(If this information has been uncovered and posted before, I missed it, and I apologize for the redundancy. Since the Jet and Powermatic are of similar design I suspect the same issue and solution is possible with the PM.)
For about two years I had a varying clicking noise in my Jet 1642 that seemed unidentifiable and unsolvable. I tried everything suggested on several forums and by Jet Technical Support, including new bearings. I finally decided I had to live with it, but it made life just a tad less enjoyable.
Last weekend I discovered that the bearing at the hand wheel was actually bad and I was just sure that a replacement would finally fix the clicking. Nope. Still clicked. At that point I declared I would fix the click or junk the lathe. After taking it completely apart (twice) I finally discovered that the "collar" with the two slots that receive the spindle locking pin was slightly touching the cast iron housing. I moved it about 1/16" away and I now remember what it's like to use a quiet, smooth running lathe.
During this two years I noticed that the amount of pressure exerted from the tail stock changed the clicking noise from none to pretty bad. Apparently the spindle moves a tiny amount under the pressure.
For about two years I had a varying clicking noise in my Jet 1642 that seemed unidentifiable and unsolvable. I tried everything suggested on several forums and by Jet Technical Support, including new bearings. I finally decided I had to live with it, but it made life just a tad less enjoyable.
Last weekend I discovered that the bearing at the hand wheel was actually bad and I was just sure that a replacement would finally fix the clicking. Nope. Still clicked. At that point I declared I would fix the click or junk the lathe. After taking it completely apart (twice) I finally discovered that the "collar" with the two slots that receive the spindle locking pin was slightly touching the cast iron housing. I moved it about 1/16" away and I now remember what it's like to use a quiet, smooth running lathe.
During this two years I noticed that the amount of pressure exerted from the tail stock changed the clicking noise from none to pretty bad. Apparently the spindle moves a tiny amount under the pressure.
