Installed Lift Assist, now headstock doesn't slide easily

[friscomike]

Howdy folks,

I just finished periodic maintenance on my 510, and all was well. I could slide the headstock or table with two fingers. Decided to install a lift assist I've had for couple of years. It installed easily and worked well. Today I noticed the table was higher in the back than the front, so I checked the lock. The rear way tube was about 1/8" above its seat. I tightened the lock down screw and that helped some, but the tube in the rear still lifts out of the latch first and the head and tailstock don't slide easily at all.

I searched and read most of the forum notes, but didn't see an obvious solution. Adjusting the way tubes with the lift assist installed might be tricky, and I'm not sure that would help. It was correctly adjusted before I installed the lift assist. The latch is clear of sawdust.

Do folks have any suggestions where I might check next? At this point, the lift assist is coming off if I can't get the tubes aligned.

Best,
mike

[a1gutterman]

Howdy folks,

I just finished periodic maintenance on my 510, and all was well. I could slide the headstock or table with two fingers. Decided to install a lift assist I've had for couple of years. It installed easily and worked well. Today I noticed the table was higher in the back than the front, so I checked the lock. The rear way tube was about 1/8" above its seat. I tightened the lock down screw and that helped some, but the tube in the rear still lifts out of the latch first and the head and tailstock don't slide easily at all.

I searched and read most of the forum notes, but didn't see an obvious solution. Adjusting the way tubes with the lift assist installed might be tricky, and I'm not sure that would help. It was correctly adjusted before I installed the lift assist. The latch is clear of sawdust.

Do folks have any suggestions where I might check next? At this point, the lift assist is coming off if I can't get the tubes aligned.

Best,
mike

I do knot know if this will help you, Mike, but Nick did a Sawdust Sessionon the installation of said unit. Also, if memory serves me right, Dusty had a similar problem that he solved. Do a search and you may find it.

[dusty]

Howdy folks,

I just finished periodic maintenance on my 510, and all was well. I could slide the headstock or table with two fingers. Decided to install a lift assist I've had for couple of years. It installed easily and worked well. Today I noticed the table was higher in the back than the front, so I checked the lock. The rear way tube was about 1/8" above its seat. I tightened the lock down screw and that helped some, but the tube in the rear still lifts out of the latch first and the head and tailstock don't slide easily at all.

I searched and read most of the forum notes, but didn't see an obvious solution. Adjusting the way tubes with the lift assist installed might be tricky, and I'm not sure that would help. It was correctly adjusted before I installed the lift assist. The latch is clear of sawdust.

Do folks have any suggestions where I might check next? At this point, the lift assist is coming off if I can't get the tubes aligned.

Best,
mike

Yes, Mike, Tim recalls correctly. I had a similar situation right after I installed my lift assist. That problem is now non existent. Unfortunately, I can not report what I did to resolve it - I do not really know.

Like you, the installation went well, with no glitches, until I tried to relocate the headstock and/or carriage. The left end seemed to be OKAY but as the carriage was moved to the right side it bound up. Moving the headstock to the right was less difficult than the carriage had been (I think because the carriage was already there).

Since I had not had the problem before installing the lift-assist, the conclusion was obvious. I first checked to make sure all the parts had been properly located. I then did the only thing I could think of other than take it off.

I loosened all the bolts that secured the lift to the tubes. I then lifted the left end of the Mark V off the floor and gingerly set it back down. I lifted the left end because the carriage and headstock were now at the other end - it was lighter. The thought was that installation had put the tubes under stress and twisted them out of alignment with one another.

I then tightened all of the bolts securing the lift assist. Sorta finger tight all the way around and then a bit tighter (with a wrench) all the way around and then secure all the way around.

The carriage and headstock now slide on the way tubes; however, not as easily as they once did.

I am extremely dependent on the lift assist and I love what it has done for me but its installation does detract from that one feature of the Mark V. I am sorta tempted to permanently resolve this problem so that the unit slides like it used to but then, on the other hand....I rather be making sawdust.

Good Luck - I know you'll like the lift you get.

[friscomike]

Thanks Tim and Dusty.

Dusty, you did what I am tempted to do, loosening the assist and "re-torquing" the body. Also thought I'd try to adjust the way tubes by loosening the assist, then rotating the tubes. I'll report my luck.

Thanks again,
mike

[8iowa]

I had a similar problem, my lift assist "lifted" one of the tubes about 1/8" high at the other end. I tried rotating the tubes, and made it worse.

I thought I had installed the lift assist correctly - I did not. After carefully watching Nick's instructions, and rotating the tubes so that the interior weld on both was on the bottom, the problems were solved.

[mpcarr]

I had the same problem when I installed my lift assist. Like others have mentioned, I rotated the tubes to fix it and now it works just fine.

Mike

[friscomike]

Thanks Mike. I'll try it today. ~mike