Shopsmith Forums

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?

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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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 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.

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.

How did you take them apart?

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.