I very recently purchased a new Grizzly G0766 wood lathe, it came in last Friday. Last night, I finally got the opportunity to turn some wood. I was turning between centers. This morning, I used the knock out tool and could not get the drive center out. I banged on it with a dead blow mallet. It would not come out. I called Grizzly support, and the guy told me it had happened a time or two and I needed to heat the the spindle, get a larger piece of bar stock to use as a knock out bar and hit it with a hammer. I heat the spindle threads up for 3 or 4 minutes. I bang on the 3/8 rod with a 16 oz hammer. No movement. I re-heat the spindle again. I get out a larger 3 pound mini sledge. I hit this thing hard. It will not budge. I call Grizzly again and they suggest I spray with WD40 and let it set an hour or so. I am waiting on the hour to pass right now. Anyone else have that kind of trouble before?
Oh well, WD 40 seemed to work. Hit it a couple times and it popped right out. Everything seems to be fine. Nothing that I found that should cause a bind between the two mating surfaces.
How much tailstock pressure did you have on the turning? No need to over tighten, not saying you did, but easy does it till things get broken in a bit. A good cleaning of the inside of the spindle might be in order, as they do use cosmoline on metal parts to help prevent rust in storage and shipping...it can get a bit sticky. Good luck......the 0766 is a fine machine.
I agree with Roger - - make sure that the two mating pieces are clean and make sure to not use excessive tailstock pressure. You may also want to look with a small flashlight into the bore of the headstock to observe whether there is any other explanation (like visible galling). If this happens again, and you're heating the spindle, you may want to wrap a wet rag around the center to help keep it cool, and also make sure not to point the heat source at the center. Hit the 3/8" bar (preferrably brass) with a dead blow. Differential heating/cooling: I've also used a can of keyboard air-blaster upside down on a part I wanted to chill. If you tip it upside down, you are ejecting the propellent and it should make it frosty. Inspect the end of your center to make sure that the rapping didn't mushroom the end.
Also check for corrosion on either the center or in the bore. That could increase the friction (or in your can "stick-tion" ) If both parts aren't completely shiny, and no blotches consider using some 0000 steel wool on them. You are only looking to remove any surface rust, so don't over do it. After polishing, make sure to wipe it clean. If you see visible pitting you are probably wise to get a replacement part (headstock or center).
Thanks for the replies. I used a light and took a good look inside. Did not see any issues. I have inspected the drive center and found nothing wrong. It could have been that I did not do a good enough job cleaning out the taper on the head stock, and the cosmoline acted to gum up the two mating surfaces. I did a little steel wool work on both surfaces and cleaned them thoroughly, and all seems to be good. Just a glitch in the works. New chuck should be arriving tomorrow. I am looking forward to putting the lathe through it's paces this weekend.
