Powermatic 3520A Banjo Not Locking

[woodturner010]

My Powermatic 3520A banjo doesn't lock well especially when centered on the bed. I adjusted the lower plate to where I can barely slide the banjo but still can't get the lever to lock. With only medium presure when trying to lock it the lever just spins 360 degrees. It seems the cam bar must have bent but that is hard to believe. Has anyone else experience this problem? Other than buying a new cam bar what can I do and how can I avoid this problem again?

 

[MichaelMouse]

Shooting totally in the dark, but had a similar problem with a Delta at school once. The cam bar was enclosed in a bushing where it was held at the opposite end of the iron casting. Can't find a Powermatic diagram to see if this is the case with their banjo. The bushing disappeared, though I still don't know where or how, producing identical symptoms.

Look at the end opposite the locking lever and see if it flops. If it does, you might have slipped or lost a bushing. In our case, I fitted a suitable piece of copper tubing as a bushing five years ago, and never ordered the proper part.

 

[George Van Beynen]

I had problems but I got the banjo to lock (sometimes I still have problems when coring with the McNaughton bowl saver) by adjusting the nut to allow lock up when the handle is near to the bottom. When I had it locking up sooner the cam would loosen. The rod is meant to be bent slightly as this creates the cam action. If this doesn’t help call Powermatic and check with a technician 1-800-274-6846

 

[woodturner010]

George,

Thanks for the reply. I think my old Delta bench top lathe had a bar that was bent. The Powermatic cam bar is machined not bent. It is a larger diameter bar that is machined to a smaller diameter and offcenter to act as a cam that is supposed to be the same from end to end. The next time I have access to my Powermatic I will check the cam/bar to see if it is misshapen and compare it with one that works.