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Thread: Tailstock sliding?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    72

    Tailstock sliding?

    I have an 18" harbor freight lather and I have been having issues with the tailstock sliding. I can't get a good grip on spindles because the tailstock just pushes back when I turn the wheel. It it's like it doesn't have enough friction.

    Does anyone have a solution or a good upgrade I can perform?

  2. #2
    On the bottom of the tailstock there should be a nut/bolt that holds the plate which squeezes the tailstock to the bed rails. I would look to see if you can tighten that a tad. Shouldn't take much, maybe 1/2 turn.
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    No, it's not thin enough yet.
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  3. Try turning the nut on the tailstock bolt underneath your bed ways about 1/3rd turn or maybe 1/2 depending on how loose it is, and see if that does not help a great deal. If you have a wax buildup underneath or have lubricated your ways a good bit, you may have to take some solvent, like mineral spirits or kerosene and clean the build up off. One of these should help!
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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Forest, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    386
    If the clamping plate under the bed ways is a circular piece, like a large washer, then you could try replacing it with a square plate the same width. That will increase the surface area bearing on the underside of the ways. I seem to recall that several years ago there were quite a few folks having that type of problem with one of the popular mini lathes (Jet?) and that was the favored solution. Cleaning off any wax should help as well.

    Take care
    Bob

  5. #5
    +1 on cleaning the clamping mechanism.

    You have not lubricated it, have you? I did that and it caused problems.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Newnan, GA
    Posts
    503
    I had the same problem with my Delta midi awhile back. As Bob mentioned, I replaced the round washer with a square one and it solved my problem. IIRC I used 2 pieces of 1/4" steel, one the width between the bed and the other to span the bed by 1/4" or so.
    "When the horse is dead, GET OFF."

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Inver Grove Heights, MN
    Posts
    798
    If tightening the nut under the bed does not fix the problem, I would try roughing up the top of the clamp plate. Be gentle, you want it to be able to slide, but also be able to get a grip on the underside of the bed.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Atikokan, Rainy River district, Ontario
    Posts
    3,540
    Quote Originally Posted by Jared Walters View Post
    I have an 18" harbor freight lather and I have been having issues with the tailstock sliding. I can't get a good grip on spindles because the tailstock just pushes back when I turn the wheel. It it's like it doesn't have enough friction.

    Does anyone have a solution or a good upgrade I can perform?
    Jared I had a little midi lathe were the tailstock liked to move when I wanted to drill some larger holes with a forstner bit, the tailstock was adjusted to give maximum clamping force but that round washer that had to hold it didn’t have enough area contacting the bottom of the ways.

    So I took a piece of cold rolled flat steel that would fit under the ways and cut a piece off of it, a bit longer that the width, found the center and marked it, center punched it and drilled a hole and assembled it to the tailstock, never had a problem of the tailstock moving ever again.

    I have two pictures here that show what I did make, also placed a little spring there, that keeps the plate from tipping or rotating, Hope This Helps You 1thumb.gif

    Taistock plate.jpg Tailstock plate1.jpg
    Last edited by Leo Van Der Loo; 01-26-2015 at 11:57 PM.
    Have fun and take care

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kapolei Hawaii
    Posts
    3,236
    I had that happen with my Jet Mini. I got a Monster Lathe Tools T-nut, and never had a problem since. They may have one for your lathe.

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