Moving an ENCO mill/Drill

Is there a trick to removing the table? I took out the gibb and lead screw, I believe it is supposed to lift out at this point?
No matter where or at what angle it always hits the dovetail.

I have to remove my new rf30 from a basement to bring it home and the seller never used it as it was his grandfathers.
We are fumbling around trying to figure out the best way to get it out of there. Grandpa must have paid someone to get it down there in '98.

I am bringing over my engine hoist so we can get the mill off the stand and then get the head off. I think we'll just strap the head (and then base) to an appliance dolly to move it up stairs. Hesitating to remove the motor but might do it if needed.
 
Remove the screws that hold the leadscrew brackets to the table on either end and allow the brackets to rotate down and out of the way. Then remove the gib and gib adjustment screw. This allows the table to move independent of the leadscrew. Then just slide the table to the left until it clears the dovetails and can be lifted off.
 
Will give that a shot, thanks!


Remove the screws that hold the leadscrew brackets to the table on either end and allow the brackets to rotate down and out of the way. Then remove the gib and gib adjustment screw. This allows the table to move independent of the leadscrew. Then just slide the table to the left until it clears the dovetails and can be lifted off.
 
So the engine hoist worked great for breaking down the mill. It was just too tall on the stand to get the head off safely. We carried up the head/motor, base/column, table and stand. The weight isn't really the problem, just awkward and slippery to keep a grip. Now I just have to get it out of the Xterra.

Did the op successfully move his machine?
 
Will the assembled machine (off the base) fit in a typical cargo van? I too have just purchased a mill/drill (Craftex B1977) via an auction. I have to pick it up on Saturday and the forecast is for rain. I need to rent a vehicle to bring it home (about 1.5 hour drive) and so I want to use a van to keep it dry. Just want to be sure that it will go into the van while dangling from an engine hoist (ala @stioc ). The manual says the overall height is 43.5 inches. There were about 300 lots in the auction so pickup on Saturday is likely to be a zoo. I won't have time to disassemble the machine much more than lifting it off the stand.

After I get it back to my garage, I'll take my time getting it ready to move to my basement shop.

BTW, thanks to everybody that contributed to this thread. Tonnes of good information!

Craig
 
One thing that I did when I got my mill/drill was to make a mark on the column before removing the column so I could put it back in the same position. The shims all when back in the same places and the mill was trammed without needing any adjustment. I broke mine down to 4 pieces. Motor, head/column, base and stand. Loaded them into my truck in that order so when I got home the stand came out first, then the base, next the head/column and finally the motor.
 
You will have to take it off of the stand, but it should fit in almost any van. You will have to have the rigging kept short so that the boom will not be to far above the mill so that it will fit thru the door.
Even if it will fit in the van while still on the stand, It will be very top heavy and want to tip while driving. Even the mill off the stand will still be top heavy and tippy. Lower the head as far as it will go to help lower the Center of Gravity. Put it as far forward as your hoist will get it. Bring a bunch of ratchet straps to tie it down good.

Since it is about 270 kg (600 lbs) and you will most likely have it at the very back of the cargo area that is hard on the vehicle and will make the front end lighter on the wheels, so be careful driving on wet slippery roads.

And don't forget pictures........
 
@Flyinfool Thanks for the good suggestions. As luck would have it, the rental place only had cube vans and I'm getting that for the same price as the cargo van. I'm still planning to take the machine off the stand--not sure the engine hoist would be able to lift it high enough to get it into the van otherwise. And I hear you about tie-down straps. I think I've got enough but I'm going to check.

Gotta say this whole one-shot-at-a-short-pickup window is kinda stressful. Moving machinery isn't my normal gig and it won't be fun if I don't have all the right stuff when I need it.

Craig
 
Agree with @Flyinfool - engine hoist will not be able to lift it into a truck/van with the stand; it may onto a trailer. Also the stand that mine came with is just sheet metal and for a drive it'll be very top heavy. So you will want to take it off the stand and lower the head as far as it'll go. Make sure the head clamping bolts are tight!

Where I picked mine up, the owner had one of those hydraulic carts, we unbolted the mill from the base (4 nuts/screws), lifted it on to the hydraulic cart table, then rolled it out to the truck and slid it into the bed. I positioned it up against the truck's cab and held it down with two 1000lbs ratchet straps around the column.

When lifting/moving heavy things I always assume it's going to fall so I keep myself and others well clear of it in case it does. Bring a buddy if you can, you should be good.
 
When I had to move a mill drill I drilled a 3/4" hole through the bottom of the sheet metal belt guard. I used a threaded rod with an eye nut on top and a plate and nut at the bottom. The plate spanned the opening in the casting. It was an easy pick with an engine hoist.
 
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