Single BEaring Quill

[jayhawk]

I purchased my SS new in 1982 and recently discovered it has the 2 bearing quill. I always assumed that I had the single bearing quill. After watching Nick's video on how to clean the quill, I took mine out, cleaned and waxed it and did the check with the long allen key. It turned out to be a 2 bearing quill! I must be lucky to have it in my older machine.

[billmayo]

I hate to rain on Nick's advice (I viewed the video) but the original single bearing quills had a metal washer/retainer that helps to keep the quill shaft centered so the splined quill shaft can easily enter the Drive and Ring Assembly (#57) and is located around 3" from the spline end. The later double bearing quills have the second bearing in the same location. Since Nick had some side to side play at the quill end, I am sure the metal washer/retainer was present. If there is any side to side play at the splined end, it is a single bearing quill.

I find it easy to determine if I have a single or double bearing quill. I stand under a strong light and look in the splined end. Slowly rotate the shaft. If it a single bearing, the metal washer/retainer will also turn with the shaft. If it is a double bearing, only the inner race againest the shaft will turn. The bearing shield and outer race will remain stationary. If there is crud collected in the quill housing end, I use the long allen wrench and a cloth/rag to clean out this area so I can see what turns or not turns. If there is nothing on the shaft around the 3" depth, then it is a single bearing quill.

As a quick and down dirty check, I remove the quill housing and shake it. If there is metal to metal sound, it is a single bearing quill and the bearing can stand replacing with a higher quality C1 bearing. Sometimes the metal washer/retainer has been removed during previous quill repairs. If the front bearing is worn so that the quill shaft does not enter the drive and ring assembly by rotating the quill shaft, then the front bearing needs replacing at that time.

I purchased my SS new in 1982 and recently discovered it has the 2 bearing quill. I always assumed that I had the single bearing quill. After watching Nick's video on how to clean the quill, I took mine out, cleaned and waxed it and did the check with the long allen key. It turned out to be a 2 bearing quill! I must be lucky to have it in my older machine.

[jayhawk]

Oh Bill!!! You just ruined my day! You should have let me live in ignorant bliss. I pulled my quill out last night and, lo-and-behold, there was the dreaded washer instead of the second bearing. Oh, Nooooooo. Guess I'll have to wait for the upgrade quill to go on sale again. LOL