Milling machine unknown bolt

[cheese1566]

Just acquired this 2004 Lathemaster mill/drill.

What’s this bolt for on the top of the gear box?

It’s firm to the touch, I haven’t (and won’t) touch it with a wrench, and the hole next to it is just a pocket with no threads and doesn’t pass through. The other four bolts mount the top to the gear box. I took the front control cover off, but the bolt passes into the gear box section. Nothing found in my primitive photocopy Chinese manual. It’s no longer seen on the newer Bolton or Grizzly similar models.

This thing was hardly used and the only mod was the first owner removed the column to shim and adjust the tram with shims.
260077260078

[Preacher Jim]

Oil fill maybe for gear box?

[cheese1566]

Oil fill maybe for gear box?

That’s the big nut with small hole next to it.

[country gent]

Does it show in the owners manual? If you didnt get the owners manual with it, I would recommend finding one. They are available and will five lots of information as to needed lubes and oils belts and parts along with maintenance.

[cheese1566]

It’s a Rong Fu clone. Grizzly has a couple models that are really similar in construction and size, but have some “modern” features like auto tapping, power feed column and table, and updated switches. Parts are probably still available from Grizzly. Seems like all the China machines come from one factory the last 20 years....
I printed two manuals from Grizzly to outline proper lube and adjusting. Nice that it uses same gear box oil as my Grizzly G0602 lathe.260082

[country gent]

Tell me does the spindle fill with chips standing up like that???????? :-D Im not familiar with those mills but if its an adjustment I would think the manual would describe it some where

[country gent]

Im wondering if that could be a tension adjustment. Is there a cover that could be removed to see inside to where it goes to? Just a thought

[cheese1566]

There isn’t. Just the whole top cover that’s in with taper pins and the joints are finished with Chinese bondo

When I change the oil, I may look to borrow a a cheap USB bore scope to look inside

[Jeff Michel]

Looks more like a jacking bolt for the cover.

[skeettx]

This it?
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1296260/Adendorff-Zay7045fg.html#manual

See page 19

[HATCH]

https://www.adendorff.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/EMILGH-032.pdf