Thanks
@Dabbler &
@John Conroy.
I have turned down the throttle on this subproject considerably. I'm always Leary of lifting big heavy things and doubly so if they are mine! I don't need any accidents.
Ive read both your posts over several times. Most of what you say makes sense. Some doesn't.
I think I will start by watching the H&W video on disassembling the turret and base, and re-reading the turret section of the re-conditioning manual. I think it also makes sense to fabricate myself a post fixture to remove the head assembly with.
My apologies for getting the parts and process so wrong. That's what I get for jumping to conclusions. There is a door in the side of my Hartford Mill that provides access to a storage area inside the mill base. I opened the door and then took a picture of the turret mounting system from below. Here is the photo.
My first mistake was to assume that the Hartford and the Bridgeport were the same.
To my eye, It looks like there are four tiny ledges in there whose only job is to hold the red bracket (spider) in place until the four turret bolts are threaded into it. Thereafter, the spider turns with the turret. But should be put back into the ledges for removal.
I do not see a threaded rod to hold things together. But tben again, it's a Hartford, not a Bridgeport. I will figure it out.
But before I do anything like that, I'll remove the motor and head. That way balance on the ram is not an issue. But regardless, I do have a leveler for my engine hoist that I can use to keep the ram level for removal and reassembly.
In regards to repairing the spider, I had assumed that it was a forging. It's a little hard to believe that they would use a casting for that. But then again...... If mine is cast iron, I may simply make an all new spider out of steel and weld on four new nuts. But that's just a thought. First I have to get it out and then take a good long hard look at it.
