A recap about the press: Manufactured by Buffalo Forge, Buffalo, NY, early 1900's is my best guess. 20" from table center to column, same frame style as the Sibley's that Don Cossitt and Keith Fenner own. Flat belt step pulley drive. Those gears are from the back gear reduction on the top shaft. 8 speeds on the press itself, power feed, and the table will rotate and swivel. It also raises and lowers with a hand crank. I bought it from a guy that lives out near West Plains, MO. He told me that it came to him as part of an inheritance from his Father, who bought it when he was in his early teens. His Father didn't use it much, and when it came to him it got used even less. He said it worked fine when it did get used, it just wasn't needed very often. When the motor quit, he set it outside the shop. I don't think they ever used the back gear, because when I got it home and started tinkering with it, the swivel that engages it to the main shaft was almost stuck. When I got it engaged and tried to pull it through by hand, it stopped solid at one point. I backed it up and something fell out from behind the guard. I never did find what it was, but I suspect it was the remainder of one of those teeth. I found the broken tooth on the big gear after clearing out the remains of a bunch of mud dauber nests from behind the guard, and found the other two after I got the drill moved into the shop and started taking it apart. The electric motor bears a patent date from nearly a century ago. 3 phase, 1150 rpm, 2hp G.E. induction motor. He told me that it was burned up, but when I checked the resistance values across the windings, they are all equal with each other, and there is no sign of any of them being shorted to the frame. It was seized, and it was a lot of work getting it knocked apart. Turns out that it does not have roller bearings, they look like a hard babbit bushing, and use rings that ride on the shaft to bring oil into them. Lack of oil caused shaft or bushings to swell or displaced just enough material to cause it to seize without irrecoverable damage. A touch of emery to the shaft and a very light hone to the bearings was all it took to free it up. So, while James is working on the gears, I'm trying to do what I can to recover the motor. At the moment, that involves cleaning the gunky buildup out of the windings without doing damage, and trying to figure out what was used for oil seals (the old one's had absolutely nothing left of them in there). I don't think the O rings of today are going to work for this one. I also need a phase conversion system for it... get to that as I can.
I think I missed the final repair(s) of the tail stock. It seems very loose when you release it but does center back up on tightening. I know you mentioned getting a new casting; is this a new one or the one you repaired? Anyway, this is going to be a good project and I enjoy this type video so keep up the good work, Greg.
Charles Compton When I loosen the tail stock it normal. When I tighten it up it centers back up. Watch the whole series. I repaired it and it's working great. Thanks for watching and commenting on the channel!
Great video! I have heard of PIG IRON but never PIG STEEL, What is PIG STEEL? Thanks for sharing and giving back to the community.
A recap about the press: Manufactured by Buffalo Forge, Buffalo, NY, early 1900's is my best guess. 20" from table center to column, same frame style as the Sibley's that Don Cossitt and Keith Fenner own. Flat belt step pulley drive. Those gears are from the back gear reduction on the top shaft. 8 speeds on the press itself, power feed, and the table will rotate and swivel. It also raises and lowers with a hand crank.
I bought it from a guy that lives out near West Plains, MO. He told me that it came to him as part of an inheritance from his Father, who bought it when he was in his early teens. His Father didn't use it much, and when it came to him it got used even less. He said it worked fine when it did get used, it just wasn't needed very often. When the motor quit, he set it outside the shop.
I don't think they ever used the back gear, because when I got it home and started tinkering with it, the swivel that engages it to the main shaft was almost stuck. When I got it engaged and tried to pull it through by hand, it stopped solid at one point. I backed it up and something fell out from behind the guard. I never did find what it was, but I suspect it was the remainder of one of those teeth. I found the broken tooth on the big gear after clearing out the remains of a bunch of mud dauber nests from behind the guard, and found the other two after I got the drill moved into the shop and started taking it apart.
The electric motor bears a patent date from nearly a century ago. 3 phase, 1150 rpm, 2hp G.E. induction motor. He told me that it was burned up, but when I checked the resistance values across the windings, they are all equal with each other, and there is no sign of any of them being shorted to the frame. It was seized, and it was a lot of work getting it knocked apart. Turns out that it does not have roller bearings, they look like a hard babbit bushing, and use rings that ride on the shaft to bring oil into them. Lack of oil caused shaft or bushings to swell or displaced just enough material to cause it to seize without irrecoverable damage. A touch of emery to the shaft and a very light hone to the bearings was all it took to free it up.
So, while James is working on the gears, I'm trying to do what I can to recover the motor. At the moment, that involves cleaning the gunky buildup out of the windings without doing damage, and trying to figure out what was used for oil seals (the old one's had absolutely nothing left of them in there). I don't think the O rings of today are going to work for this one.
I also need a phase conversion system for it... get to that as I can.
diggerop Thanks for filling in the blanks on the story behind the build on this!
That 'snapping or crunching' sound when you were drilling was pretty strange.
I think I missed the final repair(s) of the tail stock. It seems very loose when you release it but does center back up on tightening. I know you mentioned getting a new casting; is this a new one or the one you repaired? Anyway, this is going to be a good project and I enjoy this type video so keep up the good work, Greg.
Charles Compton When I loosen the tail stock it normal. When I tighten it up it centers back up. Watch the whole series. I repaired it and it's working great. Thanks for watching and commenting on the channel!