Delta Midi Lathe - tail stock ram

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Any suggestions ...

The handwheel for the quill on the tail stock of my Delta Midi Lathe (LA 200)has become hard to turn - in both directions. I cleaned and lubed it as best I can. I can't figure how to take it apart to inspect it and clean/lube it. The diagram shows a c-ring inside the tail stock that holds the spindle screw to the quill. Don't see any way to remove it.

FYI - I drilled two 1/2" and two 5/8" holes 5" deep into Jatoba with a drill chuck mounted in the tail stock. I have used it to drill holes in the past for four pepper grinders in maple and jatoba with no problem.

Thanks for your help - in advance.

- Lonnie

[Lonnie in Orlando]

BUMP - Any Suggestions?

shameless bump ..

Any ideas how I can free up the quill, or how to disassemble the tail stock on my Delta Midi?

- Lonnie

[ragswl4]

I don't own one but in the absence of any responses I could only suggest that you look in the manual to see if there is a parts diagram that might give you some clues. I suspect that it is some type of screw mechanism and could be a thead problem on the shaft or the threads in the stationary piece or perhaps wood chips got in there somehow and jammed it. If under warranty I would call Delta, they may have see the problem before. Just my rambling thoughts about some possibilities. I assume you have cleaned it as best you can without disassembly.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Fixed

I found the problem with the almost-frozen quill in the tailstock of my Delta Midi lathe. Based on responses to my question, it must not be a common problem. But - just in case you have the problem in the future ...

The problem was caused by the tip of the locking lever that rides in the chase of the quill (ram). The tip had rubbed the side of the chase and raised a ridge on the surface of the quill at the edge of the chase. The ridge bound against the inside of the tailstock.

Drilling into hard wood to make pens/pencils, pepper mills, and rolling pins may have rotated the quill against the tip of the lever and caused the ridge as I advanced the quill with the drill chuck. dunno

>> I filed down the ridge. All is well now.

Two problems prevented me from disassembling the tailstock:
a) The locking lever (handle assembly ref #59) must be completely removed from the tailstock to clear the chase.
b) The ridge on the quill froze the quill into the tailstock. Had to knock the quill and spindle screw out of the tailstock. (I was surprized that the screw did not have acme threads.)

- Lonnie

ragswl4: Thanks for your brainstorming.