clicking in head 3520b stock

[Joe Gorman]

I have a clicking sound coming from the headstock. The lathe does runs true.
Clicking sound is heard with or without a chuck on spindle and with the index pin removed.

Anyone have an idea what it might be?

Joe G.

 

[Jerry Rhoads]

Hi Joe

Where you push the button in to lock the spindle. On the shaft behind that there is a set screw in the square that is on the shaft. It (or there may be two set screws) may be lose.
I think that I had to remove the control plate to get to it and slide it away from the front of the lathe and better align with the push in button, then tighten the set screw(s).

At least that was my clicking that was driving me crazy trying to figure out a while back.
Hope that this helps and that is all that is wrong.
Good luck

Jerry

 

[Jerry Rhoads]

Hey Joe

Was just back out to the shop.
It is the panel that shows the digital readout (4 screws) that I had to remove to get to the set screw(s)

But first check to see if that is the problem by unplugging the lathe and reach in through the bet cover to see if you can move that square plate on the shaft
The square plate is on the left, just inside from the hand wheel.
If i remember right it was hard to get my hand in to check this.

Jerry

 

[Bill Boehme]

Here is how to tell if you have a bad bearing -- with the lathe off and drive belt removed, rotate the handwheel slowly and listen for any sounds from the bearings. First make sure that something else like a set screw isn't loose.

 

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

You probably are not suffering from a bad bearing. That clicking sound you hear is a common issue with PM3520 owners and a frequent topic of conversation. Unplug your machine, remove the four screws that hold in the digital readout. Remove the two screws that hold in the spring loaded spindle lock button. Don't drop the spring. You will see a square collar with two notches that the lock button engages with. That collar is probably a bit loose. It will not be so loose that you can easily move it. Get the proper size allen wrench and loosen and retighten the set screws. Make sure they engage the flat spot on the shaft. Make them good and tight. That should fix the click.
The corners of that square collar register with a magnet on the back of the digital read out. They need to come close to hitting it but not hit it. I was not able to determine if mine hit so just to be safe, I installed a thin washer between the casting and the window before installing it. I have never had the click again. I hope this works for you.
faust

 

[Chuck Jones]

Minor variation on Jerry Rhoads advice

In my case the collar he references was too close and rubbing on the cast iron housing. I moved it just a hair away from the housing, tightened the set screws and the clicking vanished immediately. That was on a Jet 1642, but I think it is essentially the same design. That simple step was after replacing both bearings and a lot of cussing, hollering, and kicking.

 

[Breck Whitworth]

In my case I have had to tighten those screws three or four times since I have had my PM3520B lathe. It is a quite common occurrence unfortunately. I will say it is the only problem I have ever had with mine in the 1-1/2 years I have been turning on it.

 

[Bart Leetch]

I don't have either of these lathes but just gotta ask why didn't anyone use Loctite on the allen screws.

When I had the same problems as everyone else with a Craftsman table saw fence the large head allen screws that fastened the fence to the guide that ran on the rail. I used Loctite & never again had a misaligned fence. I always use blue Loctite especially on things like allen set screws on motor & equipment shafts. Anywhere there is the slightest chance of vibration.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Another common solution if there is enough depth to the screw hole is to stack two short setscrews. That can be a problem if somebody doesn't know that there are two setscrews and tries to brute force things apart after removing the top jam screw.