When you say the locking bolt do you mean the handle / split cotter, or the anti-rotation / limit screw in the drilling beneath the spring box? ..there could conceivably be two grub-screws, one behind the other..

Try the torch before the hammer

Just to be clear, all depth stop arrangement needs to be removed, also the quill will not come out unless the handle pinion is out first..

Edited By DiogenesII on 03/08/2021 07:31:36

Edited By DiogenesII on 03/08/2021 07:41:51

There will be a length of rack gears cut into the side of the quill and if the gears are not cut right to the top of the quill, and the meshing gear is still in place, that would stop the removal.

This picture shows the front of the museum's drill mill. If the depth stop mechanism and the plate behind it are removed, access for the preload of the spindle bearings is available. And also a view of the inside of the quill bore in the head. Your machine may be similar and there is a possibility that you might be able to see something causing the jam. Does it stop dead, or just get tighter and tighter?

Hi Terry Turner 2, looking at the photo of the milling machine that have posted, I would say it looks to be similar to the Chester Eagle 25 rather than a Warco major, which may or may not have the same configuration on the quill.

The Warco Economy is also similar Economy Mill

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 03/08/2021 21:39:25

You didn't mention the depth stop, but it's so obvious that it would be a very long shot. The other thing would be to use a mirror to look down at the top of the front pulley to see the splined end of the spindle which should pass through the centre of the splines in the pulley as the quill is lowered. A captive drawbar would certainly stop that happening.

Your photo shows the depth stop still in place, have you removed the adjuster screws? Also, the fine feed for the Zaxis is still in place (2 socket head cap screws), I removed that on a similar mill, although that may be clutching at straws. Removing the pulleys would, as far as I remember, have no affect, as the centre part with the female splines would still be in place.Your spindle is empty, I presume?

Edited By old mart on 04/08/2021 21:37:24

Push the quill up as far as it will go, and examine the top of the spindle to see if there is anything stopping the splines from passing through the drive that the pulleys were on.

This link to a Grizzly manual might help, these drill mills are of very similar design.

**LINK**

The tapered pulley hub does not affect the removal of the spindle/quill assembly. The drill mill I worked on has never had the pully hub removed. You did not mention whether you had pushed the quill up as far as it would go to inspect the end of the spindle. The splines should run right to the end without any circlips, or screwed on parts, such as might be required for a captive drawbar. The drawbar should be removed before dropping the quill.