Shopsmith Forums

I want to use my drill press, but when I try to raise the tubes, they come up about 12" from the basic locked position, then seem to bind. I can't raise the tubes to use the drill press.
I keep my Shopsmith (Mark V -- about 30 years old, but in pristine condition) well taken care of and use it rarely. So, it has been about 5 years since I used the drill press.
I have checked everything I know...even climbed underneath it with a flashlight to see if anything could be binding. Saw nothing that would give me a clue.
Many times in the past, I have performed this easy function with no difficulty. But, surely there is something I'm not doing right. It doesn't feel impeded by dust or dirt. Rather, it feels like the tubes are encountering some kind of physical obstruction.
I know this description is vague, but have any of y'all experienced this? I hope it's simple so I can slap myself on the forehead and wonder, "Why didn't I think of that?"
Many thanks in advance for your help!
--Dr. Larry S Anderson -- Tupelo, MS (birthplace of Elvis!)

Is the base lock knob fully retracted?

I hate to point out the obvious, but I forgot to remove the extension table once. The machine would only raise a little.

agleason wrote:I hate to point out the obvious, but I forgot to remove the extension table once. The machine would only raise a little.

This was my first (only) thought as well. If there is anything installed where you would mount an extension table - remove it.

agleason wrote:I hate to point out the obvious, but I forgot to remove the extension table once. The machine would only raise a little.

I am guilty of that one as well.

Guilty It is like forgetting to lock the Quill before making a table saw cut. You only do that once also.

Russ,
I only wish I could say that I only did it once. As the years keep ticking by I find myself doing it more often. I guess I am going to have to spend more time in the shop sos not to forget thngs. Isn't that a shame. lol