The invention discloses a barrel expansion and shrinkage device for moving a central spindle for a reeling machine. The barrel expansion and shrinkage device comprises a barrel support for supporting a barrel of the reeling machine, a shifting fork, a hydraulic cylinder and a base, wherein the barrel support, the shifting fork and the hydraulic cylinder are all fixedly connected with the base; the lower end part of the shifting fork is fixedly connected with a piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder. The barrel expansion and shrinkage device is simple in structure, convenient to operate, stable, accurate and reliable in transfer and resistant to impact, and can realize automated production of strip rolling and reeling.