I've got a Delta 16 1/2" drill press and the spindle adapter keeps dropping
out. The surface of the tang on the adapter is clean and it appears to
wedge firmly up into the unit but invariably it will drop down during usage.
Makes no difference, light or heavy drilling it keeps falling out of the
unit. Not only a big bother but it can be dangerous.

I thought about using a mallet to knock it into place but am a little leary.
Any ideas on how to get this to stay put ?

Thanks,
Ed

1) clean the taper real good - I've used lacquer thinner in the past.
2) insert the chuck by hand.
3) open the jaws on the chuck fully.
4) place a piece of wood on the flat part of the chuck and then give it
a good whack with a mallet.
5) you're done!


Woody

"Anonymous" wrote in message
oups.com...

1) clean the taper real good - I've used lacquer thinner in the past.
*******
1a) Clean the inside of the spindle
*******
2) insert the chuck by hand.
3) open the jaws on the chuck fully.
4) place a piece of wood on the flat part of the chuck and then give it
a good whack with a mallet.
5) you're done!


Woody

Use the mallet. Standard method in every machine shop I've worked in.

"Ed Walsh" wrote in message
...
I've got a Delta 16 1/2" drill press and the spindle adapter keeps
dropping
out. The surface of the tang on the adapter is clean and it appears to
wedge firmly up into the unit but invariably it will drop down during
usage.
Makes no difference, light or heavy drilling it keeps falling out of the
unit. Not only a big bother but it can be dangerous.

I thought about using a mallet to knock it into place but am a little
leary.
Any ideas on how to get this to stay put ?

Thanks,
Ed

The mating surfaces need to be clean and dry. 9 times out of 10, IME,
this will work:

clean both the male & female surfaces with a degreasing, "drying" type
cleaner, like automotive brake cleaner or (EPA & god forgive) MEK. You
are on the right track with the mallet. After the surfaces are clean &
dry, push the adapter up into the spindle. You can bring the spindle
down against the table to set it, but always give it a good whack or 2
with a heavy mallet, or, with a block of wood and a steel hammer,
about 2 lbs is right.

--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

http://www.beautifuliron.com/mttaper.htm

Ed Walsh wrote:

I've got a Delta 16 1/2" drill press and the spindle adapter keeps dropping
out. The surface of the tang on the adapter is clean and it appears to
wedge firmly up into the unit but invariably it will drop down during usage.
Makes no difference, light or heavy drilling it keeps falling out of the
unit. Not only a big bother but it can be dangerous.

I thought about using a mallet to knock it into place but am a little leary.
Any ideas on how to get this to stay put ?

Thanks,
Ed

This can be frustrating. I discovered that the mating surface have to
be spotlessly clean. After wiping with kerosene, I use the 92%
alcohol and a paper towel to clean off all the kerosene residue--do
this twice being extra careful not to touch the mating surfaces with
your hands. A fingerprint leaves oil on the surface. Use a rubber,
plastic or rawhide mallet to tap the chuck in place--a low-to-medium
strength whack is what it took. No more dropping out. The only
time I may have dropping out is when I use the drill press mortising
attachment (some day I will buy a dedicated mortising machine.)

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:16:35 -0400, "Ed Walsh"
wrote:

I've got a Delta 16 1/2" drill press and the spindle adapter keeps dropping
out. The surface of the tang on the adapter is clean and it appears to
wedge firmly up into the unit but invariably it will drop down during usage.
Makes no difference, light or heavy drilling it keeps falling out of the
unit. Not only a big bother but it can be dangerous.

I thought about using a mallet to knock it into place but am a little leary.
Any ideas on how to get this to stay put ?

Thanks,
Ed