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question about Delta 17-950 drill press quill play

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question about Delta 17-950 drill press quill play

Edited Solution #1

The chuck and arbor fell from the spindle as they occasionally do. When I reassembled them, I got a measured run-out of .003" using a trusted 5" long 13/32 drill blank with the original keyed chuck. I measured this ~ 2 1/2" from the jaws. It was the best I could achieve, similar to my previous best values. I have found this satisfactory, even using a substantial Milwaukee hole dozer. Still, I noticed that the dial indicator needle moved .005-.007 accompanied by a mechanical click when I moved the quill/spindle assembly back and forth or side to side. I have read that Delta and many similar drill presses no longer had user-adjustable quill collars. However, I found some observations from owners that the slotted bolt just in front of the spindle return spring could be used to snug the quill/spindle assembly. The Delta manual shows this bolt in the photo but does not address its function. My OCD kicked in and I had the time to address this, so I loosened the nut, expecting to free the bolt. The bolt turned freely but limitedly, no more than 15-20°. It didn't affect the waggle. When I retightened the nut against the two split washers, I noted that excessive tightening prevented the spindle and chuck from rising when I released the feed lever. It seemed an unintended and unusable distortion.

Subsequently, I found a YouTube video of an owner adjusting his Porter Cable drill press.  He had the same slotted bolt with limited rotation and no evident function.

https://youtu.be/fMh7OossC_4?si=uXDCcsp-xZmOIWgC&t=67

Finally, I found this piece on correcting radial quill play. The writer operated on his press, taking it to a milling table where the housing was split, allowing it to be tightened around the errant quill.

https://www.instructables.com/Drill-Press-Quill-Play-Fix/I'm not proposing surgery nor interested in acquiring a vertical mill to turn my cheap Forstners. I want only to know the purpose of the slotted bolt. You may have one in your unit too :-)

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[2025-01-09 12:05:09 Edited for formatting - admin]

Added later 5 h 15 min 06 s:

I guess no one knows or cares about this bolt, and now I don't either. I reduced the run-out to .002 by removing the chuck with its attached Morse taper and gently tapping it back into place. The drill is well-built, still made in the USA when I bought it in the early 2000s. The run-out was measured at full belt tension and also with the belt removed from the drive pulley. It stayed the same. It's my favorite machine.

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Re: question about Delta 17-950 drill press quill play

#2

admin

Here is a response from Perplexity AI. Sometimes it provides good information; sometimes it's way off. Is any of this useful? IDK as this is well outside my wheelhouse and I couldn't tell the difference between a Delta 17-950 and a Delta Boeing 747.

How can I adjust Delta 17-950 drill press quill play?

To adjust the quill play on a Delta 17-950 drill press, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the quill adjustment screw, which is typically found just in front of the return spring[2].

  2. Use a wrench to loosen the lock nut on the adjustment screw.

  3. Turn the adjustment screw slowly clockwise until you feel the quill bind slightly[2].

  4. Back off the screw counterclockwise until the quill moves freely but with minimal play[2].

  5. Hold the adjustment screw in place and tighten the lock nut to secure the setting.Test the quill movement by extending it fully and checking for play. Aim for less than 0.5 inches of deflection when applying lateral pressure[1].

If this adjustment doesn't sufficiently reduce play, you may need to consider more advanced solutions:

  1. Some users have modified their drill press by cutting a slit in the housing parallel to the quill axis and adding an adjustment bolt to apply pressure on the bore[5].

  2. In severe cases, you might need to address wear in the cast iron bore that houses the quill, which can occur over time[5].

Remember that a small amount of play (around 0.001"-0.002") is normal and necessary for smooth operation. If you're experiencing excessive play (e.g., 0.012"-0.013"), it may be worth contacting a Delta service center for professional assessment and repair[7].

Citations:
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4A3s6zAF1c
[2] https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/quill-adjustment-screw.50652/
[3] https://www.finewoodworking.com/forum/experience-with-delta-959l-drill-press
[4] http://pdf.lowes.com/useandcareguides/028877553641_use.pdf
[5] https://www.instructables.com/Drill-Press-Quill-Play-Fix/
[6] https://familywoodworking.org/forums/index.php
[7] https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php

Re: question about Delta 17-950 drill press quill play

#3

I use Perplexity as my AI source, and I like it. I did not think to use it for this obscure question. It would have saved me time. The quill did bind when I tightened the lock nut, not the screw, but the effect was the same so I may have benefitted unknowingly (I smile at point #5. The 0.5" deflection of a drill press drive belt was conflated with drill run out). Thanks, Peter!

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