Rebuilt Grinder Spindles Extend the Life of Your Grinder

Do you want to save 30% on the cost of a new spindle for your K.O. Lee grinder and have it run just as effectively as brand-spanking new? Check out the spindle rebuild service that LeBlond Ltd. offers for this line of equipment.

For machine tool newbies, the grinding wheel is mounted on the spindle that drives the rod from the motor to grind the part.

Customers need to disassemble the quill assembly (“the spindle” as one model is pictured above) from the K.O. Lee grinder. They need to ship this unit to LeBlond Ltd. and the company’s technicians will “tear it down, evaluate it and contact the customer with the rebuild price,” according to LeBlond Ltd. Customer Service Representative John Cook.

LeBlond Ltd. can offer spindle rebuild services for 90% of K.O. Lee grinders.

“Basically what we do once we receive the quill assembly is disassemble it and take the whole unit apart,” Cook adds. “Specifically, we take the nuts and bolts off both ends of the shaft and the assembly comes apart. Then, we take the spindle shaft itself, put it on the lathe and clean and polish it.”

LeBlond Ltd. technicians then put the shaft in V blocks and check the runoff.

“The spindle nose has got to run within one- or two-tenths of a thousandth of the bearing surfaces,” Cook says. “If that’s good, we clean up the housing of the quill assembly and polish it.”

Technicians then degrease all the parts and replace the bearings and seals, effectively lubricating the spindle unit that, for most K.O. Lee grinder models, is only greased upon initial factory assembly of the machine.

The spindle rebuild is cheaper for customers and offers roughly the same level of service as a new unit.

“The quill assembly rebuild of a K.O. Lee grinder is roughly 30% cheaper than a new spindle and basically operates just as well as a new unit,” Cook concludes. “It might not be as pretty and shiny as a new unit, but functionally, it’s going to be the same thing.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the spindle rebuild service for your existing K.O. Lee machinery, call LeBlond Ltd. at (888) 532-5663. If you are interested in new LeBlond or K.O. Lee machines or require original OEM parts for your LeBlond, K.O. Lee, Standard Modern, Johnson Press, Deka Drill and W.F. & John Barnes equipment, call LeBlond Ltd. at (888) 532-5663.