Member postings for Mike Paley

Simon, sorry, I'm late to the party !

Have you resolved your lever problem properly yet ?

If not, I've processed the information in my brain and come to a conclusion as to what the problem could be - badly adjusted clutch. So I start with a statement and a question:

You know to start the lathe, you have to pull the lever out then lift it up. With the motor running, if you gently lift the lever WITHOUT pulling it out, which of these best fits what happens:

Spindle doesn't turn

Spindle turns like the lathe running normally

spindle turns slowly because the clutch slips.

The third option is what you're aiming for. If the spindle runs normally, the clutch is adjusted too tight - and because of this, the lever when pulled out and up, isn't moving far enough up to latch.

To adjust the clutch, remove left hand cover (changewheels cover) and look at the top V belt pulley - the clutch is built into that. The adjusting nut is marked in the manual as ZC8 - and from what I remember, this slides along the shaft to disengage a locking dog, once disengaged, it'll rotate relative to the pulley to adjust the clutch. Once adjusted correctly, snap it back along the shaft to lock it again. I think 'top to you' (front of lathe) loosens the clutch adjustment. With motor stopped, turn it a little bit and retry the starting handle for amount of vertical travel. If I'm right with my guess, loosen the adjustment bit by bit, retrying the control lever FIRMLY to the point it moves further and latches.

If that does the trick, GREAT Then make further minor adjustments of the clutch so that the spindle can be 'tickled' round by gently lifting the control lever without pulling it out - then you'll have the same adjustment as mine and it'll work great !

Hope that helps.