Bridgeport power feed

Here's hoping someone may be able to help. I have one of the very old gear driven X axis power feeds on my newly aquired Bridgeport mill. The big heavy one where you can select specific feed rates. The previous owner had thoughtfully disconnected the wiring and just left the tails coming out of the motor. Now the motor is a 1/6 hp 3 phase and I'm OK getting it to run but need advice as to which direction it should go. I understand that if the motor is wired to turn the wrong way it will trash the gearbox and cause me further issues. So which way should it be wired to turn? looking directly at the motor with the shaft (with worm on it) pointing towards me, should it turn clockwise or anticlockwise? Does anyone have a definitive answer or can point me to where I may be able to find out.

Heres hoping.

Regards

B

Bill, I have the later Bridgeport with the variable speed motor so can't help re rotation direction. The motor has died on mine and I am considering buying a Chinese replacement. (a new motor is c£500) The "Align" style of replacement usually sell for £200/£300. A Czech supplier on ebay is offering one at £129.85 which is tempting me. Welcome to the forum. Chris.

Can't help with the original query, but can say that the "Align" X axis unit I fitted to my Bridgeport 12 or so years ago has been absolutely reliable during that time. Usual disclaimer -just a customer etc.

IF the gearbox can only be driven in one direction (possible, but unusual - or at least uncommon) it must surely be marked with the direction of rotation?

I have a unit fitted to my Warco VMC . No problems at all but remember that the unit is 110V.

Brian C

Thanks all for your input, but I think I may have found a way to determine the correct rotation without knackering any internals (and I can't see any rotation markings on the box or motor anywhere). My idea is to put it all back together once its cleaned and oiled and set it back on the end of the table, but leave the motor off the gearbox. Then engage the traverse lever, I should be able to reach the pinion in the box with my finger and move it a little to see which way the table moves, if it moves in the correct direction I will know which way the worm on the end of the motor must turn. To be fair as I've got the box apart I can probably trace the gear motions to work it out that way but I fear that will make my head sting. Looking inside I'm not convinced that running the motor the wrong way would do anything other than make the table go in the wrong direction but I'd rather err on the side of caution as I doubt spares are obtainable if I did faff it up.

B