Fobco Star Questions

[manycrumbsParticipant @manycrumbs]

I’ve recently acquired a Fobco Star and have a few questions that I’m hoping for help with.

1.) The grease nipple on the front of the drill is at an angle and the threads in the hole don’t seem to be cut far enough to allow it to thread all the way home to the nut. Is this likely to be an issue, or best left alone?

 

2.) Can anyone identify the make of the chuck? Google isn’t getting me very far. Also, if anyone has any chuck disassembly guidance that would be appreciated! (Is it likely to be similar to disassembling a Jacobs?)

 

3.) I notice in this image (from the Lathes.co.uk website) that there are spacers/washers on the pillar between the table and the base etc. Currently, mine doesn’t have these — should it? Is it worth adding some? If so, what material would be best?

Apologies if these questions have been addressed elsewhere, I didn’t have much luck searching for them, or if I’ve posted in the wrong place.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

to me the nipple does not look like its square with the hole, also grease nipple threads are all very close to one another so could be wrong rate. The washers look like a fancy extra in leather, I suppose it would stop the table baging on to the base or the motor hitting the collar. Never seen that done before.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

If the oil nipple leaks apply some plumbers ptfe tape.
Is the chuck faulty? It is very rare indeed to actually take one apart.
The washers are either someone putting felt on to stop chips getting into the gap or sleeves to make up for a worn casting.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

The nipple should screw in fully, but I doubt if the one shown will cause a problem.

The spacers / washers appear to be non-standard. I can’t see them being sleeves unless the upper one is different from the lower ones. My Fobco has a large rubber washer on the quill to act as a buffer below the head casting.

Unless you can get spares for the chuck, there would seem little point in dismantling it I’d have thought.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

There are many threads use for oil nipples. If need be a larger thread could be used, 5/16″ UNF or BSF, 3/8″ UNF, 1/8 ” gas thread/pipe or 6mmx1, 8mmx1 or 10mmx1. Noel.

[MacolmParticipant @macolm]

The chuck looks like a low cost hobby item, outer spun over for assembly, and not able to be dismantled.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

The one on ‘Lathes’ is the mini miller version yours has a JT6 taper for a drilling chuck of which there are loads new on Ebay.

[manycrumbsParticipant @manycrumbs]

Thank you all!

I’d not considered PTFE tape around the grease nipple if it leaks, that seems like a far less risky option than trying to re-drill/re-tap the hole. I’ll go for that if I see signs of it leaking.

The chuck has one jaw that doesn’t quite align to the other two, so I was wondering if disassembly might reveal why and allow me to even it up. I think I’ll leave the chuck alone for now and simply replace it when need/funds allow.

Nice to know that I’m not missing washers that should be there!

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

That nipple looks more like one for oil rather than a grease nipple

Beware of using grease where oil should be used, it will clog the passage so that the bearing gets no lubrication.

Have you got a manual? If YES, what does it advise?

Howard

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Some useful photos on another forum:

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/fobco-1-2-cap-drill-restoration.70615/

MichaelG.

[manycrumbsParticipant @manycrumbs]

I’ve no manual for it (from what I’ve read online, there never was one), but the information plate on the side of it says to ‘Lubricate Pulley & Quill Bearings with Shell Livona Grease 3 or Alvania Grease R2’.

[manycrumbs]

On manycrumbs Said:

[…] the information plate on the side of it says to ‘Lubricate Pulley & Quill Bearings with Shell Livona Grease 3 or Alvania Grease R2’.

That’s pretty definitive !

… so let’s not have too much speculation.

MichaelG.

 

.

Edit: Cross-references abound … this is just one collection:

https://petroleumservicecompany.com/shell-lubricants-cross-reference/

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Any modern wheel bearing grease should do the job.

[Hopper]

On Hopper Said:

Any modern wheel bearing grease should do the job.

Will it be ok if its not very modern? 😀

Ian P

[Ian P]

On Ian P Said:

On Hopper Said:

Any modern wheel bearing grease should do the job.

Will it be ok if its not very modern? 😀

Ian P

Not very modern, hey? Reusing the grease from my car wheel bearing is more work than I’m willing to do, but each to their own!

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Well I’m still using (but not for wheel bearings) a tin of BMC branded, Copper loaded Grease that I bought in 1965 from Lookers in Manchester when I had a Mini Cooper S

Ian P

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