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Need help with a rockwell 21-100

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2018 4:44 pm
by caseguy
Hi all new to this , i was just given a rockwell 21-100 and i need to move it. How hard is it to remove the head. Ive seen on you tube where people rotate the head but for weight reason id like to remove it ... how is this done? is it worth the trouble. mike.

Re: Need help with a rockwell 21-100

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:13 am
by choprboy
Easy. Disconnect the motor wires from the power switch if necessary (varies between units, most have been pre or post wired to various reversible drum switches mounted to the column). Loosen the over-arm clamp bolts. Slide the head and over-arm out of the column. Be sure to get the shaft key/secure the worm drive on the backside of the column so you don't lose it during transport.

With the head just flipped over though, the over-arm makes a nice place to attach a sling for lifting. Alternatively, instead of removing the entire head, you can also just back out the set screw on the motor step pulley, remove the motor base bolts, and lift the motor off the head to reduce weight. Pull the set screws and spindle step pulley, and the belt/head shroud with a few more bolts to remove a little more.

Re: Need help with a rockwell 21-100

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:47 am
by caseguy
Thanks ill try to follow up how the move goes

Re: Need help with a rockwell 21-100

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:23 pm
by JPar
I read somewhere that the head weighs about 150 pounds with the motor. I've yet to remove mine, but when I do I think I'll get some help or use a hoist. When I was younger I might have attempted to do it by myself, but there's no way I could handle that much weight at that height now.
If you decide to remove the motor, be careful about the pulley. They are cast and easily broken if the motor is dropped. Mine is missing a chunk out of the smallest step of the pulley. I didn't notice it until after I got it home. It's almost impossible to find a replacement.
Have fun!

Re: Need help with a rockwell 21-100

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 6:49 pm
by caseguy
I picked up my mill today . 350 miles round trip. One owner and to think it was almost sent to the scrap guy... i cant believe what they gave me for free. All the tooling and mill. Now it needs to come apart to go down stairs... thanks to all for the help . rotating the head was a good idea...