Quill Assembly - does not retract automatically

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:45 pm

I find that I have to file the edges of each quill housing groove that the top set screw fit in. The set screw tip will raise the metal on each side of the groove to where it is difficult to move the quill housing if the quill is extended often. I find that a small set of needle files from Harbor Freight works well for this task.

Yes, the packed sawdust/crud can look just like the the quill housing metal teeth and can be hard to remove. I use a small flat blade screw driver for this task before wire brushing the housing teeth. Thise same idea applies to cleaning the Quill Feed shaft teeth at the same time frame when doing the quill housing.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:50 pm

billmayo wrote:I find that I have to file the edges of each quill housing groove that the top set screw fit in. The set screw tip will raise the metal on each side of the groove to where it is difficult to move the quill housing if the quill is extended often. I find that a small set of needle files from Harbor Freight works well for this task.

Yes, the packed sawdust/crud can look just like the the quill housing metal teeth and can be hard to remove. I use a small flat blade screw driver for this task before wire brushing the housing teeth. Thise same idea applies to cleaning the Quill Feed shaft teeth at the same time frame when doing the quill housing.

Thanks Bill. My quills are surgically clean after I rebuilt the machines. I think I may have to reinspect the quill stop groove as you mentioned to see if I am getting some galling/raising issues and resolve that. But it seems like a lubrication type of thing like the quill is just too dry against the aluminum headstock housing bore if that makes any sense.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:58 pm

Don't overlook the quill feed sleave and the whole locking shaft - maybe the quill locking system is gooped up.part #74 (501318) Quill Feed Sleeve
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/headstockassembly_1.htm

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:32 pm

charlese wrote:Don't overlook the quill feed sleave and the whole locking shaft - maybe the quill locking system is gooped up.part #74 (501318) Quill Feed Sleeve
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/headstockassembly_1.htm

Good suggestion CH but I assure you every part of my machines is perfectly clean and working as designed except the sliding.......

You can feel the tightness of the quill in the bore of the headstock casting when moving it in and out. This is mostly on my Mark VII but the Mark V also exhibits the same behavior after just a short amount of use. I am going to revisit it this weekend and see what i can gather up for troubleshooting data and report back later. Not the biggest thing in the world but an annoyance just the same.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:25 pm

wannabewoodworker wrote:Good suggestion CH but I assure you every part of my machines is perfectly clean and working as designed except the sliding....... You can feel the tightness of the quill in the bore of the headstock casting when moving it in and out. This is mostly on my Mark VII but the Mark V also exhibits the same behavior after just a short amount of use. I am going to revisit it this weekend and see what i can gather up for troubleshooting data and report back later. Not the biggest thing in the world but an annoyance just the same.

Since you bought them 'used', it is possible a PO allowed abrasive debris(grinding) to accumulate in the bore and get embedded in the softer aluminum of the headstock. You should be able to feel it with your finger.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:33 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Since you bought them 'used', it is possible a PO allowed abrasive debris(grinding) to accumulate in the bore and get embedded in the softer aluminum of the headstock. You should be able to feel it with your finger.

Seems to be pretty smooth when I felt the length of it. I did smooth it further with some 800-1,000 grit emory cloth but it is quite difficult to really get in there good and get it polished up really nice. Any suggestions for a DIY ID polishing device???

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:33 pm

wannabewoodworker wrote:Seems to be pretty smooth when I felt the length of it. I did smooth it further with some 800-1,000 grit emory cloth but it is quite difficult to really get in there good and get it polished up really nice. Any suggestions for a DIY ID polishing device???

Bill Mayo reminded me that the set screw on the top of the headstock can make it drag. Completely remove the set screw to see if it is contributing to the problem. If so check his post.

Also the return spring should have abundant force when tightened fully. How does it feel with no tension???

michaeltoc · Post by **michaeltoc** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:29 am

wannabewoodworker wrote:You can feel the tightness of the quill in the bore of the headstock casting when moving it in and out.

I had the same issue. Everything on the quill and casting were smooth and waxed. The problem was the spring was a little gunked up. I removed the shaft and sprayed degreaser into the spring housing. Worked like a charm! Just be careful - there is a spherical washer on the shaft that will fall into the motor pan (found that out the hard way).

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:41 am

JPG40504 wrote:Bill Mayo reminded me that the set screw on the top of the headstock can make it drag. Completely remove the set screw to see if it is contributing to the problem. If so check his post.

Also the return spring should have abundant force when tightened fully. How does it feel with no tension???

Seems the setscrew is not the issue as I have tried it completely loose? I will try again later this morning when I get moving. Been dealing with a pinched nerve in my lower left back/buttock area that is really slowing me down the past two days. Really stinks getting old and I hope that this isn't the precursor to further surgery. I had double cervical fusion several years ago and although it all went smoothly I don't relish the thought of going through that again.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:23 pm

wannabewoodworker wrote:Seems the setscrew is not the issue as I have tried it completely loose? I will try again later this morning when I get moving. Been dealing with a pinched nerve in my lower left back/buttock area that is really slowing me down the past two days. Really stinks getting old and I hope that this isn't the precursor to further surgery. I had double cervical fusion several years ago and although it all went smoothly I don't relish the thought of going through that again.

Welcome to sciatica!:(