Fobco 10 Eight recommission / repairs

[pc18]

Back in Sept 2023 i bought a few bits and pieces from a steelwork fab shop which was selling everything off. The main thing i bought was this Fobco 10 eight drill. After winning the auction me and a mate drove up to Annan to collect it. Luckily there was a crane in the building we could use which made things easy so i just drove my pickup into the shop and we lowered it into my Hilux bed and off we went.

384116084_1562876451184650_4269151128328757632_n by Bean Beano, on Flickr

I didnt really have any where to store it at the time as i would be moving house not long after but a friend let me keep it in his barn.

383396240_3534790213429030_3256326477506182719_n by Bean Beano, on Flickr

There it sat until a few weeks ago as i had finally got my new workshop built and started to move things into it, again we lifted it with the tractor then i lifted it off and put it into a rough position with my digger.

20260208_172213 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

Thats how it was basically from when i bought it as i never got chance to do anything with it. Still swarf in the table and oil and grease all over it, probably a good thing with it sitting a while.

The past few nights ive made a start cleaning it up a bit and finally getting a chance to give it a look over. As it was from an auction i dont know if it even works at this point.

A few things ive noticed on it. The quill does not return and it looks like the spring has snapped, i think there should be a wavy washer which is missing also to keep some tension on the depth dial.

20260218_200316 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

Looks like i can get a new spring here

spring

On the front pulley i noticed this plate where on pictures of other drills ive noticed a grease fitting. Any ideas whats going on here? The plate has been rubbing on the top casing too.

20260218_165242 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

From a closer look at the front pulley, when i spun it by hand it doesnt look like its sitting flat. I gave the top of it a little clean with some brake cleaner and noticed someone has maybe been hitting it with a hammer as there are some cracks in the pulley.

20260218_202939 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

I found a grease fitting which fit but i dont think its going to work very well.

If anyone has any ideas why the pully isnt sat right, could the keyway be worn maybe?

The plan isnt to restore the drill i just want it so i can use it. I dont have 3 phase electric, i did get a quote to get it ran to my bungalow with me digging the trench and they wanted £30k! So instead i got my main fuse uprated to 100 amps as it only had a 60 amp fitted.
So my plan was to fit a VFD, i found this one which i thought might do the job but what do you guys think?

VFD

A few more pics

20260215_174920 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

20260218_203802 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

20260218_204210 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

This is where im at now.

Cleaned it up a bit. I removed the gear selector plate to clean the gearbox out and check it over. Everything looks good in there but it didnt have much oil left in it. I have cleaned and sealed the selector plate with RTV as it had been leaking. I have got a container of ISO 68 to refill it when the RTV has gone off.

20260219_192247 by Bean Beano, on Flickr

I also need to get hold of a chuck key for it. I think it has a Jacobs No36 on it if i remember right.
I still have work to do finishing off my garage and getting a proper electric supply ran to it. But i can do bits on the drill in my spare time.

Any pointers or advice would be much appreciated

 

[roofman]

Got yourself a very nice drill there, the table is in very good fettle. while you have the chance why dont you fully strip out the quill and replace the bearings if its going to be a keeper.

 

[Porkypine]

Love the old Fobco drills, the old one we had at the last place I worked just had a ( prob half or 3/4 hp) single phase motor bolted in, rather than mess with 3 phase, worked great.
I'd love one if I had anywhere to put it

 

[Gareth J]

If you have time and inclination, you can try rebending a tab onto the end of the spring. I've had mixed results trying seat of the pants feeling for heating, bending, quenching, tempering. Sometimes they're too hard and snap quickly, sometimes too soft and bend quickly. But often near enough. The rest of the spring does the work so as long as you can keep that cool and fashion something that will hold it in place, it'll work. Albeit with slightly reduced length.

 

[indy4x]

Lovely bit of kit, I have the 7 Eight, run it off a 1.5kW VFD which is more than enough for the motor.

VFD is wired directly to the motor, I have run cables so I can use the Fobco switches but thats another roundtoit so just control it from the VFD for now

Swapped out the chuck for a 16mm keyless jobbie

It's currently only used with the low speed gear engaged, I made a new gear selector pad out of plastic as the original was broken and it worked for a while but something has gone amiss since then and cant get it out of low range. Doesn't stop me using it just dont have the higher speeds

Mine came from a school that was closing, I had 1st dibs on the stuff in the metalworking class for essentially scrap value. I very nearly didn't take the Fobco as I already had a trailer full of 2 lathes and other stuff but couldn't leave it there so made a second trip to get it. Soo glad I did as its such a well made bit of kit

 

[pc18]

Got yourself a very nice drill there, the table is in very good fettle. while you have the chance why dont you fully strip out the quill and replace the bearings if its going to be a keeper.

Yeah i got lucky on it didn't i, the table just has one small area of damage but its not much at all. It was certainly worth the trip.
I might look into that at some point but I've got alot of other stuff to do first.

Love the old Fobco drills, the old one we had at the last place I worked just had a ( prob half or 3/4 hp) single phase motor bolted in, rather than mess with 3 phase, worked great.
I'd love one if I had anywhere to put it

Its a nice old drill isnt it. Any idea what sort of age this one would be? I like the idea of keeping the original motor and using the VFD to control the speed and have reverse on it also.

If you have time and inclination, you can try rebending a tab onto the end of the spring. I've had mixed results trying seat of the pants feeling for heating, bending, quenching, tempering. Sometimes they're too hard and snap quickly, sometimes too soft and bend quickly. But often near enough. The rest of the spring does the work so as long as you can keep that cool and fashion something that will hold it in place, it'll work. Albeit with slightly reduced length.

I was wondering about that. Tt might be worth a go before i order one. Cheers.

Lovely bit of kit, I have the 7 Eight, run it off a 1.5kW VFD which is more than enough for the motor.

VFD is wired directly to the motor, I have run cables so I can use the Fobco switches but thats another roundtoit so just control it from the VFD for now

Swapped out the chuck for a 16mm keyless jobbie

It's currently only used with the low speed gear engaged, I made a new gear selector pad out of plastic as the original was broken and it worked for a while but something has gone amiss since then and cant get it out of low range. Doesn't stop me using it just dont have the higher speeds

Mine came from a school that was closing, I had 1st dibs on the stuff in the metalworking class for essentially scrap value. I very nearly didn't take the Fobco as I already had a trailer full of 2 lathes and other stuff but couldn't leave it there so made a second trip to get it. Soo glad I did as its such a well made bit of kit

That sounds like a proper job. If i can get it working i might look into doing that also. Do you think the VFD ive linked will be ok? Ive got a few other chucks ive came across but not sure if they are any good. Will see how it goes. I know those plastic pieces your on about as i removed that selector to clean the gearbox out, mine looked fine luckily and engages nicely. Sounds like a good trip, I'm on the luck out for a lathe myself, I thought I had a Colchester triumph 2000 lined up but I'm not sure its going to work out now.