Main table slipping when in drill press mode

[charlese]

Hi, Bob! The carriage lock is, for sure, a very simple lock that'll give a slippage problem sometimes. Here's my story:

When I got my machine (brand new) the carriage lock would lock at almost the horizontal position. From there I could push the lock over the "hump", so to speak, to a stop at a couple of degrees more twist. After may -many tightenings, a table slip from drill press position was noted. This is easy to fix!

**You don't have to take off the carriage to replace this lock or its parts.

I took off the nut opposite end of the handle using a 1/2" socket and slid out the shaft - spring and locks. Not finding anything wrong, put it back together, and tightened the nut as it was before.

Now, my carriage lock becomes tighter after a dozen or so uses. What I mean is; the locking position becomes sooner on the lever throw (higher up) as time goes by. It will take a few weeks before I can notice this tightening, but it is only a minute to re-set the lock. This nut is a tensioned locking nut and is not supposed to loosen or tighten without using a wrench. However now mine does. Maybe there was a washer between the carriage and the nut that I didn't replace. I'm going to look at that this afternoon.

Nope, I replaced the washer! - will try again to fix my minor issue by squeezing the tension end of the nut closed. It only takes a minute to remove the carriage lock assembly from the carriage.

BTW my wedge locks are worn a bit at the top of the slopes, but this looks normal to me as the shiny worn areas match the way tubes.
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P.S. - EDIT - After replacing my assembly. --Thought I'd better add a short comment about re-installing the assembly.

1) Clean out the wedge lock holes and lubricate the wedge locks on the outside of them only. I used graphite.

1a) The whole operation may be a bit easier if the unit is raised to drill press position. I didn't do this - just laid beneath the Mark V.

2) Put the table raising handle back on - (it had to be removed to slide out the carriage lock shaft). Use a block of wood to hold the carriage lock handle all the way against the carriage.

3) Now that the shaft with spring is held in place with the wood block/wedge - compress the spring by hand and put a locking pliers on the shaft to hold the spring in compressed position.

4) Insert the second wedge lock , washer and nut. Tighten the nut so the lock holds the carriage.

[dickg1]

Bob,

Just go to the other end of that carriage lock and you'll find a nut. Lock on with a 9/16 (?) and play with it. Mine comes loose from time to time. Don't get too vigorous. Try an 1/4 turn at most.

Doc

When I upgraded my Goldie 500 to a 520 last year my table slipped too. I did what Bob suggests. No more slippage.

Dick

[radster]

I had the same "table slipping" problem with my 510. Did the research. Found this post and the problem is solved. No $$ out of pocket. Just 30 seconds of my time. Thanks everyone!

[keakap]

... Obviously not a permanent or good fix. Any good ideas on how I should proceed?
Bob Groh, Kansas City area

Actually, as you will undoubtedly find after reviewing the historical record on this common 'problem', your 2x4 fix is a (semi)permanent and good fix.

If the carriage lock works satisfactorily in horizontal boring mode you may well be better off not taking a chance on over-tightening the wedgies and stick with a nice safe reliable tunable cheap and handy block o wood for "drill press" type operations.
(You''ll probably wind up using one sooner or later anaway, especially if you get into mortising.)

[dusty]

I have had and resolved this problem a number of times. Cleaning is almost always been the solution. However, when I converted #2 to the Shorty configuration I decided that there would be NO MORE slipping.

I have drilled holes of unwanted varying depth too many times.

No More. You can view details of my solution here.