Bushings for old Black & Decker hand drill

[Julius Henry MarxParticipant @juliushenrymarx92355]

[Julius Henry MarxParticipant @juliushenrymarx92355]

Hello:

I have a old (ca. 197X?) but perfectly working B&D hand drill which I use on a dedicated B&D stand.

Much better quality than what you see under the same brand these days.

I believe it is model U-124, similar to this one:

I purchased it second hand years ago with a bit of radial play but it did not matter at the time.

Now the time has come to replace the bronze bushings but I cannot source the right dimensions.

Has anyone here had a go at something like this?

I'd hate to lose a good tool.

Thanks in advance.

Best,

JHM

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

You could turn up some bushings from 510 phosphor bronze rod or 660 bronze rod, in just a few minutes, if you have access to a lathe. Unless you plan to pound this drill 8 / 7 / 365 they will last a long time if lubed with good grease or a drop of iso 32 hydraulic oil. Not critical to use Oilite sintered bushings in old B&D drills.

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

The gearbox/reduction unit resembles B&D drills of the early to mid 1970's and perhaps parts can be salvaged from an electrically destroyed donor.

Robert Butler

[egaParticipant @ega]

It looks older than 1970s; the bi-material construction is interesting.

[Julius Henry MarxParticipant @juliushenrymarx92355]

Hello:

Posted by Jeff Dayman on 24/05/2023 22:01:44:

> … some bushings from 510 phosphor bronze rod or 660 bronze rod …

> … if you have access to a lathe.

I now have my Unimat 3. 8^)

Purchased it to be able to get this type of thing done but there's always something …

I planned to use near size bushings to machine down but … 8^°

> … pound this drill 8 / 7 / 365 they will last a long time if lubed …

I may have overtaxed it a bit at some time or another, but not that much.

In any case, the bushings probably were already in regular shape when I got the drill.

> Not critical to use Oilite sintered bushings in old B&D drills.

Good to know.

Posted by Robert Butler on 24/05/2023 22:26:19:

> … unit resembles B&D drills of the early to mid 1970's and perhaps parts can be salvaged …

Yes, I thought of that but I risk spending money to open up a drill with bad bushings anyhow.

I have previously purchased bushings from a chap who made those same ones for the local B&D rep ~ 35/40 years ago, unfortunately he was not able to help.

He also commented that repair shops at the time had difficulties with the replacements bushings as even though they were the same spec as the original OEM ones (his shop made them), things did not work as intended.

He said that pressing the bushings in their lodging when manufacturing the drill is not the same as taking them out years later to put new ones in.

He's the bushing guy, so I'll have to take his word for it.

Next week I'll enquire about 510 phosphor bronze / 660 bronze stock and see what $$$ the usual suspects come up with.

Thank you both for your input.

Best,

JHM

[Julius Henry MarxParticipant @juliushenrymarx92355]

Hello:

Posted by ega on 24/05/2023 23:21:07:

It looks older than 1970s; the bi-material construction is interesting.

Could be. I believe it was the first wave of hand held drills from B&D with a bakelite/plastic handle, previous models were all Al.

Still sturdy/quality manufacturing.

But from then on … 8^/

Best,

JHM

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I agree with it being older. Mine, bought in 1969 has the cast allow handle.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I replaced one of the bushes in my drill with a phosphor bronze replacement, it lasted very well until it was stolen.

Mike

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Oilite sintered bushes can be bored without sealing the pores, but reaming is not recommended. The bushes are freely available from bearing stockists or ebay. I scrapped a much newer Black and Decker D720 two speed after I happened to look inside the handle. The wiring insulation was disintegrating, not a good thing for a metal bodied drill made before double insulation.

[Julius Henry MarxParticipant @juliushenrymarx92355]

Hello:

Posted by Julius Henry Marx on 24/05/2023 23:21:11:

Next week I'll enquire about 510 phosphor bronze / 660 bronze stock and see what $$$ the usual suspects come up with.

I have been looking around for a short piece of bronze but all purveyors sell a min. of 300mm, which would make this endeavour rather expensive.

The last one I spoke with offered me a piece (100mm) of SAE68 bronze for what seems to be a reasonable price.

Would this SAE68 spec be suitable or is it too hard?

Thanks in advance.

Best,

JHM

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