So I got a really nice mag base drill for Christmas instead of a drill press like I had asked for. It's a really awesome tool and works pretty good as a drill press for itself. The problem I've got though is that there is not return spring. Gravity does its thing and pulls the motor and chuck down. Real annoying when you're trying to fit something up well or changing drill bits. Looks pretty much just like this picture:
http://www.milwaukeepowertoolsonline.com/sitebuilder/images/4210-1_Fixed_Position_Electromagnetic_Drill_Press_with_ 3-4_inch_Motor2-274x345.jpg

Front looks like this with a couple of tapped holes:
http://www.murphyauctions.net/images/nypro/1.jpg

What I'm wondering is if anyone can help me come up with an idea to get it a return spring. I haven't come up with anything elegant as of yet and was hoping for some help.

Pulley bolted to the side of the crank handle, wire wrapped around it, with the end tied up, and hooked to a spring on the base of it?

Kinda like a yoyo.

use the Z ravel lock screw when you change a bit.

Tighten the gibs.. you won't notice the extra effort it takes to travel it down but it gets rid of that drift.

Awesome ideas. Thank you gentleman.

Could you attach a gas charged lift assit shock thing, like what they use for the rear window of a shell, toolboxes, or an a hatchback car ??

Tighten the gibs.. you won't notice the extra effort it takes to travel it down but it gets rid of that drift.

This. That's how Milwaukee wants you to do it. There should also be a gib lock at the top. Just crank down the wing nut and the drill motor will stay put in any position. But adjust the gibs anyway.

I just tightened the gibs down. I did not know they were there before. Never had a mag base drill before. This makes it about a million times better to use and completely satisfactory as a drill press.

Thanks guys.