Drill Press TLC today, Two questions for you Drill press Gurus?

[The Iceman]

I gave the old girl some TLC today, cleaned up the column and teeth. (spray siliconed it afterwards). Greased the table and check straightness. I had to shim the table, had to bring the front straight up a tad) but I would of thought there would be an adjustment for that. It does have a pin under the bolt that I thought was odd. Looks to pin the table in place. The Pin is about 2" and its just solid round stock that goes into the casting at an upward slant with a nut and threads on the end. (Nut must be to break it loose)

1. How do you adjust the front of the table up? I could only shim it.
2. What is this lever? See the 3rd picture below. Looks/feels like a quick release to remove the whole head!
3. check out my new chuck holder!! Retractable key holder! lol

check out the big lever???

 

[GravityX]

The big lever? Is it a quick release for belt adjustment to change speeds? Seems like an odd location though. How is the speed adjusted, step pulleys?

 

[Guest]

The big lever? Is it a quick release for belt adjustment to change speeds? Seems like an odd location though. How is the speed adjusted, step pulleys?

Nice drill press Ice,

The one on my Jet is on the other side to adjust the speed.

It is meant to be moved while the motor is running to switch speeds on mine.

Yours is probably meant to loosen the belt while it is in the off position, with the top cover off.

Those bolts underneath look new to me.

Except for the big dog which I assume is there in case you want a bigger table on the press.

BR will surely soon chime in with the answers regarding this drill press.

 

[IAE Racing]

Great idea for the key chuck holder! I could duplicate that a half dozen times around the farm.

 

[bracketracer]

Yeah Ice, what GX said is right. Loosen the screws to the rear of the big lever (there should be another screw on the other side too) and pull the lever forward. It pulls the motor toward the column to slack the belts so you can change the speed. Push the lever back until the belts are tensioned and snug up both screws.

On the table, try loosening the clamp under the center of the table (I'm assuming there's a clamp bolt there!) try rotating the table 90 degrees and recheck it. If you're able to get the low side to the left or the right you can adjust it out by tweaking where the arm meets the column. Maybe. Good luck! The shims you have in there already look like they would work fine!

 

[Guest]

Hey BR
Did you ever read "Zen and the Art of Mortorcycle Maintenance"?
So many times I am reading these threads and I think back to it.

 

[The Iceman]

The big lever? Is it a quick release for belt adjustment to change speeds? Seems like an odd location though. How is the speed adjusted, step pulleys?

Yes, step pulleys but I've been loosening the motor with the flip Screws (flip lever) I just pull forward a little bit on the motor and move the pulleys around. Then use a screw driver to push it back a bit when done.

The Lever locks something in place, almost directly below the Center pully but I can't tell a change in anything when I play with it.

Key-bak key chain, now at my work I've had to wear an access badge on a retractable key chain for over 15 year and this is absolutely the very best I've ever had. (Kevlar Cord) I've tried multiple other ones and there is absolutely nothing even close to this that I've tried anyway! This is actually my old one that I used for probably 6-8 years! lol

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R8NC6E/ref=ox_ya_os_product_refresh_T1

KEY-BAK #485-HDK Retractable Reel with 48 inch (122 cm) Kevlar Cord, Chrome Front, Steel Belt Clip, 8 Ounce Retraction, Split Ring

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

On my Craftsman drill press that lever moves the motor to change belt positions after thumb screws have been loosened.

 

[JP Racing]

The pin you mention is to tilt the table on the drill press. Pull the pin, loosen the large bolt just above the pin, and you will be able to tilt the table.