Changing Drawbar on 1997 HAAS VF-2

[the average Joe]

I need to change out the drawbar on our HAAS vf-2 with a two speed gearbox. The tech said that service will take about three weeks to get to us, and that I can do this myself. He said something about "partially dropping out the spindle" to avoid having to move the gearbox. Has anyone else done this? The guy was going to talk me through it, but he's backed up right now and I wanted to see if anyone else had done this with their vintage haas.

 

[marccongdon]

Check out this guys videos, I'm not sure if this is the right one but I think he shows exactly what you need in one of them before or after this.

 

[the average Joe]

Thanks!

I know I need to rebuild the spindle on the same machine at some point as well. This will help with that as well.

 

[Stirling]

take vids and post to youtube for us! ineed to remove mine at some point to replace the TSC carbide contacts

 

[countryguy]

It's not bad. There are procedures in the manuals. You may need to review a few different years though. Some covered more in different years than others. Ours is the 2 speed gearbox as well. The instructions on the belt tension also mention some type of haas belt tensioning tool. My son just cobbeled something up to work like their tool. I can send you a pic you like. There was no core on this and my HFO did not want it back. I think it was like $640 on our VF4. I think 50%+ of the Bellevue washers were cracked and broken. Once you do that and its all happy and back together... I might suggest a spindle regrind which I still say was the best $600 I spent on the ol' girl in my garage. Just a thought. You'll be pulling it tight. Nothing better than taking the skins off your VF, again... right

 

[the average Joe]

Good points. I ended up going the gearbox route, so I've got the whole thing disconnected and waiting for me to jack up tomorrow so I can get the new drawbar in. I was considering going the spindle drop route, but the Haas guy talked me out of it because there were shims and oil lines and it sounded scarier than it probably is.

The Haas online service instructions didn't mention a belt tension tool, and basically just said "don't do it too loose or too tight, and call your HFO if you have trouble."

This damned machine is cursed. I may as well put quick release fittings on all the column sheet metal fasteners for all the times I have to take it apart...

 

[Stirling]

Good points. I ended up going the gearbox route, so I've got the whole thing disconnected and waiting for me to jack up tomorrow so I can get the new drawbar in. I was considering going the spindle drop route, but the Haas guy talked me out of it because there were shims and oil lines and it sounded scarier than it probably is.

The Haas online service instructions didn't mention a belt tension tool, and basically just said "don't do it too loose or too tight, and call your HFO if you have trouble."

This damned machine is cursed. I may as well put quick release fittings on all the column sheet metal fasteners for all the times I have to take it apart...

the belt tensioning tool can be made from some 1x1 keystock and some all thread, ill grab a pic of the one i made when was mucking with mine.

man if a regrind was $600 ij jump at it. alas im too far notrth for anything to be cheap. im getting 12 hours round trip or worse. travel and hotel fees kill

 

[the average Joe]

I finally got the drawbar in. Taking the gearbox off didn't really work, since there wasn't clearance in the back of the column to tilt it back enough to get the drawbar out. So, I ended up using the video posted above to partially drop the spindle out. I was careful not to disturb the shims on it, and everything went back together quickly once it was all done.

Also, does anyone know a good place to send the spindle for rebuilding, and how much that would cost?

 

[Stirling]

Belt tensioning tool

 

[friesen]

I had mine rebuilt at setco in cincinatti, wasn't super cheap but haven't had issues with it. Was around $4000 some years back.

 

[the average Joe]

That's better than the 6500 that Haas wanted a few years back. I'm sure that number is higher now, plus the cost of their labor.

 

[smallshopwrench]

Not sure about spindle rebuild but as far as the belt tension tool IMO forget that.I've changed maybe 100 belts on various Haas mills and never once needed it or had any bad result from not using it. As far as a spindle grind, not sure about budget , I would try Locher if you're anywhere near Ohio. They've always treated us well and did great work.