Need Help!- Rebuilding Bport VMC-412 Spindle Cartridge

[Mark McDade]

Folks,

I've taken my 1988 Bport VMC-412 spindle cartridge apart to work on the bearings and I'm stuck. The upper bearing (radial for motor pulley) is shot so I just pressed the spindle out of the housing, separating the upper bearing inner and outer races - so far, so good. The problem is that I can't figure out how to get the two spacers off that hold the upper bearing and the lower bearing stack in place. They have pin holes for spanners and, opposite the pin hole, each one has a 4mm fine thread screw hole. I've turned the top one with a lot of hand force (long cheater bar) using a spanner and it does turn some but doesn't seem to unscrew. I haven't touched the lower because I don't want to cause (more?) damage. So the questions are:

1. are the rings threaded (and, if so, right or left hand)?
2. are the rings just press fit (doesn't look likely but maybe . . .)?
3. are the rings locked some way (the small screw hole)?

The cross section drawing of the cartridge is helpful but certainly not a modern day 3-d model.

I know all the comments that may come back about this being something to turn over to a pro, however, I no longer use the machine to make a living and I can't justify the cost of a full rebuild - further, I'm stubborn and interested and would just like to do it myself :-))

TIA,

Mark

[Kiser]

Perhaps you are more familiar with Bridgeport spindle cartridges than I am, but Proceed with caution !!!!until you get it apart anyway, they can get a man hurt seriously with all the coinical washers involved. Where I work, we have to send them off for repair, sorry that I cannot help much. Kiser

[Mark McDade]

Kiser,

Thanks for the warning - I didn't know that the springs could be that dangerous. I wasn't planning to remove them, anyway, because they don't have to come out to change the bearings but, now, I'll certainly stay away from them!

Can you tell me who does your spindle repair?

Mark