replace bearings on hf drill press?

[nissancrawler]

Is there anybody that's done it? Mine make all sorts of horrid noises, even for an HF product.:laughing:

This is the drill press, if it matters:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/43300-43399/43378.gif

[Wicked_S10]

I have heard horror storries of those just being cheap bronze bushings in the quill instead of any type of roller bearings. It should not be too tough to get it apart. I have never had a DP apart, but every mill quill I have pulled is fairly straight forward.

Later,
Jason

[nissancrawler]

It *sounds* more like a bad bearing, too me. The quill doesn't have that much play (by hand), but it has a major galling noise when you put some ass to it to drill. Then again, it chatters like a bastard, so maybe it is a bushing...we'll see. The last hole saw I used, the thing had over an 1/8" of runout on the hole, it was chattering around so bad.:laughing:

[bluesman2a]

It *sounds* more like a bad bearing, too me. The quill doesn't have that much play (by hand), but it has a major galling noise when you put some ass to it to drill. Then again, it chatters like a bastard, so maybe it is a bushing...we'll see.

I had EXACTLY the same issue with my HF Drill-Press... When I started going down the road for bearings, I noticed that the belt/adjustment was way off. Try tightening the belt FIRST, and get it german-tight (you know... guden-tight).

[nissancrawler]

I had EXACTLY the same issue with my HF Drill-Press... When I started going down the road for bearings, I noticed that the belt/adjustment was way off. Try tightening the belt FIRST, and get it german-tight (you know... guden-tight).

Belt is good. Any more tension deflects the crappy motor mount and the pulley doesn't run square to the belt. They also sent the wrong style belts when new, I had to replace them at the auto parts store. :shaking:

[yozsi]

id just rip the thing apart and head to your local bearing place and get new ones, then install zerk fittings where ever you can to lube em.

[nissancrawler]

Dammit. I tore the whole thing apart, spindle and pulley bearings are great, it's the freaking motor. :mad3: I haven't removed it or opened it up yet, but from what I can see, it's a damn bushed motor, no bearings. It looks like I'll be needing a new motor. What are the odds it uses a standard frame:confused:

It was just transmitting all the noise/vibration to the spindle and I wasn't smart enough to figure it out.:( I sure wish I had flipped the fucking switch with the belts off before I stripped the whole press down.

[SHERPA]

I was gonna say that any bearings you'd have to buy for replacing are going
to cost way more than that whole drill press new.......

bearings aren't cheap...

--Sherpa

[Travis Waldher]

I was gonna say that any bearings you'd have to buy for replacing are going
to cost way more than that whole drill press new.......

bearings aren't cheap...

--Sherpa

Maybe, but when you are done you could have higher end bearings in it and have an ever better drill press for a lot less than bigger name brands. Brands that for all you know also use cheap ass bearings, but since the press cost so damned much it doesn't feel bad spending the money replacing them.