Terry Coombs wrote:

Big Fred wrote:
I have a HF Mini-Mill #44991 that needs to have the drill chuck
removed from the spindle in order to install a taper shank cutter. After
removing the spindle cover, I inserted the Fixing Pin into the
spindle sleeve and loosened the Spindle draw bar. The instructions
say that all I have to do is gently tap the taper shank (hidden by
the drill chuck?) and let the drill chuck fall out. As you would
guess, the drill chuck is stubborn and no matter where I hit the
drill chuck it remains fixed in the spindle. I am using a hard rubber
mallet. This machine is new and was shipped with the drill chuck
already installed on the spindle.
Is there a book or a video showing how to remove the drill chuck from
the spindle?

Big Fred

Rap the top of the drawbar sharply with a small hammer or a wood mallet . Be
sure you have the drawbar threaded well into the chuck taper so you don't
bugger up the threads on either . Once the taper pops loose you can unscrew
the drawbar .

This. Unscrew the drawbar a few turns and tap on it until the R8 taper
releases then finish unscrewing it and catching the released drill chuck
with R8 shank.

Be aware there is a locater pin in the spindle and a matching
groove in the collet or drill chuck adapter .

This is the key thing here, the HF mini mill is R8 taper, not the MT3
taper of some other brands of the mini mill (all made by Sieg). You can
not install an MT taper drill or the like in the HF mini mill spindle,
you have to use tooling that is R8 shank or that will fit in an R8
collet. The only exception is if you buy an R8 to MT adapter.