Union horizontal boring machine - facing chuck inoperable
We have an old Union horizontal boring mill that we inherited. We haven't used it in a long time. I don't even know what model it is, but probably something like a BF (it's a manual machine). We wanted to start using it again for a particular task, but the facing chuck isn't working. The two levers that control the rotation/speed of the facing chuck and the spindle won't go to all positions. And even when it's in a position where the chuck should be spinning, it's not spinning. We did manage to get it spinning when operating the tool slide (this might have been the setting for a tapered cut?).
There's no easy way to open up the gear box and see what's happening. Does anyone have any simple ideas for troubleshooting? Perhaps we are doing something wrong. The one guy who knew the machine retired a few years ago.
Re: Union horizontal boring machine - facing chuck inoperable
The machine is actually a BFT-80 (built in 1957) and I was able to get a manual from Budget Machinery new and used machine tools UK & world wide.. We ended up cutting an access hole in the top of the gear box to find that the drive gear had completely sheared both keys (no surprise there). We painstakingly jacked the shaft out and made a new one.