Milling Machine - Repairs & Maintenance 

i really appreciate the positive feedback! thank you so much for watching!

Haha you'll get it running, I believe in you! 😉 Glad the vid could be helpful, they're really pretty nice machines to work on so you're already finishing up what will probably be the most difficult part, the cleaning and painting... Thanks for watching btw

Thanks very much!

Thank you very much! And I know right? Kinda ridiculous lol

@@hersch_tool What did that pulley replacement run you?

@@larrybud I can't remember exactly now, but it was over $200.

You're very welcome and thanks for watching. The bridgeport is a good mill, but I have to admit that I would really love to find a nice euro mill, or a "toolroom" mill with mechanical feeds and more features.

You're very welcome, thanks for watching! And you're gonna thank yourself once you get it over with. It's really not all that bad, and it's SO worth it!

what does that even mean

The machine was made all old style mechanical and worked so well compared to today’s technology.

Thanks very much, I appreciate the positive feedback, and thanks for taking the time to watch as well. Also, definitely do it. It's really one of the easiest machines I've ever worked on, you'll be done before you know it and it makes such a big difference. I regretted putting it off for as long as I did.

Thank you so much!

It is totally worth it. You'll thank yourself. Thank you for watching!

Don't put it off too long. Once the bushing material is worn through, it's then metal on metal and can damage the shafts. A damaged motor shaft can be upwards of $500 to replace. When a Bridgeport starts making noise, STOP.

@@KW-ei3pi Correct me if I'm wrong, but the spindle just rides up and down in those bushing. It's not actually turning in the bushing, right? That's why they can get away with some cheap plastic.

@@larrybud That is correct, though the motor pulley rides up and down on the motor shaft, and the front pulley rides up and down on the Spindle Pulley Hub. The spindle itself moves up and down inside the splines of the Spindle Pulley Hub.

Thank you so much! And I look forward to seeing you in the comments! Cheers!

Thank you!

Thanks very much, and thank you for watching!

Thank you for watching! And for the feedback! And you're very welcome :)

Thanks very much, that actually explains a lot. I have been confused about all the weirdness going on in the head of my machine since I got it. I kind of figured "something" like that must have occurred at some point in the past. But I didn't have all of those details, and confusion over which parts to order has been an issue every time I think about doing any sort of maintenance in the head. That's gonna help a lot in the future, much appreciated. And thanks for watching btw!

Thanks very much. I'd considered doing something like that, I still have the old pulley. But with how cheap and easy it is to replace the plastic bushings I feel like I'll probably never get around to it lol. Thanks for watching btw

Wow, if it's running that rough I suspect he'll be replacing bushings and a lot of bearings as well... I wish him luck! It's really not all that bad though, once you get into it. Thanks very much for the sub!

Thanks very much!

thanks very much. and that's not a bad idea, especially now when there isn't any crunch to get it done because the machine is up and running. thanks!

Thank you so much!

they are definitely solid machines, thanks for watching!

That's real cool. It's quite an amazing thing, we are tied together through that legacy of American manufacturing. Well built machines that will run forever with very minimal effort and maintenance.

Thank you :)

¡Muchas gracias! Sinceramente, no recuerdo todos los números de piezas, pero sé que el cojinete de la tapa del husillo es un fafnir 9110pp. La correa de transmisión es una correa de transmisión de velocidad variable 2430V345. Para otras piezas, puede consultar el sitio web de H&W Machine Repair. Tienen todas las piezas para las máquinas Bridgeport, es donde compré todas las piezas para mi máquina. Me resultaron muy útiles. ¡Gracias por mirar y buena suerte con sus reparaciones!

Thanks for that. I am definitely finding that it's very easy to be my own worst critic when it comes to the channel and push myself to the breaking point. It's already like 2 full time jobs plus overtime, running the channel and working my day job. But it's worth it. All of the support and comments like this make it feel easy and worth every second.

Thanks very much, I really appreciate that. I am working very hard on it, every single day, and it helps make it easier to keep plugging along hearing that you're enjoying it. That's what it's all about for me. But I certainly hope it does well too lol. Fingers crossed! Thank you so much for your support.

@@hersch_tool One suggestion that I rarely see on other channels except Blondihacks, is to make something besides other tools. I know that making tools for tools is a common theme on all of these channels, but it's cool to see what those tools eventually gets used for. Blondi for example has several videos on her boiler builds and steam engine builds, with all of that knowledge and tools put to use. Something to consider!

@@larrybud ironically enough, tools are kind of my passion. My dream is to design and make my own tools, etc for other hobby machinists. Our options now all come from china, and I'm not really satisfied with that. I also don't really have any interest in the model trains or steam engines. I mean, they are very cool but I don't have any real desire to make them. That being said, I'll do my best to come up with new and interesting projects and I always appreciate hearing what you're interested in and what you'd like to see, so thank you!

Yeah the original is made from turcite. I think the design was ultimately abandoned for the smaller bushings because it's a consumable part and the smaller bushings were so much cheaper and easier to replace.

Thanks very much! I don't remember all the part numbers, but the spindle cap bearing is a fafnir 9110pp. The drive belt is a 2430V345 variable speed drive belt. I got all the parts from H&W machine repair, you can call them, they were very helpful. Thanks for watching!

Thanks. Will do.

The song later in the video is a bluegrass song called "Little Sandy", the artist is Binkley from the album "New Old Shoes". Thanks for watching!

Given the amount of wear in the teal bushing, once you'd have machined it true it would have been far too large of a bore for the black bushing to have worked.

Sim, isso tornaria as coisas muito mais difíceis. Tenho sorte de ter acesso tão fácil a peças de reparo. Talvez você pudesse encontrar alguém nos estados que pudesse enviar peças para você? Não sei se isso é possível, mas talvez valha a pena investigar? Muito obrigado por assistir e pelo seu comentário.

Thanks very much!

What happens when you try to change the speed? Anything?

Yeah, I did actually consider that. And I think it's a pretty decent idea. Printed parts don't machine very well because of the layers but it wouldn't be hard to get it close enough to size with a couple attempts. In the end, I just decided that I didn't trust PLA as a long term solution, but I think it still might be worth giving a try. I now have the old pulley just sitting around, so maybe that's a possible experiment for a future video.

@@hersch_tool Yes, layers can be a bit of a pain to machine. But as far as 3D filaments are concerned, there are many concoctions that are much stronger than plain old PLA. Some possibilities could be ABS, PETG and even PLA +. Of course if a printer were to be available that can handle high temperatures, there more possibilities, nylon, or nylon doped with fiberglass, carbon fiber, or even Kevlar. But the most important thing is that your replacement arrived quickly and now your Bridgeport is humming like a sewing machine!

@@philipershler420 Yeah that was a big deciding factor in this case. I ordered the part on a Monday and it was here by Wed early afternoon so it worked out. I've only used PLA to date, but I think you're on to something with other materials, nylon especially. I don't think my printer can do nylon, do you need a heated chamber for that? But in general, I would like to learn more about 3D printing and take much better advantage of it in the future. So far my 3D printing has been pretty basic, but it has also been very useful at the same time. I think if I'd have had the knowledge, it probably would have been a great solution here.

I guess it must be a common enough issue then. Even more surprising then that the little blue turcite bushing seems to made from unobtaineum. I guess I get why they prefer to change them out though, the black plastic bushings are so cheap and easy to replace, makes sense that they are preferred. Thank you for watching!

Quão recomendado é o quê? O Bridgeport? É ótimo para fresar aço, confira meus outros vídeos. Trabalho quase exclusivamente com aço.

Thanks very much! Which song? The intro, or the one later in the video?

Thanks very much 🙂 Old iron is definitely where my heart is lol. I'd say if you're looking at a variable speed j head of any kind then run it through the speed range, you'll be able to tell right away if it needs maintenance. And el pretty much expect it to need it, a lot of shops seem to just run them until they become unbearable, and that's when they list them for sale. Good luck with the shop btw, pretty exciting that you're getting to build your dream shop!

@@hersch_tool Thanks, I am very excited! There's a 19x54 lebonde regal that a shop near me has been trying to get rid of for years and apparently nobody will take it, much like your old situation. They want 2500 for it which seems crazy, (that's less than $1/pound) so I have to assume there's something very wrong with it. After the building is up assuming it's still available I think I'll go check it out. Hope your new lathe is working out well for you still.

@@Trainwreck1123 lol, yeah or it could just be that nobody wants it because it's too big for a hobbyist and there's no other job shop nearby that uses manual machines? I miss my leblond, it was SO nice. Snatch that thing up, even if you have to work on it it'll be worth it. I had to repair the entire power feed system on mine, had to make new feed screws and nuts because it was completely worn out, I don't mean worn, I mean the threads on the feed screw were literal razor blades. But once it was fixed, by far the nicest machine that I've ever had the please of using. Miss it... lol.

the bearings were sealed, thanks for watching!

Yes the faces pop out with care , and either use and semi auto packing tool or by hand from experience most are packed with a clear grease ... yes i would love A Bridgeport mill great video thank you ...

@@josephcooksley3219 Thanks very much! Perhaps I'll give that a try the next time I have to replace some bearings.

Thumbs up

Bridgebort?

AAAHAHAHAHAHHAAA touche' sir, touche'

@@hersch_tool :-)

@@ellieprice363 look closely at the font 😉

@@hersch_toolWow, eyes wide open now. That “P” or is it a “B” needs a longer tail.

Lol, no I don't have any bearing bronze on hand, and bronze would have been a poor choice for this application. Moglice is a great idea though. However, neither of those addresses the most important factor, which is the machining time that was saved by replacing the pulley. And if you've worked with moglice then you know how much of a bear it is to work with... Also, the bearings that I replaced are the ones that carry the bulk of that lateral load you're referring to, which is why that one bearing was in such poor condition. The pulley attached to the spindle is stationary. That being said, I do plan to replace the spindle bearings at some point in the future, if I keep the machine that long. Also I've clocked the spindle bore, it's dead nuts.

​@@hersch_tool Oh yeah, moglice is a terror to work with... Runny as hell when before it enters hardening and curing process... I dont think that bronze woulda been that bad of a choice... fiddly for sure, but it would provide a durable bush that with just a drop of oil would run smooth for ages... I`m a massive cheapskate, one of legendary proportions, which is why i asked about the replacement and suggested what came to mind as potential ways to avoid paying for parts... I`ll stay up the whole night to make a part just to avoid paying for it... If stuff is above 50$ and there is a way for me to make it in OEM quality, i will make it... It`s a disease, but one without cure unfortunately... By damaging the spindle bearings, i meant that the vibration of the pulley would cause possible issues, as it may be stationary, or better said, rotating with the spindle, however, any vibration that it produces will invariably transfer into the spindle and its bearings... Sure, that uppoermost bearing is the main safeguard against that, but you have seen what the vibration it had to mitigate caused to its health... That`s what i meant... But im definitely glad that the spindle clocks out well... Its definitely not unusual for the spindle pulleys to have their own carrier bearing/s... My big lathe, drill and mill all have a whole assembly that ensures that the loads on the spindle drive do not translate into the spindle... The mill is especially cool as she is gear driven, not pulley, but the sys. is of the same nature to allow for smooth torque ans speed transfer... If you have a fetish for such stuff, i recommend you to look up Zbrojovka lathe on Lathes.co.uk, its also very similar in some aspects to my big lathe... The drive sys. is pretty much surface grinder grade, except its much more massive due to the large headstock and nature of lathes and their operations... But pay attention to the belt drive and its supporting bearings... Quite a majestic machine, especially the earlier versions with curved castings, the square ``facelift`` is a bit meh, however its mostly the looks that changed, the sys. remained the same, so if you come across one and can pick her up, i think you could get a regal lathe the likes of monarch`s... However, i dont think you are likely to run across one in your part of the world... Maybe, but they are likely like unicorns across the big pond... All the best and kind regards!

@@camillosteuss Bronze doesn't work here for a couple reasons. First, there is no way to lubricate it, and second is wear on the shaft. You def don't want the shaft to wear. That's why they used plastic/turcite bushings. No lubrication needed and will not create an abrasive slurry as it breaks down that would wear the shaft. And yeah dude I would LOVE to get hold of some European machines. I would kill for something like a nice TOS lathe or a Deckel or Maho mill... Man they make me drool. But those machines are rarer than hens teeth in the states...

​@@hersch_tool Oh yeah, i thought that the teal bushing was either turcite or teflon, which is pretty much the same thing... Speaking of the lubrication, i agree, that would be an issue... Tho, the bronze is unlikely to wear a hard shaft(i assume its hard)... Speaking of slurry, that would be grease issue, i thought of using some heavy weight oil or manual gearbox teflon additive(one of the best lubricants for sliding stuff), that would wear away over time, but would generally provide a decent lubrication for quite some time in that bush, tho, as said, you are right, its a shit solution... Yeah, its a bitch with markets... I would like a Bridgeport and a Monarch just for kicks, but as you said with Euro machines overseas, its a rare occurrence that machines go overseas... I`m sure you will find some euro machines over time, its not like they dont exist over there, I found my Schaerer lathe`s sister in america... I think you could still find that listing, she was used as a polishing lathe(yikes...), but the fact that someone shipped a 2.7 tonne lathe at some point sure shows that machines do move about and can be found where you least expect to find them... All the best!

That's likely what I would have done had I not been trying to get the video finished. Replacement was the most expedient option, and I have to make these considerations sometimes as I'm almost always filming my projects for the channel. That frequently affects what I do and how I do it.

Holy shit, are you serious? Or am I misunderstanding your complaint here? You don’t like that he’s patriotic? I bet you voted for Biden. Or, the worst thing I could say about a person, is that you’d be a person who lived as a grown up the last four years and plans to vote for Biden again, T or F?

@@brianmihlfeith7135 ... it went over your head, and you missed the point ... it was a question on my part, that is all ... displaying a flag does NOT make you any more patriotic than you are, in your heart and behaviour ... what have YOU done for the country, not for your self, lately? ... who I have voted for makes no difference whotsofuckingever ... a dump person will vote for a man who is promising to tear down the Republic ... are you one of those dumb asses? ...

He’s educated.

So “Who are I” it is. Doesn’t sound quite right somehow!