Thread: 0 mill strip down and clean

Since it was a long weekend I thought I might as well start on the 0 mill, when I purchased it the plan was to strip it down and give it a really good clean before I start to use it. I don't think it has been used a great deal in its life and the vertical head I don't think has ever been used. Unfortunately though as most of these mills end up with grease in them because people just assume that is what goes in the nipples this was no different so it became a complete strip down, really did not want to go down the road of painting it as it is in good condition apart from a few chunks of paint that have come off around the place but I am really happy with how it is coming along so far.

Also I have made a little arbour for holding some 40mm od x .5mm slitting saws, needed it to come out far enough to be able to use on the dividing head so it is being driven by a 3c collet, I am hoping it works for me

Originally Posted by Tinkerer77

Unfortunately though as most of these mills end up with grease in them because people just assume that is what goes in the nipples...

I had that with my mill too. (The person who sold it to me suggested that this was fine to do, even though the manual specifically said oil). One thing that I was told may help was to load up an oil gun with kerosene, and use that to break up/ flush out some of the grease before then pumping oil through. A major strip down would be better, but as a next best thing -

Michael

This may come in handy when I put mine back together. Been a few years since I took it apart, so probably forgotten where a few bits belong.

hi Steve, looks good there.

Any chance you can show the parts of the main spindle whiles its dismantled?

and the other question is while you have it apart is where exactly does the oil nipple/oil way go thats in the large end of the 4 step pulley on the main spindle?

cheers

Hi Steve

The nipple on the 4 step pulley is the oil feed for when you run it in back gear, same set up as the lathe, its just at the front not the middle. you may see in the photos there is a little bit of damage on the spindle from lack of lubrication in the cone pulley. Apart from that though it was in really good condition, I didn't even replace the bearings in the countershaft as they were really smooth and new bearings definitely are nowhere near as good as they once were

Also this one being the series 2 it has the 2 speed belt drive so you can see the cam in the back for adjusting the belt by slackening off the 2 bolts on the plate and it pivots on the pin on the right side.

thats awsome. thanks for that, really interesting and Im sure its useful for anyone who has yet to take theirs apart (including me)

Thank you Steve,

It is great to see some proper photos of the three slotter.

The greased nipple issue is sadly too commonplace. My O has a Dymo warning label attached its the door stating USE OIL ONLY. Someone paid no heed and clogged the cone pulley oilways resulting in a partial seizure of the spindle when I first started using the mill. There's galling on the spindle a bit worse than yours but after a careful cleanup and reassembly it has run faultlessly for the past fifteen years with oil lubrication.

Bob.

I have been on the hunt for a spare mounting bracket for the series 2 mill for the slotting attachment so I wouldn't have to change the shafts between the milling head gear and the crank for the slotter and I finally tracked one down, there is a blowout in the casting so I think it may be a reject but it is in a spot that will not affect it at all, I just need to clean it up and paint it now

I must say you are very good at sourcing and tracking down parts

I regularly run similar small slitting saws just driven in a collet and it works just fine although my uw1 is probably a lot less powerful than an O mill. I even went to a bunch off effort to build a more positive drive but its just not necessary.

I have been lucky enough to get in contact with a few guys who seem to have their contacts, the guy who gave me that part also had a whole heap of other spares as he picked them up from a guy who worked at Hercus. There was a series 2 0 mill column there as well the guy made into a wood lathe.

Originally Posted by kafie1980

I must say you are very good at sourcing and tracking down parts

I found that the support arm was a hindrance and actually made the shaft walk out of the collet, I was doing a cut and it gouged the top of the part I was slitting, it was very weird.

Originally Posted by caskwarrior

I regularly run similar small slitting saws just driven in a collet and it works just fine although my uw1 is probably a lot less powerful than an O mill. I even went to a bunch off effort to build a more positive drive but its just not necessary.

Originally Posted by Tinkerer77

I have been lucky enough to get in contact with a few guys who seem to have their contacts, the guy who gave me that part also had a whole heap of other spares as he picked them up from a guy who worked at Hercus. There was a series 2 0 mill column there as well the guy made into a wood lathe.

Good to know that, knowing you means we know them

After a quick fitment to make sure everything worked ok I gave it a quick paint and painted the rotary table while I was at it.

The video you posted on the slotting head in action looked smooth.