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Gorton I-22 newbie questions

Hi,

I've got the chance to buy a Gorton I-22 for under $1K, serial number is in the 41000's. It has a 2-axis DRO and stock x-axis power feed (a huge mechanism), but I'm told the downfeed is not working.

This is my first real mill purchase and I've been reading the various threads about Gorton. I'm wondering if anyone with I-22 experience can advise me on specific things to check out during my inspection. It will be under power when I look at it.

For example, I read that someone had problems with a machine where the head wasn't perpendicular to the y-axis and since the head doesn't rotate in that direction it was claimed that this problem cannot easily be fixed. Is this true?

I had been looking at Bridgeports but when I saw the Gorton it just looked like so much more machine. My milling experience is limited to working with a VMA milling attachment on a Myford 254S lathe. (It will be my pleasure never to have to switch over from turning to milling and back again).

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks, David

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none
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Looks like you found yourself a deal. I ran a gorton for a while, makes a bridgy look like inferior asian stuff. That much more rigid. You can REALLY look down at those folks that buy an asian mill/drill and try to make parts.

You're right, if the head isn't right, it would be a bitch to fix. But not impossible. Maybe you want to take an indicator with you to put in the spindle and check this. OTH, the chance of this problem should be pretty slim.

There's a good chance that power downfeed problem is the mechanism being plugged with swarf.

-- An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Two apples a day gets the doctor's OK. Five apples a day makes you a fruit grower, like me.

Karl Townsend in beautiful Dassel,MN

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Karl Townsend

Hi,

Update - I bought it, now I have to move it. Please see new thread below.

Thanks, David

(and thanks Karl for your response)

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none

The power down feed is belt driven. Look down from the top of the head and you will see that belt, or not Its a pretty bullet proof setup. Or it is, on my 1-22. Is yours 30 taper as well?

The small levers on the left side of the mill are powerfeed in out/ and hand crank downfeed or power downfeed. Id have to go out and check mine, if you need to find out which is which. I also have a manual and parts listing

This is sorta true. It may be shimmed, but Ive never seen one that was out of line/front back.

IMHO,..,.its one hell of a mill. Ive not yet found one that would bog down with even a 7/8" cutter in any reasonable speed/feed

Treat the high/low knob or lever (depending on year) with some respect and do not switch between, while under power. If its sticky, turn the spindle by hand a smidge and it will drop right in. 6000 rpm makes mine sound like a car wreck, but Ive no intention of pulling the head apart anytime soon, as Ive been told this is normal for an old one. Mine does not have power table feed, darn it, but someday when Im rich and famous, Ill go ahead and adapt the BP style one. Or make one out of the bunch of 70vt dc servos Iv got kicking around.

If I have enough time in the near future, Ill hook up my scanner and scan the manual/maint guide, parts listing etc and upload them to the drop box.

Got any operational questions, feel free to call me at 805-732-5308 just about anytime. Preferablly on the weekend so I can go out to the mill and push pull levers to tell you which direction is does what.

Gunner

"The French are a smallish, monkey-looking bunch and not dressed any better, on average, than the citizens of Baltimore. True, you can sit outside in Paris and drink little cups of coffee, but why this is more stylish than sitting inside and drinking large glasses of whiskey I don't know." -- P.J O'Rourke (1989)

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Gunner

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