Tailstock issues - help please?

[Matt Friedman]

I recently got a used Record Power Coronet Envoy and for the past few weeks it's been working great. Today however, I was applying pressure to my workpiece with the live center and the hand wheel started unscrewing from the quill. I screwed it back in, and when I turn it, the quill will move in and out like it's supposed to, but as soon as the live center makes contact with the workpiece, if I try to apply more pressure the hand wheel starts to unscrew again from the quill. I tried removing the wheel completely, but I can't seem to get the quill out of the tailstock to examine it more closely. When I removed the wheel, I found a metal piece loose inside the tailstock and I have no idea what it is/what it does. I attached a photo of the piece, but I can't attach the video I took of the issue. You can see it at the Google Drive link below. If anyone has any advice/suggestions it would be much appreciated!

UPDATE: I figured out the issue, sort of. The piece I found inside the tailstock goes on the end of the lead screw for the quill to prevent it from unscrewing. For some reason, if the quill is tightened too much against the workpiece, it pops off. This is what causes the lead screw to unscrew from the quill. What I can't figure out now is why that metal piece keeps popping off.

 

[Webb Willmott]

It’s a c-clip. Look for a grove on a metal rod/shaft and it slips over the shaft and in the grove. It’s used to secure things on a shaft like a bearing race to prevent them from coming off.

 

[Darryn Achall]

That clip looks like it is bent open. You just need to purchase an e-clip of the proper size that is not damaged. An e-clip has the small nub in the middle opposite the opening. A c-clip does not have the nub.

 

[Richard Coers]

Just give the c clip a little squeeze with a pliers to close it up, then reinstall it. They are not hardened like snap rings and will bend. If it was a hardened c clip, it would have broken and not opened up.

 

[Webb Willmott]

Your local hardware store usually carries them.

 

[Matt Friedman]

Just give the c clip a little squeeze with a pliers to close it up, then reinstall it. They are not hardened like snap rings and will bend. If it was a hardened c clip, it would have broken and not opened up.

That's what I ended up doing, but it still just pops off if I apply too much pressure with the tailstock, or try to extend it farther than it can go. It doesn't just stop.

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

That's what I ended up doing, but it still just pops off if I apply too much pressure with the tailstock, or try to extend it farther than it can go. It doesn't just stop.

As others have mentioned, get a new one. Once they bend, they'll keep bending. They're cheap, so get a couple for spares.

 

[Matt Friedman]

As others have mentioned, get a new one. Once they bend, they'll keep bending. They're cheap, so get a couple for spares.

How can I figure out sizing? I'm not sure what size the lead screw is.

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

How can I figure out sizing? I'm not sure what size the lead screw is.

Measure it, or take it to the hardware store and compare it to the ones in the bins.

 

[Matt Friedman]

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Tony Rozendaal]

Something that may be helpful - those clips are stamped from a sheet and have a "sharp side" and a "round side" which can usually be identified by a close look. Make sure the clip is installed with the "sharp side" taking the load. Sometimes this needs to be thought through, as the forces inside a tailstock aren't always straightforward.

 

[William Rogers]

Along the same lines as Tony suggested, measure the slot width in the tailstock and look closely at the edges. They should be sharp and not radiuses. Too wide of the slot can cause the problem you are experiencing. You can look up the width based on the clip size. I would also inform Record of the problem, they are usually responsive solving issues based on other owners comments.

 

[Webb Willmott]

I’m wondering why a clip would pop off. One guess I have is the person you bought it from disassembled the tailstock for either maintenance and/or cleaning prior to the sale and failed to fully seat the clip. So when you tightened up the live center, the clip popped off. Another possibility is the clip was replaced with an inappropriate size so be sure to measure the slot against the clip or contact Record Power for the correct size clip.

I’m just guessing so what say the others that have dissembled shafts with clips?

 

[Darryn Achall]

My clip opened up like that just due to repeated application of a lot of pressure. Seems it is just the weakest part of the design. I bent the clip back to shape and reinstalled it, but it came apart easier after that. I purchased a few new clips so that when I inadvertently apply too much pressure I can just pop in a new clip. I believe I've used three clips in about 6 years.