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powermatic 3520A ticking headstock....

Hi folks... the ehadstock of my 3520 has started ticking. It seems to tick at the same place in the rotation, but I can't find anything that would cause the noise.

So far, I've adjusted the bearings, and looked at everything I can see without taking it apart to see if I could find what was causing it, and I haven't found anything. It definitely sounds like something is tapping, but I can't figure out what it could be. I've had the lathe for a few years, and haven't had any problems with it. A visitor to my shop noticed the ticking, so I don't know how long its been going on . I know it wasn't there when the lathe was new, and I hadn't noticed it until it was pointed out to me, so I'm guessing that it has just sort of built up over time (hence the adjusted bearings...).

It is definitely tied to the speed of the lathe - one tick per revolution.... Short of tearing the headstock apart, does anyone have any suggestions for what it might be?

Thanks

--JD

Reply to
j.duprie
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j.duprie wrote: the ehadstock of my 3520 has started ticking. (clip) It seems to tick at the same place in the rotation (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^6 If you take the belt off and turn the spindle slowly by hand can you feel anything? Try listening with a mechanic's stethosope--that will isolate the noise very easily. Ball bearings don't typically tick once per revolution, but if there is no visible cause, what else could it be?

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

Hi there J I don't have a lathe like that but in my mind if is related to the headstock, then the question is what comes around every revolution and that might be as simple as burr on a index hole or stop position, some lathes have stop pins that go in after turning them 90 degree., then a cross pin might be wore, bend or a burr on the shaft, all of which could cause a click, also a grub screw loosening up could hit something. Just a thought,hih.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

j.duprie wrote:

Reply to
Leo Van Der Loo

I have a 3520a. I think the previous guy might have been right on track. I think it is the belt. If you move the pulleys around it might stop. Mine does it a little. If the belt is a little off, it will "tick" at the seam.

RP

Reply to
RP Edington

Loose pulleys can make a ticking noise. I'd guess that the pulleys are loosening up with time. Try tightening the set screws on your pulleys and see if that helps.

-mike paulson, fort collins, co

Reply to
Mike Paulson

Thanks Jeff....

JD,

You can repost this to the newsgroup. I no longer post there because of all the spam I get as a result.

I have a 3520a and had the same problem. It's one of the setscrews/grub screws which hold the sheaves on the driveshaft(s). There are 2 setscrews on each sheave. Also there is a setscrew on the spindle lock, and the spindle lock is located in the headstock behind the button you push from the outside. All of the setscrews at a bear to get to and tighten, but the ticking will go away once you do it. Make sure that your sheaves are re-aligned before you tighten them. A visual alignment is fine.

I have about 1,000 hours on my 3520 and tightened them up the first time. The second time I put a very small amount of locktite on them. Not much, but just enough to keep them from backing out.

Jeff Jilg

Reply to
j.duprie

Try lossening or tightening the tension on the motor/belts, that is what worked for me. It was too much tension on the belt causing the ticking sound, or at least it went away when I eased the tension just a tad. MP Wall

Reply to
mike wall

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