- Joined
- Feb 8, 2020
- Messages
- 5
I have a G0704 Mini Mill that I came across at for what I felt was a really good price.
It was purchased new 12/15. The original buyer never used it. It was still brand new.
His wife came down with medical issues right after he bought it so he never had time to do anything with it.
He was moving into a Senior center so it had to go.
So while I wasn't looking for a mill the price was too good to pass up plus it came with a free Delta 14" Bandsaw.
I have since sold the bandsaw but still have the mill.
I have had several issues in the first couple of months of using it.
1st the spindle runs very hot. So hot that its uncomfortable to touch it.
After running awhile it refuses to start. Let it sit overnight and cool down and it'll start again.
I was running it in high range at the time. Since then I've been running in low only and that seems to help.
The spindle still runs warm but no where near as hot.
The 2nd thing that happened is while running in high the intermediate gear set seized tight with the shifting fork.
Seems that the selector knob was rotated slightly past the high detent and this forced the fork against the gear set and cause exssive friction.
New gear set and all is well.
Be fore warned about running this thing in high with the knob not in the detent.
3rd thing is the plastic gear that meshes with the motor got stripped in a couple of spots.
Turns out the mounting of the motor plate thru the 6 shcs was not very accurate.
When the shcs are tightened up they put the motors gear and the plastic gear in a poor place as far as the mesh between the two.
I actually stripped the gear myself by checking the torque of the mill while it was running.
I put my hand around the spindle and squeezed slightly. That little bit of resistance was enough to strip the gear.
Another new gear and opening up of the holes on the mounting plate allowing the motor plate and motor to move around solved this.
I could then push the motor tight against the plastic gear so that there was a better meshing going on.
My current issue is after trying to power tap a 5/16-18 hole in aluminum the mill wouldn't start.
It pops the GFI breaker on the outlet.
SO after doing a couple of checks to find where the issue is it starts again.
Now I can't find where the issue is.
I'm in the middle of project that I'd like to get done so I don't want to poke the bear.
I'm just going to limp the thing thru then I'll doing some more checking.
Right now I'm wondering about the forward/reverse switch.
What my biggest question is about the kicking out and refusing to start after it gets warm/hot.
The spindle running hot, is this normal? I've run lots of "real" mills and never seen a spindle run hot.
I can turn the spindle by hand but I would say I'd expect it to turn easier than it does.
Especially since this is such a small mill.
If I could get the running hot and occasional no start issue cured I might start warming up to this thing.
Right now, I'm not at all impressed by this thing.
I like the small size and being 120v is nicer and makes things easier than having to have 220.
The travels are OK but the Z is limited at 2".
Everything is a little on the crude side but I guess thats to be expected.
Any tips help on my issues and concerns?
It was purchased new 12/15. The original buyer never used it. It was still brand new.
His wife came down with medical issues right after he bought it so he never had time to do anything with it.
He was moving into a Senior center so it had to go.
So while I wasn't looking for a mill the price was too good to pass up plus it came with a free Delta 14" Bandsaw.
I have since sold the bandsaw but still have the mill.
I have had several issues in the first couple of months of using it.
1st the spindle runs very hot. So hot that its uncomfortable to touch it.
After running awhile it refuses to start. Let it sit overnight and cool down and it'll start again.
I was running it in high range at the time. Since then I've been running in low only and that seems to help.
The spindle still runs warm but no where near as hot.
The 2nd thing that happened is while running in high the intermediate gear set seized tight with the shifting fork.
Seems that the selector knob was rotated slightly past the high detent and this forced the fork against the gear set and cause exssive friction.
New gear set and all is well.
Be fore warned about running this thing in high with the knob not in the detent.
3rd thing is the plastic gear that meshes with the motor got stripped in a couple of spots.
Turns out the mounting of the motor plate thru the 6 shcs was not very accurate.
When the shcs are tightened up they put the motors gear and the plastic gear in a poor place as far as the mesh between the two.
I actually stripped the gear myself by checking the torque of the mill while it was running.
I put my hand around the spindle and squeezed slightly. That little bit of resistance was enough to strip the gear.
Another new gear and opening up of the holes on the mounting plate allowing the motor plate and motor to move around solved this.
I could then push the motor tight against the plastic gear so that there was a better meshing going on.
My current issue is after trying to power tap a 5/16-18 hole in aluminum the mill wouldn't start.
It pops the GFI breaker on the outlet.
SO after doing a couple of checks to find where the issue is it starts again.
Now I can't find where the issue is.
I'm in the middle of project that I'd like to get done so I don't want to poke the bear.
I'm just going to limp the thing thru then I'll doing some more checking.
Right now I'm wondering about the forward/reverse switch.
What my biggest question is about the kicking out and refusing to start after it gets warm/hot.
The spindle running hot, is this normal? I've run lots of "real" mills and never seen a spindle run hot.
I can turn the spindle by hand but I would say I'd expect it to turn easier than it does.
Especially since this is such a small mill.
If I could get the running hot and occasional no start issue cured I might start warming up to this thing.
Right now, I'm not at all impressed by this thing.
I like the small size and being 120v is nicer and makes things easier than having to have 220.
The travels are OK but the Z is limited at 2".
Everything is a little on the crude side but I guess thats to be expected.
Any tips help on my issues and concerns?
