Turncrafter Lathe Question

[Rangertrek]

UPDATE: PSI resolved this problem for me. They called first thing on Monday morning and are sending a new part.
The problem was wear on the operating screw on the end near the collar. The threads are actually worn away and thus causing the slippage with the shaft.

This is my first lathe, so pardon the dumb questions. Also, the terminology of the parts is from the product manual and I don't have a local source to ask a few questions.

I have a 'gap' between the quill adjusting wheel and the tailstock operating screw. Is this a 'normal' condition? I have removed the parts several times to place the adjusting wheel up tight against the tailstock. With use, the gap appears again. I also have a lot of metal dust on the quill itself.

So, is this a typical situation, or do I have a problem with the parts.

A took a few pics.
#2879 shows the gap in question - there is a lot of 'travel' here
#2880 is closeup of the quill and tailstock
#2887 is the quill and #2888 is after it screwed back in

After I get a little feed back from this post, I will forward or contact PSI with the same info. The parts work reasonably well, I just have to turn the adjust wheel several revolutions before the operating screw actually starts to advance or withdraw.

Hopefully, I explained the problem/question somewhat clearly.
Thanks for any information.

 

[Wildman]

Don't have this lathe, but doesn't look or sound right to me!

I would shoot PSI support an e-mail including pictures asking for help.

 

[rjwolfe3]

I have that lathe. Is the wheel set screw coming loose? It does on mine all the time and I have to push the wheel back on and screw down the set screw again. If you talk to tech support let me know what they say.

 

[Randy_]

Should be a problem that affests the operation of the lathe. Probably just a loose set screw like Rob suggested. Loosen the set screw and reposition the wheel so you are sure the set screw aligns with the flat on the shaft. A drop of Loctite on the screw threads will keep it from loosening up. If you don't have any Loctite, try a drop of ordinary wood glue; but not CA.

 

[ldb2000]

Randy , look at the third picture , the markings make me think the set screw is being tightened on the flat of the shaft . I looks to me like there is a keeper missing from the shaft that keeps the shaft in the tailstock when you turn the hand wheel . It could be some sort of snapring . I could be wrong but something has to hold the shaft in the tailstock ... right?

 

[Randy_]

Butch: I did notice that and you may very well be correct. But I thought the screw may have come loose and when it was re-tightened the wheel may have slipped off of the flat?

My JET mini does have a split ring keeper like you are suggesting; but I don't see a groove in the PSI leadscrew that looks like it could accomodate a split ring.......although the photo is not the best and may be hiding the groove??

Decided to carry this a step further and looked at the parts drawing in the manual on the PSI web site and it does not show a keeper of any sort. Having said that, that info may not be definitive. There are several manuals posted for Turncrafter lathe and at least one does not even show a leadscrew as part of the TS assembly. In the drawing that does show a leadscrew, there is no keeper illustrated. So who knows, maybe there should be a keeper and maybe not??

 

[mickr]

send these pics to PSi..they will know exactly what to do

 

[Rangertrek]

Added Info

The set screw is tight, I check it frequently. When I do tighten the set screw I move the wheel up to the tailstock, then after a little use, it moves out again.
The owner manual does not show a split ring or a keeper. When I take is apart, there are no loose items on the inside or any debris from damage.

I did send PSi and email, but not any pictures. I will follow up on the pics with them next week.

Thanks for the input to date.

 

[Randy_]

Well, that would suggest you are not getting the set screw tight enough or there a problem with the lathe that is causing the set screw to loosen on its own. First thing is to repeat earlier advice to use Loctite or glue on the set screw. Secondly, if you have a drill press, you could drill a little dimple in the flat on the leadscrew to give the set screw greater purchase on the leadscrew. If you don't have a drill press, you could file a shallow "V" across the flat to accomplish the same thing........give the set screw something to get a better grip on the leadscrew.

 

[Daniel]

Looking at your phtotos it does not look to me like the problem is the wheel at all. it is the spindle.
jsut to make sure you know jsut what part I am talking about here is what I am calling them left to right in you first photo.
you have a Jacobs chuck mounted in the spindle (metal tube) that these both are then fit into your tail stock assembly (red part). Note there is a set screw in the tail stock assembly for this spindle (the opne with the black knob. at the back of the tail stock essembly is the spindle drive screw and the spindle wheel. from your photo #2 the wheel and the spindle drive screw are just where they are supposed to be in relation to each other. In photo #3 the spindle and Spindle drive screw are not. if you look at the threads you will see that if the spindle turned while drilling etc on the lathe it woudl cause it to unthread from the spindle screw. Keep in mind that drilling on the lathe is putting the tork on everything in the opposite direction than turning does. I had this problem with my metal lathe also. at any rate my bet is the spindle set screw is not holding well enough (the screw with the black knob) allowing the spindle itself to twist.

 

[Rangertrek]

Daniel, thanks for the info. The spindle set screw (black knob) is set in a 'slot' or raceway in the spidle, so the spindle will not spin when tightened. The set screw in the adjusting wheel to the quill is tight, and does not move.
I think the problem is inside the tailstock that lets the quill move within the housing.
Anyway, I will check it out with PSI the first of the week.

 

[Robert A.]

Could be that the set screw hole is not tapped deep enough?It may bottom out "feel tight" but NOT be.