Meddings MF4 Mk2 Pillar Drill

[Brad93]

I have a lot of part numbers and information to share on these drills now that may help members in the future.

Pictured here is the brochure with specifications for this drill.

Also the lower gearbox bearing retaining plate with oil seal. This stops the oil from the gearbox travelling down the spindle. Obsolete part from meddings. I’ll get dimensions though.

Last photo is two new lower bearings for the gearbox. The input shaft which the high/low gear rides on, runs on two Hoffman LS7 bearings (⅝” bore). Replaced with new old stock Hoffman bearings.

The spindle shaft which the sacrificial Tufnol gears sit on, run on metric bearings, Hoffman 125 V3 bearings (now obsolete). I have replaced with modern Koyo 6205. 52mm OD 25mm ID.

I have also attached Meddings part lists for the complete head and gearbox sub assembly.

 

[Brad93]

Pictured here is the gearbox lid with new bearings installed. Note the bearings sit proud of the lip once the retaining caps/plates are installed on top.

Again Koyo 6205 for the spindle bearing and Hoffman NOS LS7 bearing for the input shaft.

 

[Brad93]

If, like me, you find the High/Low gearbox handle keeps falling out of high gear (damaging the Tufnol gear) then this is the part that needs to be replaced.

Part 119 and Part 120.
(I have a spare set if anyone needs some)

The balls are ⅛” ball bearings and the spring is... TBA

 

[Brad93]

The next job on my list is to tackle the quill and remove the Angular Contact bearing Race (which is stuck).

Thankfully it is metric although the original appears to have no markings or brand.

It’s 52mm OD x 25mm ID and had a brass cage.

The replacement I will order is a
It could be available from meddings but I’m not getting stung again by them.

 

[Mark Davison]

I have the same machine. Have you found the oil level specified anywhere? And if you find a supplier for that output shaft lower oil seal I'd like to know, as far as I can tell they are long since obsolete and no one I've spoken to can find anything with the same dimensions. Watch you don't mark the output shaft when pressing the lower bearing back on. I did, it was almost imperceptible but caused an oil leak that took for ever to diagnose!

 

[Mark Davison]

Oh, a watch that locking collar on the spindle. I eventually gave up with it working loose and swapped it for a half split clamp type (made my own).

 

[brewdexta]

Hi Brad, here's the the thread on my Meddings resto including quill bearing sizes https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...m-drill-restoration.72077/page-8#post-1147894

 

[Seadog]

And if you find a supplier for that output shaft lower oil seal I'd like to know, as far as I can tell they are long since obsolete and no one I've spoken to can find anything with the same dimensions

You may have to find something that fits the shaft and adjust the housing to suit. I had to do that with my Ingersoll-Rand crankcase plate.

 

[Brad93]

Here’s the data plate from my drill.

“⅓ - ⅔ of a pint Tellus 23”

 

[Turbo]

Great thread Brad, some great info there!

Could I suggest that we start a sub thread within the members section to put info like this on various machines including parts lists & manuals. I have a few useful pdfs I have acquired that I could upload, I'm sure many others do.

 

[Turbo]

Here’s the data plate from my drill.

“⅓ - ⅔ of a pint Tellus 23”

View attachment 287471

Tellus 23 is a light hydraulic oil, called something else now.

 

[Brad93]

Tellus 23 is a light hydraulic oil, called something else now.

Iso 22

 

[Seadog]

Could I suggest that we start a sub thread within the members section to put info like this on various machines including parts lists & manuals.

I suggested this months ago. Nothing happened.

 

[Brad93]

Quill/Spindle bearings just ordered. My quill is the same as @brewdexta which is handy as i just typed the bearing code for the upper bearing into the search bar.

Bottom Bearing: Single Row Angular Contact Bearing - Original is the open type with a brass cage.
I've opted for a FAG Brass Caged Open Type £28+VAT - Bearing Code 7205BM - 52mm x 25mm x 15mm

Upper Bearing: Deep Groove Open Type. 17mm ID x 40mm OD x 12mm Thick
I've opted for a Koyo bearing. £4.35+VAT. - Bearing Code 6203

So in total now this drill has had about £100 in bearings. Hopefully its a bit quieter at high RPM once we have finished.

 

[Brad93]

A quick tally of what I’ve spent not including the drill.

New Pulley - Meddings - £95
New Tufnol Gear - Meddings - £70
Replacement Gear Selector Shaft - Made Myself
Replacement Gear Detent Spring & Ball Bearings + Belt - Meddings - £40 Minimum Order
Koyo 6205 Bearings x2 - Henderson Bearings - £13
NOS LS7 Bearings - Henderson Bearings - £47
Quill Bearings - simply bearings - £41

Total = £306 not including time

 

[Brad93]

I believe we paid £100/150 for the drill

 

[Brad93]

It will be a bloody tight drill once it’s all back together though.

 

[lotus_esprit_s1]

I have completely rebuilt my Boxford PD8 drill, I ended up buying NOS bearings off eBay, was much cheaper than Simply bearings, RHP branded 7205 was £10, SKF KLNJ1 were £8 each.

 

[Milkybars]

@Brad93 you doing it for the love of it, because there is no pot of gold at the end of this particular rainbow

 

[Fastdruid]

Tellus 23 is a light hydraulic oil, called something else now.

I found this online oil shop which has a nice lookup for old pre-iso grades of oil to more modern ones https://www.alexoil.co.uk/content/category/2-machine-tool-lubricant-reference-guide

No affiliation, I've not even bought from them, just something I found rather useful.