Bridgeport Draw Bar Question

[smallfly]

when i rebuilt my bridgeport mill i noted that the drawbar was all rounded and ''egg shaped'' and just plain worn out where the washers or spacers everyone is referring to --come in contact with the bar at the lower end of the ''hex''. i placed drawbar in lathe and ''squared up'' lower portion of hex. then i ordered ''hardened steel washers '' from a bearing supply house and also a couple of thrust washers -which have inserted roller bearings . i stacked one hardened washer on either side of each thrust washer. i tilted power head to horizontal and carefully reinserted bearings and washers and drawbar. there is suppose to be a rubber ''o'' ring to hold all these parts on the drawbar --but that stuff and groove for ''o'' ring were long since worn away. well it works very smooth now -nothing seizes . if you have a lathe you can make the drawbar whatever length you desire. just my $.02 . re steve in mt.