mods power down feed drill/ quill lever

[Kennyv]

Hey guys wanted to bounce something out there. See if anyone has made mods and / or changed the drill quill lever on a RF-45 clone or similar mills ,

Recently I purchased a PM932 PDF its a 9x32 mill with power down feed option. I have found that the lower quill Drill down feed lever gets in way of work . Since it has two feed levers 180 deg apart even in the up most position the lower lever can interfere with work in vice and or work on the table .


Since I have a PDF model I plan on taking apart see if I can do a mod for the down feed assembly that may accommodate a better handle position and operation of engagement in the down feed . Right now the only thing I see shorting the lower handle and making new knobs .
However love to see someones fix if they already worked this out esp including PDF operation mechanics .

Is there anyone with similar mill done these sort of mods ? If so can ya share perhaps post pic of how ya made it better .Ps If I dont get many responses, guess ill  hafta post pics my resolution when I get around to doin mines... thanksguys

[EdK]

My RF-45 clone doesn't have power downfeed and has three handles instead of the two you have. I have the same problem though and just take the one out that's causing the problem and put it back in when needed. Mine are threaded so it's easy enough to do.

Ed

[Mayhem]

Does one of those locking levers allow the hub to disengage the handle?  My Kondia has a hub with two grooves and a detent ball.  The hub on the quill shaft has multiple holes and the hub with the handle has 2 pins.  So, you simply pull the handle hub away from the quill shaft hub and the handle is disengaged.  I believe that the Bridgeport mills are the same.  Wondering if you could fabricate something similar?

Here is the handle and the quill shaft hub (note the old compared to the new!):