unless you're doing something extraordinary and that could easily be the bearings if you look at the bearing shells a good set of bearings should have marks these marks tell a special story and they should be lined up on the spindle shaft and as it is inserted into the spindle housing or the quill in your case you should look for these marks and learn there legend. Machining is a wonderful trade filled with knowledge that you must acquire the easy way or the hard way but sometimes you must know the knowledge is there to learn of it. I wish you much luck if you are already an accomplished machinist just maybe a minor tidbit that you never knew of it is possible these bearings do not have these marks if you were to buy a matched set of ABEC 7 bearings these marks will be there and you may find your spindle run out it's even better or possibly worse then you know it is the spindle and you know why by the time you see the price and you understand the precision involved it is the spindle that can only be left. The Germans hate locktite but I often use a very small amount on a q-tip and will daub it about the nut in a couple of spots only as a way to keep the nut from backing out because of thermal shifts in the spindle as it warms up and cools down. If the spindle nut loosens from vibration the setup must be made more rigid or the spindle is not enough for the job.

[@mab4716]

I can see that I have the exact same mill. Do you know where I could find the manual? Great vids!

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

Nicely done sir! That almost looked too easy 😁. I really know what you mean about all these so called Bridgeport finds for 200 bucks or 500 bucks, it's so frustrating lol. I'm in south east Saskatchewan and pretty much the same situation here. I bought a really rough atlas for 500 buck. Barely worked, with a full time job it took me months to get it working right and work all the bugs out of it. Thanks for the vid 😊.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Just1Guy Metalworks thanks for the compliment!

[@sierraspecialtyauto7049]

Nicely done documentary, Yuchol. I'm afraid to check the runout in my mill. Did you get mail from me yet?

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

It just arrived, waiting for the special filming session to open it 😀. Thank you!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

I am with you Joe, Afraid to check.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Your mill cranks out some beautiful work!

[@christopherpack3565]

Woods Creek Workshop what brand is your mill?

[@EverettsWorkshop]

Looks like I'm in good company, as I'm pretty sure the runout in my Chinesium mill drill would be depressing . . . BTW, I couldn't find your email address on your "About" page, would like to contact you.

[@IamDaytrader]

Do you know if those spindles can fit other models like an Rf-45 bench mill? Looks a lot like they’re the same or very close.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Unfortunately I don't know what else it would fit.

[@LarsLondian]

Awesome I am glad they worked out the issue with you and you were able to get it within acceptable parameters. I too love Amazon.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Happy with the outcome

[@terrycannon570]

Yuchol I love your cheering squad. I agree with the Amazon Prime. They are one of my go to's . Now I need to check the runout of my mill. I am almost afraid to now. LOL Thanks a million. Mine is a PM 833-T.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

You can do it!

[@TangentJim]

Excellent Video -- It's not the machine it's the user -- The best combination is a Good machine with a good user . I agree 100% with your expectations , I take my Hat off to the company who sold you. They put your issue to bed quickly. Machines made in Taiwan are excellent , you will become a happy camper.

[@yelims20]

now collets will run out .0025 lol

[@terrycannon570]

Yuchol I just bought a used McLane mill. It is identical to the one that PM sells. It is branded multiple names Like Birmingham Jet Enco etc. But best I can tell they are all the same mills. My question for you is do you still have the spindle you pulled out and if so can you get me the bearing numbers? If you have it is it for sale or the bearings for sale? You helped me tremendously showing how to get the spindle out and back into the Quill. I was dreading tearing into the head. Thinking that I was going to need to take the entire head off the machine and apart. Excellent demonstration. Thanks Terry

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

I don't. PM requested it back so they could send it to the factory for investigation.

[@terrycannon570]

@@woodscreekworkshop9939 thanks for the rapid reply

[@berniejanssen2863]

Had a question for you about the spindel. After you installed the spindel on the wuill and on the mill did you check for side play on the outside of the spindel. Put the indicator base on the head and outside of the quill and indicate the outside of the quill. Install a rod or tool then pull dideways to see how much movement there is. I checked my new mill and it has 5 to 6 thousands of side movement. The inside of the quill has 7 tenths of runout when youspin the quill. Im still didcussing this with the company I purchased the mill from for two weeks and haven't got a reply yet.

[@misterfixit1952]

Yeah, in Portland, old mills are called "vintage" and seem to be gold plated, price wise. You need to be back east near the rust belt to get used mills/lathes, for a decent price. Some good deals near Texas and social, also.

[@incubatork]

Kudos to you for asking to get what you paid for, also to the seller for responding, some, once they sell you the equipment and have your money tend to disappear or ignore you, that seller sounds legit and responded even if it took a while. Try doing some heavier milling then check it again, hopefully it will be fine.

[@MuhammadAfzal-jm6cw]

Good 👍👍👍👍

[@russhellmy]

Nice video, good customer service to give the replacement parts without hassles. What is the Brand?

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Precision Matthews and I would recommend the company to anyone. They will take care of you, awesome customer service before and after sales.

[@jimburnsjr.]

@@woodscreekworkshop9939 excellent...grats on the victory to both you and your vendor.

[@paulmacdonalid2585]

Use it

[@terryvied2315]

This com. is about 2 years late, but I have to say "That camera focus is super"

[@tnekkc]

I paid $12,500 for a 1969 Bridgeport that was original owner had never cut steel. Just made microwave modules. One is on Mars. I could have stayed with my 1963 Rockwell 21-100 mill, if I added power feed and DRO. I had rebuilt the spindle in the Rockwell. My spindle drawings went with the Rockwell when I gave it away. I was an engineer and make sketches all the time.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Clark Magnuson wow, amazing!

[@ricko5123]

You did great and seem like you saved it. Cool guy.

[@adamsblanchard836]

Them m don't know they just probably were like "hey Joe! This guy says his runout is bad with the mill he bought from us" joe: yeah man he shouldn't be running in or out while running a.....NO!! Joe god damn it just hey man we just gonna hook u up we gonna send a guy....or something....huh...hahaha I fkn bet boy .......

[@JB-kw4ug]

That was a great video. I have a Supermax mill, (Bridgeport clone), with a lot of noise while running, more in low gear. I suspect the bearings are of corse worn, as this machine was built in 1982. I wonder if replacing the bearings are as easy/simple as you have shown removing the spindle? I had thought I would have to remove the entire upper pulley assembly. Does anyone have a source for those bearings? Thanks again for the video. JB San Diego

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

I swapped the spindle which includes the bearings already installed. However, bearings are readily available and there are numerous reputable how-to videos.

[@jean-lucbolduc8682]

Good job on spindle replacement, I should check runout on mine now !

[@dieteremm8146]

I enjoyed your video! Very calm and reasonably told about the status atr the beginning. Doing the swap, taking the measurements and finally fweeling confident you had me looking over your shoulders all the time. As you said, now it depends on you what you get out of the machine. Thumbs up!

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@duanedickey7043]

Was it a PM? Replaced mine too. I think mine was pulled out of a machine too. Mine was stamped TT on the top of the quill. Lots of burrs on the slots. Much rougher than the original quill.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Yes it was. I was happy with how they resolved it. Obviously would’ve been better if it didn’t happen, but even expensive luxury cars often have to go back to dealerships for fixes.

[@michaelrosenlof1084]

Great Job Yuchol as Always-Thanks!

[@jimharris4013]

well done.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Jim Harris thank you Jim!

[@larryshaw6517]

Did the wrench come with different stzed posts ? Very good results, thanks

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thanks. No, the wrench does not come with different size posts (pins). The pins don’t have to be the exact size as the holes

[@moisesbonilla8299]

Muy buenos , Solo falta que tengan subtítulos en español,

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Yo entiendo, lo ciento. 🙏🏻👍🏼

[@40cleco]

Good job. So some heavy milling with it and check the run out again to see what you have.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

It’s been awhile since the repair and it’s working well. Thanks

[@tedchambers4381]

Hi send the old one out to be reground and buy top quality bearings and you will get zero run out . :)

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

The company requested the return to they can determine what went wrong. That will help others. Cheers!

[@twostrokebrit]

Great video I have subscribed 👍🏻 Is it possible to remove the spindle without disturbing the motor or variable speed pulleys Thanks mark

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Yes. In fact, I didn’t have to touch the pulleys nor the motor. It was easy and quick.

[@twostrokebrit]

Thanks fir the quick reply

[@tomeyssen9674]

Thank you Yochol, I need to do the same thing. You made this project much more less stressful to me. You made it easy. Wasnt sure of the direction also....😊. -Tom

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thanks Tom 👍🏻

[@israeltommy3604]

instablaster

[@codytrehal9786]

I really like your comment on profanity, so true of the younger generation. Liked your swap out, wish my mill was as nice as yours.

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Thanks Cody!

[@douglasthompson2740]

Hello, I believe you reduce the value needlessly of your video by not saying who the dealer was and fully (you went over it pretty quickly) disclosing how well they did or did not rectify the problem. I just bought a Grizzly mill G0757 which is here at the freight company in town. I am readying the shop and renting the equipment to put it into my shop. Point being: I could not find a thing on the web about this mill. It would be nice to watch videos like yours so you know which things might be trouble spots to check. I disagree that it would be made all right if the operator had more experience. You are buying a new machine and no one should have to compensate for poor quality control whether they are experienced or not. Part of the trouble if you are a new operator is you never quite know if it is the machine or yourself so that variable should never be in the equation. Now having said that all companies will have problems with their product at some point. It is how they deal with those problems that is a mark of their integrity. I sure do feel your pain about used mills. I have been shopping in your same market for more than ten years looking for a good condition mill with a reasonable price tag. I wasn't willing to spend almost new machine money and then have to rebuild an old one. The goal I have is not to spend my time reconditioning old equipment but to use the tool for projects I want to make. It quickly became apparent that a new machine was the only solution. I am just finishing my shop expansion and thus have my new mill and the room to put it. I will fully expect my machine to live up to Grizzly's advertising specs. I believe you were very accommodating with your seller as there should have been some recompense for the time you had to devote as well as the tools you purchased to fix what should have never been your problem. You saved them the cost of shipping both ways a replacement mill as well as shipping back their substandard original mill. That would be the bottom line. There should have been an inspection in Taiwan and also importantly a final thorough inspection at the stateside dealer. These machines are not cheap to ship and sending out faulty ones then laying part of the cost on the customer is evading their responsibility. Glad to see you did finally get it running to spec. Take care. Doug

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

Douglas Thompson Precision Matthews, I share that in a different video

[@dickvolen4589]

Good idea with filing cabinet. Is that stinky HF dead blow hammer?

[@woodscreekworkshop9939]

I don’t remember where I got it, but doesn’t stink