Bridgeport set screw at back of head

[Richard Clark 1Participant @richardclark1]

Hi,

Does anyone know what the set screw is for at the back of the 2J head its the same as the set screw A on the side but at the rear?

It says the backgears are pregreased for life so is this where they inject grease at factory fill, and is it really greased for life due to the age of the equipment now or should grease be added to replenish due to age?

Thanks in advance

Richard

[Richard Clark 1Participant @richardclark1]

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

If I were selling parts I would gladly say "greased for life." I hope no one would ask "what's life are We talking about?"

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Perhaps you could be a bit more specific?

Look at this and tell us which one you mean.

[Richard Clark 1Participant @richardclark1]

I had a look on the Jhead diagram but cant see it on there so here is a pic I found showing the rear of a Varispeed 2J head the pic shows the rear of the head just above the plate is a grease nipple.

Mine does not have a grease nipple but a setscrew like setscrew A but at the rear?

I assume its for greasing the bull gear and greased for life maybe it should have a topup ? any thoughts

[Richard Clark 1Participant @richardclark1]

That link has a lovely drawing of the head do you have that on the varispeed one?

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

There's probably one out there but I have the stepped pulley machine myself. However, there is a nice section view in the "series 2 manual". I have collected a variety of BP manuals from the internet over the last few years – you want a copy?

BTW – no section views but the genuine manual is still available from Hardinge.

Edited By Muzzer on 20/05/2016 20:22:05

[Richard Clark 1Participant @richardclark1]

Thanks for that drawing I didnt have that one, great for looking inside.

I have some manuals collected from the internet too from a few years but as yet no mention of the setscrew at the back of the head, I think its where the factory inject grease once its all built up and then pop the grubscrew in but I wonder if the setscrew is for what I think then maybe greased for life didnt mean 40/50+ years and maybe it should have some replenishment?

[Richard Clark 1Participant @richardclark1]

Do you have the Bridgeport brochure I have that if you want me to email you the link maybe you have it has a black cover and 48 pages

[Roger HeadParticipant @rogerhead16992]

Muzzer, like you I have gathered BP manuals from many sources, but I have never seen a 'Series 2' manual – at least, not under that name. Could you provide me with a link, please, or perhaps email a copy if I send you my address?

You mention having the belt machine, I guess you have a copy of the landscape-format section of that machine? It goes under a couple of different names on the net, such as 'Bridgeport-J-Head-Diagram.pdf'' or 'jhead-huge.pdf'. In both cases it is 1009KB in size. I'll send a copy if you don't have one already.

Thanks, Roger

Edit: duh, I just looked at the link in your earlier post – you already have the -huge file!

Edited By Roger Head on 21/05/2016 02:25:16

[Anonymous]

I didn't even know my Bridgeport had a hole there. It is shown in some of the isometric drawings in the manual, but not mentioned in the text. It doesn't seem to appear in the exploded parts diagrams in my manual.

On the machine itself I don't even have a set screw, just a threaded hole. Poking an Allen key down the hole results in the key being covered in brownish grease, nothing like the white lubriplate grease used in hole A. I've never done anything with the hole in 15 years, so I don't think I'm going to start worrying about it now.

Andrew

[Roger HeadParticipant @rogerhead16992]

Andrew, Richard, you're still one-up on me. I don't even have a hole there, threaded or not, and certainly don't have an information plate like that shown in Richard's photo. My (horribly abused, and neglected) Series 1 2HP machine was built in Singapore in the mid-eighties.

Speaking of Screw A and Lubriplate, I agonized for a long time over sourcing some of the genuine stuff, but finally decided to have a look at what was in there first. After removing the screw I saw nothing. A probe hit a dry hard wall about 10mm in. I spent ages with a pick trying to carefully remove what I deduced was dried grease, without pushing it further in. In the end I used a 7/32" drill bit to dig it all out then squirted in some standard Lithium-based grease. We'll see if it outlives me.

Roger

Edited By Roger Head on 21/05/2016 13:14:05

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Roger, I to have no hole in my 1990 built series 1 2HP machine which also has the Singapore built head.

I seem to recall the earlier machines used Lubriplate in hole "A" and possibly in the rear hole "B" ? I still have a tube of Lubriplate but will most likely just use a lithium based grease when it is gone. An ebay seller lists the Lubriplate as part of a Bridgeport service kit but it is pricey.

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