• The forum upgrades have been completed. These were moderate security fixes from our software vendor and it looks like everything is working well. If you see any problems please post in the Forum Technical Support forum or email us at forum_moderator (at) aawforum.org. Thank you
  • February 2026 Turning Challenge: Cookie Jar! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Matt Carvalho for "Red Mallee Folded Form" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 9, 2026 (click here for details)
  • AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Powermatic 3520A Banjo Not Locking

W

woodturner010

Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
2
Likes
0
My Powermatic 3520A banjo doesn't lock well especially when centered on the bed. I adjusted the lower plate to where I can barely slide the banjo but still can't get the lever to lock. With only medium presure when trying to lock it the lever just spins 360 degrees. It seems the cam bar must have bent but that is hard to believe. Has anyone else experience this problem? Other than buying a new cam bar what can I do and how can I avoid this problem again?
 
Shooting totally in the dark, but had a similar problem with a Delta at school once. The cam bar was enclosed in a bushing where it was held at the opposite end of the iron casting. Can't find a Powermatic diagram to see if this is the case with their banjo. The bushing disappeared, though I still don't know where or how, producing identical symptoms.

Look at the end opposite the locking lever and see if it flops. If it does, you might have slipped or lost a bushing. In our case, I fitted a suitable piece of copper tubing as a bushing five years ago, and never ordered the proper part.
 
I had problems but I got the banjo to lock (sometimes I still have problems when coring with the McNaughton bowl saver) by adjusting the nut to allow lock up when the handle is near to the bottom. When I had it locking up sooner the cam would loosen. The rod is meant to be bent slightly as this creates the cam action. If this doesn’t help call Powermatic and check with a technician 1-800-274-6846
 
George,

Thanks for the reply. I think my old Delta bench top lathe had a bar that was bent. The Powermatic cam bar is machined not bent. It is a larger diameter bar that is machined to a smaller diameter and offcenter to act as a cam that is supposed to be the same from end to end. The next time I have access to my Powermatic I will check the cam/bar to see if it is misshapen and compare it with one that works.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top