Central Machinery 16-Speed Drill Press: Models, Capacity, and Parts Support Explained

All Posts setup maintenance Noah Carter Last updated on October 24, 2026

The Central Machinery 16-speed drill press is Harbor Freight’s answer to the shopper who wants a lot of speed options without paying for a JET or a Powermatic. It comes in a couple of sizes and item numbers that people constantly mix up, and the parts situation is different from a name-brand machine. If you own one, are looking at one, or are hunting for a part, you need to know which item number you have and how the 16-speed gearbox actually breaks down. Here is the complete explanation.

The Central Machinery 16-speed drill press is a Harbor Freight drilling machine sold in floor and bench configurations, most commonly the 17-inch floor model (item 43389) and the 13-inch bench model (item 38142/38144), featuring 16 belt-driven speeds via a stepped-pulley system, cast-iron base, table, and head, a rack-and-pinion table with 360-degree rotation and 45-degree tilt, an adjustable depth stop with gauge, and a keyed drill-press chuck.

Short answer: the Central Machinery 16-speed comes mainly as the 17-inch floor press (item 43389) and the 13-inch bench press (item 38142/38144). Both use 16 belt-driven speeds, cast-iron construction, and a 360-degree-rotating, 45-degree-tilting table. They are budget machines with solid cast-iron bones and the expected budget compromises. Parts come through Harbor Freight’s replacement parts service and generic substitutes. Here is the detail.

The models and item numbers

Item 43389: 17-inch 16-speed floor drill press

The flagship of the line:

17-inch swing (8-1/2-inch throat).
16 belt-driven speeds via a stepped-pulley gearbox.
Heavy-duty ball-bearing motor.
Cast-iron base, table, and head.
Smooth rack-and-pinion table movement.
Table rotates 360 degrees and tilts 45 degrees left and right.
Adjustable depth stop with gauge.
Keyed drill-press chuck.
Floor-standing configuration.

Item 38142 / 38144: 13-inch 16-speed bench drill press

The benchtop version:

13-inch swing.
16 belt-driven speeds via the multi-speed gearbox.
Cast-iron base, table, and head.
Table rotates 360 degrees and tilts 45 degrees.
Adjustable depth stop with gauge.
Benchtop mount. Reviewers report runout around one thousandth of an inch, which is good for the price class.

Related item numbers you may see: 60238 is Harbor Freight’s 8-inch 5-speed bench press (not the 16-speed; do not confuse the two), and older T-583 and 60238 references appear in various listings. Always confirm the item number and speed count on the ID plate.

How the 16 speeds break down

Unlike a true 16-speed gearbox with a shift lever, the Central Machinery 16-speed achieves its speeds through a multi-pulley belt arrangement: a combination of belt positions across the stepped pulleys produces 16 distinct RPM settings. You change speed by opening the belt cover and moving the belt(s) to the charted positions. The manual includes a speed chart matching belt positions to RPM.

More speeds mean finer RPM matching to the bit and material: slow for large bits and metal, fast for small bits in soft wood.

What it can do

General woodworking and light metal drilling across the 16-speed range.
Larger bits at slow speeds on the 17-inch floor model, which has the swing and stroke for bigger workpieces.
Cast-iron mass reduces vibration and holds accuracy reasonably well for a budget machine.
Angled drilling via the 45-degree tilting table.

The components worth knowing

M26 V-belt: the drive belt; a common wear item. Match by size for replacement.
Spindle shaft and spindle pulley: the rotating assembly; long-lived with proper belt tension.
Pulley nut: secures the pulley assembly.
Quill spring and quill spring cap: the quill return mechanism; if the quill droops, adjust or replace the spring.
Feed handle: the three-spoke lever that lowers the quill.
No-volt switch (switch box): prevents restart after a power interruption; a safety feature. Replaceable by matching voltage and amperage.
Table support, arm with scale, and rack: the rack-and-pinion table height system.
Wedge drift: the tool for removing the chuck or a taper-mounted arbor.
Drill-press chuck: keyed, standard taper; replaceable generically.

Parts and support

Harbor Freight supports the Central Machinery 16-speed through its replacement parts service, though availability is inconsistent and largely store-and-online rather than a deep parts warehouse. The practical approach:

Harbor Freight replacement parts by item number (43389, 38142, etc.) via the manual’s parts list and customer service (1-888-866-5797).
Generic substitutes: V-belts (match the M26 size), keyed chucks (standard taper), and switches cover most needs.
The owner’s manual (available as a PDF from Harbor Freight by item number) includes the exploded parts diagram.

This is the key difference from a Grizzly or JET: parts support is thinner. Budget accordingly.

The honest flaws

Budget build quality. Cast-iron bones are good; fit, finish, and some components are budget-grade.

Thin parts support. Harbor Freight’s parts availability lags name brands. Generic substitutes fill most gaps.

Belt-change speeds. Sixteen speeds, but all via moving the belt, not a shift lever.

Runout varies. Some units are excellent (one thousandth); others need chuck reseating or replacement out of the box.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy it if you want a lot of swing and speed options on a budget, you are comfortable with thinner parts support, and you value cast-iron construction at a low price.

Skip it if you want reliable long-term parts support, a warranty beyond the basics, or guaranteed out-of-box precision. In that case, a RIKON 30-230 or JET JDP-17 is the better long-term machine, or the variable-speed WEN 4214T 12-inch for a benchtop with a warranty.

How it compares

Against the Central Machinery floor drill press in other speed counts, the 16-speed offers finer RPM matching. Against a JET JDP-17 (also 16-speed, 17-inch, 3/4 HP), the JET wins clearly on parts support, warranty, and build consistency for a higher price; the Central Machinery wins on price. Against a WEN 4214T, the Central Machinery floor model offers more swing and floor-press capacity, while the WEN offers variable speed, a digital readout, and a two-year warranty in a benchtop. Choose the Central Machinery 16-speed when price and cast-iron capacity matter more than parts support.

The verdict

The Central Machinery 16-speed drill press comes mainly as the 17-inch floor model (item 43389) and the 13-inch bench model (item 38142/38144), both with 16 belt-driven speeds, cast-iron construction, and a 360-degree-rotating, 45-degree-tilting table. They are budget machines with genuinely good cast-iron bones and the expected budget compromises: thinner parts support and variable out-of-box precision. Confirm your item number, keep the manual for the parts diagram and speed chart, and lean on generic substitutes for wear items. For a shop that wants a lot of machine for a low price and accepts the parts-support tradeoff, the Central Machinery 16-speed delivers. For guaranteed support and precision, a JET or RIKON is the better long-term buy.

Frequently asked questions

What models is the Central Machinery 16-speed drill press? Most commonly the 17-inch floor model (item 43389) and the 13-inch bench model (item 38142/38144). Both use 16 belt-driven speeds and cast-iron construction. Item 60238 is a separate 8-inch 5-speed bench press, not the 16-speed.

How do the 16 speeds work on the Central Machinery drill press? Through a multi-pulley belt arrangement, not a shift-lever gearbox. Moving the belt to charted positions across the stepped pulleys produces 16 distinct RPM settings. The manual includes a speed chart.

Where do I get parts for a Central Machinery 16-speed drill press? Through Harbor Freight’s replacement parts service by item number (customer service 1-888-866-5797) and the owner’s manual parts diagram. Generic substitutes, V-belts (M26 size), keyed chucks, and switches, cover most wear items.

Is the Central Machinery 16-speed drill press accurate? It varies by unit. Many report runout around one thousandth of an inch, which is good for the price. Some units need the chuck reseated or replaced out of the box. Cast-iron construction helps hold accuracy once set up.

What is the swing of the Central Machinery 16-speed floor drill press? The floor model (item 43389) has a 17-inch swing (8-1/2-inch throat). The bench model (item 38142/38144) has a 13-inch swing.

What belt does the Central Machinery 16-speed drill press use? An M26 V-belt on the main drive. Match the belt size for replacement; generic V-belts of the correct dimensions work.

Is the Central Machinery 16-speed better than a JET JDP-17? The JET JDP-17 (also 16-speed, 17-inch) wins on parts support, warranty, and build consistency for a higher price. The Central Machinery wins on price. Choose by whether long-term support and precision or upfront price matters more.

References

Harbor Freight, Central Machinery 43389 16-speed floor drill press manual: https://manuals.harborfreight.com
Harbor Freight Tools, drill press product listings and support: https://www.harborfreight.com
Popular Woodworking, budget drill press buying guidance: https://www.popularwoodworking.com