Suddenly the banjo on my lathe won't stay tightened. When i push the lever down, and release my hand, you can see the lever end start to rise on its own.:shocked7fl: Any suggestions?
Banjo Adjustment Problem
- Thread starter SteveColes
- Start date
-
- Tags
- adjustment banjo problem
- Status
Got a pic bro?
Actually, I think it happened suddenly right around the time my work piece slipped out the chuck. See my post on off center.
A banjo is that part of a lathe that holds the tool rest.
No idea what solution to offer, other than maybe make sure the threads are clean...?
The banjo slides on the the lathe ways holding the tool rest.
It is also a musical instrument:rolf:
Thanks guys. I think I'll pull it off and take underneath and see if there is dirt and re-adjust the tension thing:saw:
Steve, once you take it off you will probably find a nut that you will be able to tight up a little. Be careful how much you tighten it because if could add to much tension on the rod. I had the rod for my tail stock on my Jet mini lathe break on me a while back.
Here are a couple of pix of the rod that broke. It seems like a pretty poor design to me.
D L
Here are a couple of pix of the rod that broke. It seems like a pretty poor design to me.
D L
Attachments
I had a round nose scraper doing the hollowing, when it happened and I was being way to agressive with it. It started to chatter and I ignored it:sad9cd: and then all went to ....:BangHead: As soon as I get a chance to take it off, I'll let you'all know what I probably messed up:frown3qg:
Write this down and hang it on the wall closest to your lathe (print in large enough print to read it while standing at your lathe):
When there is a distinct change while turning anything, including chatter, I will stop and see if I can determine the cause. I will not ignore the new symptom!
Mystery Solved!!!
Though I feel a bit stupid. This is my first lathe, so I really didn't think about it. Since I have had it, I always tightened the banjo by simply pulling the handle down to whatever position tightened the banjo in position, usually about 120 degrees from TDC. No problem, though on occasion it would loosen, but I would just re-tighten it and that would last quite a while.
It was only yesterday, that it didn't stay tightened at all. As I mentioned, you could see the handle move into a loose position:BangHead:
So this morning I removed it, assuming that some shavings were caught in the mechanism. I took it apart, clean it up, and re-assembled it. Same thing, but even worse:BangHead: :BangHead:
Took it off again and this time looked at how the mechanism very carefully to see how it worked. And this it what I found.
If you look carefully, you can see that the shaft doesn't fit into the recess at the end. This is with the at 90 deg from TDC. No way this could be stable, given that machined surface,:shocked7fl:
At 270 deg, the same thing, just on the opposite side.
But at 180, the machined surface, fits right into the recess in the the casting:yes4lo: Conclusion, put the banjo back, loosen the lock nut at the bottom, turn handle to 180 and then tighten the lock just enough so that banjo doesn't move.
Now it works like a champ. When loose, it is easier to adjust position:eusa_danc , when locked down it is very secure:eusa_danc .
The only thing that bothers me after this little mechanical investigation, is that I suspect that all banjos work something like this and I was so ignorant, that when mine didn't didn't go all the way down to the 180 position that I didn't realize it needed an adjustment right out of the box.:crybaby2:
Also, all the pictures in the Rikon Manual show the handle in the 270 position as tightened down:frown3qg:
Oh and one more thing, why did it at all until yesterday? My only guess is based on how rough the casting surface is and it created enough friction to hold it in place until it used a lot.:eyeslam:
Though I feel a bit stupid. This is my first lathe, so I really didn't think about it. Since I have had it, I always tightened the banjo by simply pulling the handle down to whatever position tightened the banjo in position, usually about 120 degrees from TDC. No problem, though on occasion it would loosen, but I would just re-tighten it and that would last quite a while.
It was only yesterday, that it didn't stay tightened at all. As I mentioned, you could see the handle move into a loose position:BangHead:
So this morning I removed it, assuming that some shavings were caught in the mechanism. I took it apart, clean it up, and re-assembled it. Same thing, but even worse:BangHead: :BangHead:
Took it off again and this time looked at how the mechanism very carefully to see how it worked. And this it what I found.
If you look carefully, you can see that the shaft doesn't fit into the recess at the end. This is with the at 90 deg from TDC. No way this could be stable, given that machined surface,:shocked7fl:
At 270 deg, the same thing, just on the opposite side.
But at 180, the machined surface, fits right into the recess in the the casting:yes4lo: Conclusion, put the banjo back, loosen the lock nut at the bottom, turn handle to 180 and then tighten the lock just enough so that banjo doesn't move.
Now it works like a champ. When loose, it is easier to adjust position:eusa_danc , when locked down it is very secure:eusa_danc .
The only thing that bothers me after this little mechanical investigation, is that I suspect that all banjos work something like this and I was so ignorant, that when mine didn't didn't go all the way down to the 180 position that I didn't realize it needed an adjustment right out of the box.:crybaby2:
Also, all the pictures in the Rikon Manual show the handle in the 270 position as tightened down:frown3qg:
Oh and one more thing, why did it at all until yesterday? My only guess is based on how rough the casting surface is and it created enough friction to hold it in place until it used a lot.:eyeslam:
T
toolferone
Nice investigation work there Steve! It is no something else I know that I can pass along to a customer. Thanks for sharing the fix with us.
So, is that the way it works on most lathes? Not eh specific degrees but the principal?
Aw, come on turners. Is the way most banjos work, or was I missing the obvious? Mike, big Mike, Phil, Cad, Monty, Dave. Please I really want to know! Please:eusa_pray
Steve, I have not encountered the problem you described. But with most banjo mechanisms you just turn them until the cam is tight. If I am understanding what you are saying you found the cam was catching on a rough spot in the casting. That is not normal. With most banjo tightening mechanisms there is no specific angle or number of degrees you turn the handle to make it tight, it is just where you turn it until it becomes tight. Shoot Steve, I think all of the above means, I don't know for sure. Yeah, that is my best answer, I don't know.
The catching on a rough spot was the reason it was working before the goblet broke. On this one, the internal desigh is definitely intended for the handle to be down at the 180 deg point. Now it makes me wonder about my tailstock:shocked7fl:
That's what I had assumed but the Rikon is definetly not that way.
- Status
Premier Sponsor
Our Sponsors
LATEST FOR SALE LISTINGS
-
-
SOLD -- $75: Gast moa v113 Vacuum Pump Veneer, 60" bag and board- Started by peterdnight
- Replies: 1
-
GONE: Gladiator 5 cleats, 10 hangers, Paper Towel and Shelf
- Started by peterdnight
- Replies: 3
-
SOLD -- $100 Makita mac700 portable air + grex pin nailer + 2 others + 50' hose
- Started by peterdnight
- Replies: 1
-