Index Model 645 Mill

My thought was that the yellowish green color in the top section of the gearbox was mostly oil. In the lubrication manual for this machine, it states that in early machines, the upper gearbox was filled with Mobil Vactra HH oil. In later machines, it was packed with Mobilplex EP No 0 grease. The big glob of grease on the shifter bar (upper right corner) seems to have come from the bearing housing on the upper ends of those shafts, which has a grease zerk.
 
My suggestion is to fill it with General Lubriplate 105 grease. Not quite as thin as the old Mobil stuff was, but nice if you ask me. You can still get Mobil Vactra HH gear oil. May have to buy a 5 gallon bucket of it! In fact, you may be able to get a quart of it from your local auto supply or Amazon. It doesn't need any heavy grease. Not like it will be running 24 hours a day 7 seven days a week year after year. Ken
 
Nice job the old oil filled ones had a sight glass on the side panel.yours looks like it had a sight glass above the slip clutch handle hard to tell from the picture. minje was starting to get hardened grease when i pulled it apart but turned out ok.Good luck you seem to be doing well I know what you are going thru.
 
You could put some of that greenish oil on a hot surface- if you see bubbles there's water in it
MS
 
The color of that grease makes it appear to have been contaminated with water, no?

Turns out you were right...

You could put some of that greenish oil on a hot surface- if you see bubbles there's water in it
MS

Thanks for the recommendation. I tried it and sure enough, it boiled like crazy. So I guess the gear box will require a more thorough cleaning than I thought. :apologize:
 
I worked a little yesterday on trying to get the quill and spindle out. I'm working under the assumption that the quill feed shaft has to come out before the quill can be removed. Is that correct?

On another note, the quill counterbalance spring is corroded and broken.
image.jpeg
Anybody ever tried to make one of these?
 
Is it actually broke? It looks more crudded up than anything. The end of the spring should be squared off, looks like it is broken off on a taper. If it is, square up the end and continue to use it. I would suggest not unwinding it! Unless it's actually broke somewhere in the length of the spring, continue to use it. To me, it appears fine other than cleaning it up as geed as you can. The end of the spring just slips into a slit in the piece that is on the rack pinion shaft.

May also check with Wells Index and see if a new spring assembly is available if you want to go that route.

Ken
 
I think it's broken about 2 or 3 coils in from the center. I haven't verified that yet though.
 
Those are welded links, and a decent dia., I think it's plenty strong for what your hanging. I have become a great fan of slings and other woven straps. They are strong, easy to use, and they don't tend to tear things up like a chain can. Mike
 
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