Problem with EMCO FB-2

[Alastair MacphersonParticipant @alastairmacpherson52003]

I have an old Emco FB-2 vertical mill that suits my needs, but has an annoying problem.

The graduated collar on the quill downfeed just spins loosely with no resistance, so it cannot be set accurately to measure downfeed. I have removed the downfeed lever, which has revealed a large nut that, I assume, must be removed to release the collar.

My query is: Firstly, how do I go about removing the collar and, secondly, how do I provide some tightness in the collar such that it can be set, as can the other graduated collars on the machine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Al

[Alastair MacphersonParticipant @alastairmacpherson52003]

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember32069]

[This posting has been removed]

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

Working from memory – which gets less reliable day by day…

We're talking about the quill feed, right? The 'large nut' is in fact an integral part of the quill feed pinion shaft. To get the graduated sleeve off the pinion shaft, the shaft has to be removed. IIRC, it's held in by the alloy casting that carries the fiducial mark, and this is held onto the head casting by a single countersunk screw. There's the return spring somewhere in this assembly.

This is where memory gets really unreliable. I think that the 'depth stop' ring is acted on by the spring, and that releasing its socket head screw will relieve (partially?) the spring force. Hold the quill up, or lock it, when withdrawing the quill shaft.

As Barrie lever has said, the friction spring inside the graduated sleeve is simply a short length of spring steel strip. Nasty, but works. Until it doesn't…

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

The Headstock breakdown below.

As indicated, its the small semi-circular leaf spring – item 18 in this image.

To remove the shaft – Remove Screw Item 23. Item 10, the shaft retainer, slides out, towards you, and the shaft will pull out. The windup spring, Item 9 , will elicit some language when trying to re-fit…

There are some locating pins – Items 29/30, but the fit should be evident as you do the job.

As KiiwiBloke said – lock the quill in place first.

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

…and to add to the above (now that memory has been jogged – thanks JN), the quill's main return spring is part of the quill assembly, not the weak spring on the pinion shaft, so don't be scared.

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

To add..

As you loosen the slotted screw (23) and pull the shaft out carefully, Spring 9 will cause Depth Lock, Item 8, to unwind ( anticlock-unwind). When you refit all, just before tightening Screw 23, grab Item 8 between thumb/forefinger of the hand not doing the screwing, and wind up the spring – clockwise – till the spring feels firm, and the capscrew head in Item 8 periphery faces up. Tighten the screw and Item 8 should stay in place.

Easier done than said..

Joe

[Peter LayfieldParticipant @peterlayfield]

While we are talking about the FB2 mill, I have one fitted to my Emco V10P lathe, following a house move the top

casting was broken, item 2 in Barrie Levers drawing, any suggestions as to where I could get a replacement?

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

I presume you have tried Pro-Machine tools?

I am in Namibia and have refurbished many EMCO machines, including the 3-1/2 FB2's I have…I obtained spares for almost anything I needed from ELCOMP, in South Africa, the SA EMCO agents – Gears, Leadscrews, nuts, motorised feed gearbox, etc. They may have that part..

Just before pressing Add Posting, something niggled – I went digging and found this in my box of EMCO stuff…

I recall I converted my machines to Metric, and had one of these new, with the Metric decal on, so this one was put away for the day the world went imperial again…

Not sure how on earth to get it to you! We are still in lockdown till May 5th, when it will be reviewed. Also, last year I tried to send a 5USD LCD to a friend in the UK, Paul White, who built up my ELS system and had a problem with his LCD – I have many of them, so tried to donate him one – DHL and FEDEX wanted around 80USD to send door to door!

Here, in dark Africa, on the West Coast, we don't have things like 'Royal Mail', etc…Cleft stick is about the best for low cost…

Joe

[Alastair MacphersonParticipant @alastairmacpherson52003]

That is all very helpful, and my thanks to all who replied.

Al

[Author]

Posts