Hobbymat Saddle Adjustment

The saddle on my Hobbymat shows some vertical play when I lift the topslide. I have the Hobbymat manual but have a dim recollection that I was once told the forcing and clamp screws are numbered the wrong way in the text. It describes the centre Allen screw as the forcing screw (which I assume bears against the far side of the saddle casting) and the outer two as the locking screws (which would be tapped into the far side of the casting to close the gap when tightened). I'm a bit nervous about doing anything too extreme in the way of over-stressing what is probably a fairly fragile casting.

Can anybody please advise?

The middle screw forces the clearance to open and the outer two pull it shut. If you unscrew the middle screw do you still have too much free play or does the saddle lock up?

If you still have free play gently tighten the two out screws until the saddle is just tight. You may need to experiment to make sure that both screws are having an effect and it is not just tight at one end. Then gently tighten the middle screw until you have free movement without excessive play.

If the saddle locks up gently loosen the two outer screws until it is free and proceed as above.

You should not need more than finger pressure on a standard length Allen key for the above adjustments.

Best regards

Roger

Many thanks for the speedy reply. That seems to coincide with my manual, so maybe there was an earlier edition with the duff gen. I'll go and investigate after a spot of lunch.

That seems to have tightened things up a lot. Apparently there were two editions of the manual and mine does have the right screw labelling after all.

Next project is a possible fine feed adjustment for the Hobbymat mill; reaching round the back and cranking round the wheel at the top is a bit of a pain, and the pump handle's pretty unreliable.

Many thanks again for your help. You've made an old lathe very happy.

The manual I have shows a fine feed system that screws in above the quill and gives a fine screw adjustment (it must have a thrust bearing somewhere) but I don't have any real details. I just reach up and wind the handle