telescoping legs won't tighten
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bugswithwings
- Bronze Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:22 pm
telescoping legs won't tighten
I haven't used my telescoping legs for years and one of them won't tighten. I've flushed it with water but still no change. Any suggestions?
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robinson46176
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:00 pm
- Location: Central Indiana (Shelbyville)
Re: telescoping legs won't tighten
I would probably just slip a stainless steel screw type hose clamp on the inside tube and use a nut driver to adjust it up and down. I have never been overly impressed with the twist locks.
I have a set of garden loppers with those locks on telescoping handles and they are always slipping.
You can buy those screw clamps with a thumb screw handle if you prefer.
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I have a set of garden loppers with those locks on telescoping handles and they are always slipping.
You can buy those screw clamps with a thumb screw handle if you prefer.
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farmer
Francis Robinson
I did not equip with Shopsmiths in spite of the setups but because of them.
1 1988 - Mark V 510 (bought new), 4 Poly vee 1 1/8th HP Mark V's, Mark VII, 1 Mark V Mini, 1 Frankensmith, 1 10-ER, 1 Mark V Push-me-Pull-me Drillpress, SS bandsaw, belt sander, jointer, jigsaw, shaper attach, mortising attach, TS-3650 Rigid tablesaw, RAS, 6" long bed jointer, Foley/Belsaw Planer/molder/ripsaw, 1" sander, oscillating spindle/belt sander, Scroll saw, Woodmizer sawmill
farmer
Francis Robinson
I did not equip with Shopsmiths in spite of the setups but because of them.
1 1988 - Mark V 510 (bought new), 4 Poly vee 1 1/8th HP Mark V's, Mark VII, 1 Mark V Mini, 1 Frankensmith, 1 10-ER, 1 Mark V Push-me-Pull-me Drillpress, SS bandsaw, belt sander, jointer, jigsaw, shaper attach, mortising attach, TS-3650 Rigid tablesaw, RAS, 6" long bed jointer, Foley/Belsaw Planer/molder/ripsaw, 1" sander, oscillating spindle/belt sander, Scroll saw, Woodmizer sawmill
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Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
Re: telescoping legs won't tighten
Never took the telescopic legs apart but most telescopic type devices use a caming action. They have a disk/cam that rotates off center which binds the leg in position. If it isn't working it is for one of two reasons. One the cam doesn't get a bite on the inside of the out tube, so it never fully cams to a point that it is totally locked. Or the cam is worn down and can't cam enough for a secure fit.
I have a an extension pool cleaning pole that works the same way. On mine the off enter disk has worn down so it could not get a good bite on the tube. I took it out and re bored it a little more off center that worked for a couple of years but eventually I had to replace the disk.
Simple process. Just turn a disk the inside diameter if the tube. Then drill a hole slightly off center and attach it to the lower part of the leg. Slide it in the tube and you are good to go.
I have a an extension pool cleaning pole that works the same way. On mine the off enter disk has worn down so it could not get a good bite on the tube. I took it out and re bored it a little more off center that worked for a couple of years but eventually I had to replace the disk.
Simple process. Just turn a disk the inside diameter if the tube. Then drill a hole slightly off center and attach it to the lower part of the leg. Slide it in the tube and you are good to go.
Re: telescoping legs won't tighten
I found the caming gear pin can become bent and not allow the cam gear free rotation to lock. I had to straighten or replace the cam gear pin/shaft to restore the locking action.
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rcplaneguy
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:33 pm
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Re: telescoping legs won't tighten
How did you take them apart?billmayo wrote:I found the caming gear pin can become bent and not allow the cam gear free rotation to lock. I had to straighten or replace the cam gear pin/shaft to restore the locking action.
Re: telescoping legs won't tighten
I was always able to pull the smaller leg from the inside of the larger leg. I did not see any type of retaining ring or seal on the telescoping legs that I had. You may have to pull really hard to separate the two legs.