Pillar drill

[Seadog]

Usually the taper is marked on the body of the chuck, often near to the hole.

 

[Benterrier]

On going with the Fobco star overhaul. I want to replace the bearings in the quill and not sure how to pull it apart. Having some problems removing the collar on the RHS (grub screw removed). If this was removed does the whole shaft move from left to right, do I have to take the grease nipple out.

 

[Benterrier]

Picture didn't upload?

 

[Rannsachair]

On going with the Fobco star overhaul. I want to replace the bearings in the quill and not sure how to pull it apart. Having some problems removing the collar on the RHS (grub screw removed). If this was removed does the whole shaft move from left to right, do I have to take the grease nipple out.

When I stripped mine down, I watched this video first:

 

[Benterrier]

Thanks for the video, great.

 

[Per Hall]

Fobco are good drills, though there are a few others: Meddings, Startright etc. I have seen a few at good prices on Gumtree and Facebook Market place, especially when the seller does not mention the make.

I am a fan of old quality machine tools, using my Fobco is a night and day better experience to use than my cheap Ferm that it replaced.

Hi There,
I inherited a friends uncles Fobco star pillar drill. Can anyone talk me through moving the fan belt up and down the pulleys to change speed? It’s on the second from the bottom which runs around 1000rpm but it would be nice to move it to the bottom to the 450rpm position.
I appreciate there are 2 levers to loosen and the motor assembly can slide in to take the slack off the belt but it’s not “slack enough”. I wonder if the belt is so old it’s got too short and a new belt would work with the motor slid out further. The sliders work without force (gentle lever between motor and casing with 2 big screwdrivers and it slides to take up the slack in the belt)
the belt says Fenner A936 Fobco.
Maybe I should just leave it alone! Runs beautifully.
Any guidance?
Thanks
Per Hall

 

[MattF]

Undo the locking bolt(s) on the motor mounting arm(s), slide the motor forward, adjust. Slide back & lock to retension the belt.

If the belts not loose enough to slip pulleys, just rotate one pulley by hand as you slip/guide the belt, with your fingers, onto a smaller section of the pulley. Do the opposite at the other end. Don't snag a finger between the belt & pulley. It hurts. Make sure the machine's unplugged when you do it.

 

[Paul.]

I could be wrong but it looks as if the belt is not at the same level in both pulleys, a picture showing both pulleys would help.

 

[Agroshield]

Post #8

Fobco Drive Belt

Anyone got a Fobco Star? Any idea what belt size/length it takes. I have just bought one and the belt looks tatty and is sloppy.. I wonder whether i should get a replacement. Any ideas? Jon

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[duncans]

Fobco are good drills, though there are a few others: Meddings, Startright etc. I have seen a few at good prices on Gumtree and Facebook Market place, especially when the seller does not mention the make.

I am a fan of old quality machine tools, using my Fobco is a night and day better experience to use than my cheap Ferm that it replaced.

yes i got my Fobco off face book at a bargain price of £40.00 what a bargain you need to be lucky and be the 1st person to contact the seller and go fetch the drill straight away as others who see the advert offer more for the drills mate

 

[Per Hall]

Undo the locking bolt(s) on the motor mounting arm(s), slide the motor forward, adjust. Slide back & lock to retension the belt.

If the belts not loose enough to slip pulleys, just rotate one pulley by hand as you slip/guide the belt, with your fingers, onto a smaller section of the pulley. Do the opposite at the other end. Don't snag a finger between the belt & pulley. It hurts. Make sure the machine's unplugged when you do it.

Thank you. The picture shows the belt as slack as I could get it after releasing the motor and I couldn’t guide it off one pulley by hitching it onto an edge and manually turning to try to pull it over the edge onto the next pulley up. I’ve ordered a new belt snd if it feels stretchier I might bravely cut the old one off ( probably could get the new one started before committing to cutting old one off maybe?)

 

[Per Hall]

I could be wrong but it looks as if the belt is not at the same level in both pulleys, a picture showing both pulleys would help.

Thanks for this observation. The picture was taken with the motor as slack as possible. When I tension the belt it is on the same ring on each pulley (ie on the second from bottom on each side). I’ll report back when I get a replacement belt!

 

[merryman]

I have a Fobco Star but the motor is a bit tired and it is 1/2" max with a Jacobs taper. I have Morse drills for the lathe. So, spotted this on eBay last week, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOBCO-7-...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 rather far away but started off at 99 pence, so watched it. Couldn't believe how much it sold for, no motor and no belt pulleys, or handle as far as I can see.

 

[Agroshield]

Have a little look at how the motor is mounted. If the motor has been changed in the past and an adapter plate used to mount the new one to the factory mount, it may be pushing the motor back far enough to make belt changing difficult.

I am guessing there is nothing (like a projecting bolt) stopping the motor mount sliding forward to its full extent or it is not fouling on any electrical box or conduit.

Jam a thin screwdriver between belt and pulley and then slide the belt up the shaft of the screwdriver. You can remove a car fan belt when it is fully tensioned, and the one on the drill is a lot slacker than that.