I saw somewhere someone discussing how to use a file on some surfaces of the ways or the tail stock to improve the sliding action of the tail stock. Any suggestions on how to do this ? Things i shouldn't do?
That was only if there was some minor missalignment of centers. Sometimes casting slag can get stuck from the machining process and a bump needs to be filed down. For general lubrication, clean all the cosmoline off the lathe, and use some WD-40 to clean well. Dry and add paste wax, and your tailstock & banjo should move easily.
Make sure the bed is level front to rear, end to end and diagonal and centers should line up correctly.
Just thought about this Tom. If the nut is tightened down a bit too much it can make the banjo or tailstock hard to move. Sometimes as little as a quarter or half a turn will make the difference, and that is not much. One thing...the original nut has to be adjusted frequently as lathe vibration can make it work lose. I solved that by getting a nyloc nut to fit on the banjo and tailstock bolt so I could find that sweet spot, and it would stay in position once I had it set. You could take the nut off the tailstock or banjo to a hardware store and perhaps get a nyloc nut of the right thread configuration. It is a metric thread for sure.
Now that's a great idea👍🏻
If you're removing the tailstock from the lathe frequently, Roger's nyloc nut suggestion is best. But the size is M18-2.5, so finding one locally, even at a good hardware store, may be tough. They're available mail-order from McMaster-Carr, but only in quantities of 10. Another solution is to take two or three wraps of Teflon plumber's tape on the threads of the bolt ("Tailstock Clamp Bolt"). That's done the trick for years on my G0733 without loosening. My G0766 actually came with nyloc nuts on the tailstock, headstock and banjo! Maybe luck of the draw.
