Jet 1442 question

Chris, It sounds like your going through the same growing pains I did. I had my Jet 1442 for about 8 months and every time I had moved the head stock I had to put the centers in it and line it up. the last few months I had it, it developed play in the pivit at the ring you menchened of .095 of an inche, try roughing ou a blank and never geting it round and the vibration contuing to grow. I beleve the problem with mine was that the pin that locks it into the ring is to week and not to close tollerances. After two months on the phone with Jet and not being abul to use the lathe Jet finaly replaced the whole thing and I up graded to the Powermatic 3520. I said I would never own a sliding or piviting head lathe again but so far the new lahte lines up good and is a dream to use. Well worth the price if your turning bowls and other out of balance stuff. The 1442 is a good lathe to start with and test your ability but I beleve I out grew it. Hope this helps. Rick

Chris:

I thought that the gadget you pull to release the headstock for rotation was also for aligning the headstock after rotating it. I assumed when I screwed it down tight that I was pulling the headstock into alignment.

If that's not what it does, what is the purpose of the threads to tighten it down?

WaltC

tailstock down