New mill Wells-Index 745

[dmittz]

Hey Guys, sorry for the time its been since my last post. I got quite sick for over 2 weeks and didn't feel up to working on the mill.

Anyway as promised I'm now starting work on the head. As requested I will also try to take really good pictures of the disassembally as a resource to others.

Please note the head was working fine so this just a tear down with the purpose of cleaning and painting. If anything seems really hard to get apart I may choose to leave it since it was all working.

The head with the 3ph motor removed:




I first removed this handle first. It had a small pin holding it in place which can be driven out with a punch.


Next was to remove the pulley from the belt guard.

Here is what it looks like with the cone belt pulley removed:


Here's the cone pulley:

At this point I realized working on the head with it on a rolling tool cart was unwise so I picked it up and move it to my work table. Wow, this head is pretty heavy! Be careful if you lifting it by hand like me, its heavier than it looks.

With the head in a safe spot the work could now continue...



After removing all the allen bolts I was able to remove the belt guard:




The belt guard is very heavily built. No way the belt guard would ever break in normal use, looks to be made of at least 3/8 or maybe 1/2 thick cast iron!

Here's the head with the guard removed:


There is a sturdy metal cover under where the pulley sat that just sits in place and can be easily removed:

Under that cover is a large gear drive, maybe the back gears?

These gears spin very easily and smoothly.

There are 3 nuts at the bottom of this assembally which you remove to take it off. Then just gently slide the assembally off:



Here'a what the underside of this gear drive assemablly looks like:

And here is what is under that assemablly:



Here is a real life exploded view of the top of the head:






Hope the pictures will serve as a resource for Wells-index owners.

All the best until next time...

 

[dmittz]

Next up was to start working on taking apart the cone pulley assemablly. After taking the 4 bolts out, then used a magnet to remove this top cover, it sits flush to the housing and its hard to remove otherwise:



After that there is a collar that is threaded onto the spindle.

Next this 'spring loaded' washer is removed:

That revealed a nice bearing labeled: 'Made in USA'

Question for the forum: How do you separate the pulley from the bearing/housing?

I tried gently using a puller but it didn't seem to want to come apart and I didn't want to force it and break something.

I would like to repack the bearing with new grease if possible but since its working fine I can leave it if its badly stuck together.

 

[azshadeguy]

Question for the forum: How do you separate the pulley from the bearing/housing?

I did not even try to remove that bearing on mine

 

[dmittz]

I did not even try to remove that bearing on mine

Thanks for the reply, yes I am leaning toward not taking it apart. I have a hydraulic press and I could make it come out if its a press fit, but since its working fine Indon't think its worth the risk of breaking the casting.

 

[dmittz]

So I did a little more work on the mill.

First of I decided to clean up the belt guard. I removed the 2 retaining pins and took off the name plate.



I let the belt guard soak in my purple power bin for a few hours. That did a good job of removing all the grime and most of the green paint.



I'm trying to decide if I should actually strip this casting down to bare metal of just scuff and repaint as the original gray paint is not in to bad of shape....

Next up was to start work on the back gear:

There is a small set screw that is removed first.

Next the threaded retaining ring is removed.

Then a second threaded retaining ring is removed.

After that the large gear can be removed.

Here is what is underneath the gear:

Next remove the pins on the lever on the side of the casting.
Then remove the internal bearings and 'spindle'

I was able to disconnect the internal linkage to the lever system that moves the gear up and down, so I could remove the 'sleeve'.

There are some set screws and pins on the internal linkage to remove before it can be taken apart...


After removing the nut on the pulley I had to use a 3 jaw puller to remove it.



Speed range tag removed:

I also was able to remove the top bearing for the small gear... however the even once the bottom bearing is unseated the gear there isn't enough room to remove the small gear from the casting... I guess it doesn't really need to come out.

Casting after a scrub in the parts washer, the small gear is just sitting in place.



Here's where I left things for now:

 

[dmittz]

I was able to get the castings in the top of the head all cleaned up and stripped to bare metal:



I also got some of the components degreesed and cleaned up:



After cleaning all the parts look like thier brand new.

More updates to come...

 

[brino]

This is a great "photo essay" and a wonderful public service.
I am sure all these pictures will really help someone get their machine back together.
Thanks for sharing!
-brino

 

[dmittz]

Thank you Brino, I certainly hope this thread can be of some help to others.

 

[dmittz]

Made a little more progress on the Mill. Spent some time taping off all the non-paint surfaces on the upper head castings, then laid down some epoxy primer followed by some high build primer.

 

[azshadeguy]

You are doing an excellent job. When are you going to get to the head?
I am trying to figure out how to get this fork installed