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Powermatic 3520B tail stock quill binding

Bruce Kerns

Bruce Kerns

Joined
Sep 30, 2010
Messages
7
Likes
177
Location
Pataskala, OH
The tail stock quill on my 3520B binds after about 2 in of travel out. Continues to bind until about the last 1/2 in of travel before quill releases. I have disassembled and inspected, threads n quill appear good. Anyone else had this problem or have a solution?m
 
A known issue with that lathe is a flaring of the slot from the locking bolt. Use a fine file or stone to remove the burrs around that slot. It's been discussed here before and lots of reference the Google will help you with.
 
A good many new lathes are cheaped down by using a screw end in the quill slot to prevent rotation of the quill during heavy drilling. The old and proper way is to broach a groove in the tailstock quill hole and use a length of key stock in the quill slot. Fool proof, but relatively expensive to broach the tailstock.

Just another one of the cheap tricks lathes like Jet, Powermatic and Grizzly use. Do it long enough and noobs begin to think it's the correct way.
 
I have had the same problem after some deep drilling with a large forstner bit. I actually bent the quill. not that I could see but after trying all the tricks and advice I found on the internet, I ended up replacing the quill. Problem solved. Hope yours is just a bur or rough spot. Could have bought a nice tool for the cost of replacement.
 
I had the same issue on my 4yr old PM3520 this past summer. Threads on th lead screw looked fine. But, took it to a local machine shop and they ran a die along the lead screw threads and a tap into the quill. He said he could feel a little resistance on the lead screw with the die even though it didn't look bad visually. so he assumed that was the issue. It has worked fine ever since.

At the time I also ordered a new quill and lead screw just to have on hand in case the old one failed agailn. Not sure what the stock status is currently but back in June Powermatic was backordered on the lead screw. It finaly arrived in late September.
 
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