Shopsmith Forums

mrhart wrote:I did as suggested and the problem is better but not eliminated. When I clamp the fence down it still pulls the far end a little left as it clamps. Does anyone else experience this?
If I adjust the lower clamp to where the handle goes almost all the way down, it isn't grabbing the aluminum rail very tight and will with use. No major lateral force, just use.
Any ideas?

The lower lock should be secured first. It should pull the fence to a square position.

The upper lock clamps the rear of the fence to the rear rail.

Both clamps should 'bottom out'. If they do not, the clamps need adjusting, or the wear plates need to be replaced. AIUI the rods operated by the levers have nuts on the end that determine the limit of the clamping action.

JPG40504 wrote:The lower lock should be secured first. It should pull the fence to a square position.

The upper lock clamps the rear of the fence to the rear rail.

Both clamps should 'bottom out'. If they do not, the clamps need adjusting, or the wear plates need to be replaced. AIUI the rods operated by the levers have nuts on the end that determine the limit of the clamping action.

I follow what you're saying here, and I have adjusted the nut and squared the fence back up. The wear plates may be the issue, it would explain why it doesn't seem to grab and hold snug.
If wax existes on the aluminum ect for a smooth glide, wouldn't that also build up on these wear plates? I wonder if I were to clean off with sometning if they would grab better?
No one else ever have this issue??

mrhart wrote:I did as suggested and the problem is better but not eliminated. When I clamp the fence down it still pulls the far end a little left as it clamps. Does anyone else experience this?
If I adjust the lower clamp to where the handle goes almost all the way down, it isn't grabbing the aluminum rail very tight and will with use. No major lateral force, just use.
Any ideas?

I am having difficulty understanding how the front lock is pulling the fence out of square if you originally squared/aligned the fence with the front lock locked. To be clear, the rear lock should be unlocked throughout out the alignment process. I still wonder if the fence is properly aligned.

SDSSmith wrote:I am having difficulty understanding how the front lock is pulling the fence out of square if you originally squared/aligned the fence with the front lock locked. To be clear, the rear lock should be unlocked throughout out the alignment process. I still wonder if the fence is properly aligned.

I agree. If the fence is aligned properly, the rear lock should not reposition the fence at all.

Not owning a 520 - Here is a question. If the back rail is mounted out of square, could this be his problem? I am assuming that his front rail is square to the blade.

charlese wrote:Not owning a 520 - Here is a question. If the back rail is mounted out of square, could this be his problem? I am assuming that his front rail is square to the blade.

How does one do that? Shims?

Don't know, don't have a 520, That's why I'm askin'.

I know there have been problems posted here about aligning the 520 rails.

charlese wrote:Don't know, don't have a 520, That's why I'm askin'.

I know there have been problems posted here about aligning the 520 rails.

Charlese, you are correct. If the rear rail is not parallel to the front rail, it could have that effect. Not likely but certainly possible.

What I believe has not been ascertained is whether the fence is actually parallel to the blade.

If the front of the fence is pushed tight against the front rail and then locked in that position with the lower lock, the fence should be parallel to the blade.

This needs to be verified before locking the rear of the fence down.

Then if locking the rear of the fence causes it to move, there is a problem.

When you lock the lower handle check to see that the fence is parrallel to the miter gauge slot. If it is not then the fence should be realigned. If the fence IS parrallel to the slot then the fence is not the problem. Movement will occur if the fence is not seated on the front rail when the lock is pressed down. Try to put a little pressure on the head of the fence in the direction of the table when you move it. Then lock the lower lever and the fence should not move. If the rub pads are on the fence and seated against the front rail the fence should not move when the lower lock is engaged.
Bill V

Having been through some issues with my 520 rails which did not all mount parallel to each other (because the fence mounting pads were not all the identical distance apart), I will say that it is certainly possible that the front or rear rail or both may not be perpendicular to the miter slot (which should be parallel to the blade).

When you move and then lock the fence on (a) the main table, (b) a floating table and (c) an extension table do you observe the same issue in terms of the fence skewing?