Reworking the Frame

The main frame for the mill was in pretty bad shape. Rust had taken it's toll and the babbitt was shot. The frame was cracked in two places. Though it had been repaired, it was cracking again. The casting was extremely rough and there were some structural areas that seemed to me extremely compromised.

I had met a gentleman at a flea-market in Texas. Turns out he is a machinist by trade and an antique metal worker by hobby. I called him up and asked him if he could rapair the frame and pour new babbit for me. He said he could. So I scheduled a Saturday to drive over and see him. I brought not only the frame, but several other pieces that needed repairing. I left it all with him to work on at his convenience.

He called me later in the week and said it was all done and I could come pick it up. So, I made another trip to his place the next Saturday. He did a great job. He repaired all of the cracks and poured all of the babbitt. Before leaving, we checked everything for alignment. He even cut a shim for me to line up the outer bearing.

There was a ball joint on the original shoe shaker that had broken off and was lost. Otherwise the shaker was in good shape. So, he welded a 1/2" bolt where the ball joint was. I can now mate a modern ball joint to the shaker. Won't be original, but I've been unable to find an exact replacement part.

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