It's always something-- need help fixing Yankee push-drill

I have three Yankee push-drills, models 41 and 41-Y. These are units I am told the telephone installers all had back in the 1950's. They are about 10 inches long. One of mine has a broken bit stuck in the chuck, with only the tapered shank of the bit showing. Not enough shank to hold in a vise, so I can't pull it out. The back end of chuck is enclosed, so I can't drive the broken bit out with a punch. Soaking in rust remover has not helped so far. Any help from old-time Yankee drill repair person welcome!

Dennis in W. Tenn.
 
Have you tried using a strong magnet to pull the bit out? Something else that may be a long shot is to place the chuck in a hole drilled in a piece of wood that is larger than the bit but smaller than the chuck and give the drill a couple good hits with a wooden or rubber mallet. HTH
 


You can try CAREFULLY super gluing a hunka steel close to the same diameter to the bit if the break is more or less straight across. Best bet is probably going to be center punching it and drilling it. Then thread the hole and insert a bolt to pull it out.

FWIW- I think there is an insert bit available to take the modern screw driver bits, like you use in a cordless drill/impact driver. I have a home made one I use. Much nicer than making bits to fit the Yankees.
 
Would it be possible to tack weld an extension to the little bit of stub you have showing so you have something to grab onto to pull it out?
 
"So Far, So Good" as they say. The broken bit is out!! Several suggestions seemed to be for larger bits- mine is only 11/64 inch diameter at the shank, which is the largest part. About 1/8 inch of that diameter shows outside the chuck, then the bit tapers down to the fluted, or "drilling part" which in this case was 1/16 inch diameter. I did two things, which together let me get the bit out. First, I used a midget side grinder to make flat spots on the 1/8 long shank area that was showing, to let me grip the bit with small vise-grip. Then I soaked the chuck and stuck bit overnight in Evaporust. This morning I put the vise-grip on the small flat areas on the bit and pulled and wiggled. The bit came out in about two minutes. "One Thing Leads to Another"- Next I will want to get the chuck out of the tool. A lot of work for something I don't have to have!!
Dennis M, in W. Tenn.
 

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