16
Troubleshooting
Trouble Probable
Cause
Remedy
Drill press will not
start.
1. Drill press unplugged from wall or
motor.
2. Fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped.
3. Cord
damaged.
4. Starting capacitor bad.
1. Check all plug connections.
2. Replace fuse or reset circuit breaker.
3. Replace
cord.
4. Replace starting capacitor.
Drill press does not
come up to speed.
1. Extension cord too light or too long.
2. Low
current.
1. Replace with adequate size and length
cord.
2. Contact a qualified electrician.
Drill Press vibrates
excessively.
1. Stand on uneven surface.
2. Bad
belt(s).
1. Adjust stand so that it rests evenly on
the floor.
2. Replace
belts.
Noisy Operation.
1. Incorrect belt tension.
2. Dry
spindle.
3. Loose spindle pulley.
4. Loose motor pulley.
1. Adjust belt tension. See
Chang-ing
Spindle Speeds
on page 12.
2. Lubricate spindle. See
Lubrication
on
page 15.
3. Check tightness of retaining nut on
pulley and tighten if necessary.
4. Tighten set screws in pulleys.
Workpiece Burns.
1. Incorrect
Speed.
2. Chips not clearing from hole or bit.
3. Dull drill bit.
4. Feeding too slowly.
1. Change to appropriate speed – see
speed and pulley chart on page 13.
2. Retract drill bit frequently to remove
chips.
3. Resharpen, or replace drill bit.
4. Increase feed rate.
Drill bit wanders.
1. Bit sharpened incorrectly.
2. Bent drill bit.
3. Bit or chuck not installed properly.
1. Resharpen bit correctly.
2. Replace drill bit.
3. Reinstall the chuck, or bit properly.
Wood splinters on the
underside.
1. No backing board used.
1. Place a scrap board underneath the
workpiece to prevent splintering.
Drill bit binds in
workpiece.
1. Workpiece pinching the bit.
2. Excessive feed rate.
3. Chuck jaws not tight.
4. Improper belt tension.
1. Support or clamp workpiece.
2. Decrease feed rate.
3. Tighten chuck jaws.
4. Increase belt tension (page 12).
Excessive drill bit run
out, or wobble.
1. Bent drill bit.
2. Worn spindle bearings.
3. Bit, or chuck not properly installed.
1. Replace drill bit.
2. Replace spindle bearings.
3. Reinstall the bit, or chuck properly.
Quill returns too slow,
or too fast.
1. Spring has improper tension.
1. Adjust “Return Spring Tension,” page
14.
Chuck, or arbor do not
stay in place.
1. Dirt, grease, etc on arbor, chuck, or
spindle.
1. Clean all mating surfaces thoroughly
with a cleaner degreaser.
