Bridgeport Problems

Richard Hed · May 24, 2022

I have this Bridgeport which I got into the garage about 6 months ago. due to work and travel, I have not managed to work on it. However, I managed to break the ram loose from the mounting turret which was gooed up. Took an 8 ton jack to get it off. Cleaned it, oiled & greased it and put it back and now slides easily. the head was inverted for shipping and now I find that I cannot move the head. I'm thimpfking I will have to remove the head an probably clean it too. any suggestions? anyone have similar experience?

danallen · May 24, 2022

Don't try to rotate the head back to vertical by just pulling on the hex on the side of the ram. After ensuring the four front locking bolts are loose pull on the wrench while you or a helper pushes on the motor to help rotate the head.

Richard Hed · May 24, 2022

danallen said:
Don't try to rotate the head back to vertical by just pulling on the hex on the side of the ram. After ensuring the four front locking bolts are loose pull on the wrench while you or a helper pushes on the motor to help rotate the head.

Yes, the four bolts are loose, however, I thimpfks that the head now should rotate freely not with a gear. The head tilt has a gear. Have you ever heard if these things might be stored for a long time upside down and get gummed up?

danallen · May 24, 2022

I have never come across one that was stuck even if it hadn't moved in a long time.

danallen · May 24, 2022

The newer ones have a pin on the power feed side of the head that needs to be pulled out to rotate the head past a certain point.

Richard Hed · May 24, 2022

danallen said:
The newer ones have a pin on the power feed side of the head that needs to be pulled out to rotate the head past a certain point.

Yes, got that too. Thanx

Madsciguy · May 24, 2022

My mill has a heavy bolt (3/4"?) with 4 cup washers & nut at the centre of rotation.
It had been tightened up for shipping. Nothing moved until I backed it off 2 turns

packrat · May 25, 2022

Like has been said, take the weight off the head I used a chain hoist but a engine hoist will work, you don't want to damage the gear..

comstock-friend · May 26, 2022

Richard Hed said:
Cleaned it, oiled & greased it

No grease on the ways of a Bridgeport. Use way oil only. The grease will attract chips and other debris. My table and knee were all gummed up with grease and chips. Had to take apart to get the grease out of everywhere. Moves great now on a diet of Mobil Vactra.

John

awake · May 26, 2022

My BP uses a worm gear on both the nod and the tilt, so it cannot be tilted without turning the worm screw, which appears as a 3/4" bolt head. If you need a manual, or any parts, H&W Machine Repair and Rebuilding are outstanding. They provide free videos, they have manuals, and they are super helpful if you have any questions. No affiliation other than a satisfied customer, but I can't say enough good about them for anything BP related.

awake · May 26, 2022

comstock-friend said:
No grease on the ways of a Bridgeport. Use way oil only. The grease will attract chips and other debris. My table and knee were all gummed up with grease and chips. Had to take apart to get the grease out of everywhere. Moves great now on a diet of Mobil Vactra.

John

Unfortunately, on some BPs you will find what looks like grease zerks ... but they are actually for way oil. People think they take grease, and it goes downhill from there.

Richard Hed · May 26, 2022

Andy and John. thanx for that info. I put grease on the ways of the ram and the rotating ram holder. I will remove it and use way oil.

comstock-friend · May 26, 2022

awake said:
Unfortunately, on some BPs you will find what looks like grease zerks ... but they are actually for way oil. People think they take grease, and it goes downhill from there.

Yes, mine has the zerks (still working on the conversion to one shot oiling). H&W has a oiler for the zerks ( Push N Lube Pump for Zerk Base | 12PB20 ), and I adapted a small grease gun to oil.

John

packrat · May 30, 2022

Yes a big + for H&W lots of information and any parts for Bridgeport and other mills.....

Vietti · May 30, 2022

John,

I have always had an issue finding an oil gun suitable for the zerk on the head stock of a Myford lathe, they either leaked or didn't work well.
Ordered one of these and hoping for the best!

John

Richard Hed · May 30, 2022

OK, my son and I got the stop brakes inside the ram taken care of. In getting the second one in we managed to get the head upright. In doing so, it placed the quill in place for easy operation--except if won't budge. the little stop brake on the right side seems to be completely open if it is not stuck. However, on the left side is a rod that is operated, it seems, by either something automatic or semi-automatic. There are some added parts obscuring this rod and it's functioning.

packrat · May 31, 2022

Quote" I have always had an issue finding an oil gun suitable for the zerk on the head stock of a Myford lathe, they either leaked or didn't work well.
Ordered one of these and hoping for the best! "

Vietti, I have had the same problem the last oner of the Myford ML7 lathe that I have now, pumped it full of grease in all the zerks.????
It has been a real mess trying clean it all out. I have been looking at that oil gun at H&W also. Let us know how well it works.

Vietti · Jun 4, 2022

Got my oiler today. All plastic but doesn't seem to leak. Problem is the zerks on the Myford, esp the gear train are not standard zerks at least to an american. Really need a needle nose spout. The oiler works best works best on zerks in head stock and tail stock. Do the english zerks have an unusual thread or can they be replaced?

Also the system for engaging the zerk is problematic as it is mostly a small plastic sleeve inside the nozzle that is supposed to help seal around the zerk but comes out easily. I bet someone here can figure a way to fix/improve the problems and I hope they will report it here.

I think it is an OK tool but some improvements would make it better.

packrat · Jun 4, 2022

The zerks on the Myford are 2BA thread, I guess you could {we} could make new ones that work better..??
Thanks for your post.

Vietti · Jun 4, 2022

Some of the gear train oil points don't appear to be true zerks but part of the shaft or gear. What now? This is on a Super 7.

Bridgeport Problems

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