Les Newell wrote:
Hi Nathan,
This a a fairly common problem. After a lot of use the slideway oil tends to leave a gummy deposit where the quill slides in the head. I found that taking the front cover off, cleaning out the oil then pouring in some cellulose (lacquer) thinners and running the quill up and down a few hundred times helped wash out the crap.
My method of freeing a Bridgeport quill that was binding was to extend it fully and
wipe axle grease all over the quill, then retract and work in and out a few times,
then extend fully again. Wipe off the grease PLUS all the grit, chips, etc. that have
stuck to the grease, then repeat. When the grease comes off the quill without little
sparkly bits in it, then you can wipe it off and relube with oil.
Before the purists jump all over me, this is for a quill that is BADLY contaminated
and full of score marks. Don't do this on a shiny and smooth Bridgeport quill, or
you may bind it up even worse. I had to beat the quill out of my head casting
with a large wood block and a sledge hammer. It had been fully retracted and left
in a garage for 15 - 20 years. It is a tribute to Bridgeport's fine machining that it
still works fine after all that. I got LOTS of chips out of the space between the quill
and housing. I assume it was all packed into the score marks, as the quill is still
a VERY snug fit.
Jon
