Telescoping Legs - Can't Lock - Any Ideas for Fixing?

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:27 pm

I picked up an used 510 today that appears to be in good working order, but the telescoping legs won't lock. They just spin endlessly. Anyone have an idea about how to lock the legs?

Thanks,
Art

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:51 pm

pennview wrote:I picked up an used 510 today that appears to be in good working order, but the telescoping legs won't lock. They just spin endlessly. Anyone have an idea about how to lock the legs?

Thanks,
Art

Hi Art,

Welcome to the forum. We're glad to have you.

Are you talking about the caster assembly shown in the photo?
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mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:17 pm

Welcome Art to the forum. Are you griping them close to where they expand. Mine will spin forever at the top where they go into the 520 adapter. Hold the top section with one hand and turn the lower section with the other.

Glad you joined!

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:55 pm

Hi Mike and Mark,

Thanks for the welcome.

Mike, no, I'm referring to the two aluminum legs that can be used to support the table when used in the drill press mode. These are part number 514529.

Mark, I've been trying as you mentioned, but they don't tighten. They just rotate. Perhaps something is missing in mine. When I look into the upper end of the leg, I see a plastic/nylon disk in each of them.

Art

horologist · Post by **horologist** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:54 pm

pennview wrote:Hi Mike and Mark,

Thanks for the welcome.

Mike, no, I'm referring to the two aluminum legs that can be used to support the table when used in the drill press mode. These are part number 514529.

Mark, I've been trying as you mentioned, but they don't tighten. They just rotate. Perhaps something is missing in mine. When I look into the upper end of the leg, I see a plastic/nylon disk in each of them.

Art

Art,

It sounds like you may be missing a part or two. Hopefully this photo will help. Holding the upper portion in one hand and turning the lower portion in the direction of the arrow will loosen the cam and the leg will turn as you describe. Turning the lower portion in the opposite direction should lock the cam.

Troy

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Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:21 am

I have never taken mine apart but I imagine they are like the pole for my pool brush. The rod that slided inside the other rod has a plastic piece that is drilled slightly off center. It is then screwed in top of rod in a screw hole that is slightly off center.
The two pieces stay perfectly aligned until you turn the rod. When that happens the plastic piece cams against the inside wall of the outer tube.

Many things could have happened.
1. The plastic piece got broken and fell out so it will never work.
2. The Plastic piece got so worn that it is so small you can't cam it any longer. That what happened to my pool brush pole. I had to take it apart and built up the plastic piece with some JB wield that sanded it round and it works fine.
3. The plastic piece is frozen to the screw in the slide position and won't turn on the screw to cam against the outer tube.

I have no idea if you can take these legs apart but I suspect if it possible it would have to be done from the top end ( the one with the swivel connector).

If I get a chance I will dig mine out and examine how to get inside them.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:39 am

Was able to fix the telescoping legs today. As suggested by Ed (thanks), I was able to separate the two sections of the leg and remove the steel sleeve at the upper end by drilling out the two dimples (see photos). There is a twp-piece plastic insert inside that was binding. I simply sanded a bit off of the eccentric part, reassembled everything, and now the legs work fine. I still need to plug the two holes I drilled. A rivet or JB Weld should fix it.

Art

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:33 am

pennview wrote:Was able to fix the telescoping legs today. As suggested by Ed (thanks), I was able to separate the two sections of the leg and remove the steel sleeve at the upper end by drilling out the two dimples (see photos). There is a twp-piece plastic insert inside that was binding. I simply sanded a bit off of the eccentric part, reassembled everything, and now the legs work fine. I still need to plug the two holes I drilled. A rivet or JB Weld should fix it.

Art

Art
The locking piece was a little more complicated an I expected but is works just like the one I described on my pool brush rod. Glad you were able to fix it.

The dimple obviously holds the thing together I wonder if you could use a roll pin or dowel through it. That way if you ever (probably never) had to get in again you could real easy.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:38 am

Ed,

I fixed it temporarily with a piece of round plastic that I drove in to hold the steel sleeve in place. Whenever I'm at the hardware store I'll pick up a couple of 1/4" bolts for a more permanent fix.

Art

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 1:56 pm

pennview wrote:Ed,

I fixed it temporarily with a piece of round plastic that I drove in to hold the steel sleeve in place. Whenever I'm at the hardware store I'll pick up a couple of 1/4" bolts for a more permanent fix.

Art

As Ed has suggested, consider a 1/4" roll pin(tension pin) the same length as the diameter of the outer sleeve. IMHO it would be 'cleaner' than a bolt/nut, and not likely to crush the tube(s) from overtightening. A small taper/reduced diameter at the ends of the roll pins should keep them from 'wandering' out of the hole.