Tic, tic, tic

Re: Tic, tic, tic

John K Jordan

Can you pinpoint the source of the sound? I use a stethoscope for that but the old auto mechanic trick of holding a long screwdriver against the ear while touching the end to various places may work.

Might we assume the frequency of the ticks increases with speed? Could it be the belt? I have hard odd sounds on occasion when dust or something was in the grooves. Or perhaps a bearing noise from weight on the spindle? I would try slipping the belt off and rotating the spindle by hand, with and without weight attached.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Dick Hines

Are your chucns Novas? A couple of the Nova chucks I have do this. The tic comes from the penions. If it drive you nuts wrap paper tape around the Chuck.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Dale Bonertz

Or if you have vicmarc chucks the index plate on the back may have come loose. Tighten the screws.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Jorge Castaneda

John,

using the screwdriver stethoscope, it seems to come out right from the spindle area and it increases a little at higher speeds,

Turning it by hand I don't hear anything and the belt is tight, it does not slip. On close inspection the threads on the spindle seem worn out looking some like an acme thread, and there is quite a bit of play until the chuck seats completely. So now I am thinking it must be the bearing.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Jorge Castaneda

Dale one of my chucks is a Super Nova, but it tics also with the Stronghold and the Vicmarcs.

I meant Dick

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Jorge Castaneda

Dale, I have 2 Vicmarc, one brand new, everything is tight, The older one the back was a little loose, but the tic remains. Thinking bearing now.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Doug Ladendorf

If there is play it's the bearing. When you turn the spindle by hand do you feel any grumble? Try listening with the stethoscope/screwdriver while turning by hand.

Doug

Re: Tic, tic, tic

walta

My guess is since the sound is only present when the chuck is on the spindle the sound if coming from inside the chucks.

If the jaw are going to move there must be some play.

I bet if the jaw had some wood to compress the sound would change.

Please let us know it makes the sound with a face plate.

Walta

Re: Tic, tic, tic

don stephan

My 4224 has a little gizmo that reads RPM by being very very close to the spindle. One time it unscrewed slightly, and was ticking due to rubbing on the spindle. Sound stopped when I tightened the gizmo. Sorry I don't know the name or have a better description of the gizmo.

The internet is awash with this problem

Dick Coers

If you Google Powermatic 3520b ticking, you will get pages and pages of discussion. Most common is loose set screws on pulleys, speed sensor, etc.... Can't find a single one yet that says bearings. The only bearing noise I've ever noticed is a rumble or screech.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

John Veerkamp

My 3520 ticking came from the spindle lock set screws coming loose. Someone here pointed out the problem to me.

Re: The internet is awash with this problem

Jorge Castaneda

Thank you Dick

I will tighten everything. on sight

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Jorge Castaneda

Thank you John, I'll look into that.

Re: The internet is awash with this problem

Roger Chandler

Dick.....you are on a roll with tech support.......2 for two! Very nice of you!

Re: Tic, tic, tic

john lucas

Jorge Check everything inside on the spindle. The most common problems are, spindle lock set screws loose, spindle lock ring out of place, rpm sensor out of place, spindle lock button loose, drive pulley loose or out of place. Most of those would happen with our without the chuck however.

Add one minor point...

Chuck Jones - West Tennessee

Agreeing with Dick Coers and John Lucas I will add this: On a Jet 1642 (which I believe has similarities to the PM) there is a collar with a set screw behind the spindle housing access door and to the extreme left. IIRC it holds the slot key for the spindle lock. Mine came loose and the collar moved just a gnat's whisker to the left and rubbed against a rough spot on the cast iron housing. The clicking varied with pressure on the spindle and speed. Can't say it varied with the chuck being attached, but what the heck, worth checking.

Good luck. Unexplained ticking noises drive me insane(r).

Re: Add one minor point...

Bob Macgregor

Captain Hook felt the same way, Chuck.

Re: Add one minor point...

Peter Hyde

All the normal sources of ticking sounds have already been covered by others. However I've found that almost any sort of noise coming from the spindle/chuck on my PM usually means the belt tension is too high. The tension should just be the weight of the motor. Don't add any extra before locking the tension adjuster.

I've also foun the sub-jaws on the Oneway chucks are very sloppy and if the spigot/wood isn't perfectly round there's less pressure on 1 jaw and a tick happens. Really noticeable with jumbo jaws

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Stanley Townsend

You must chuck something up in the chuck tight so the jaws don't rattle at slow speed. If this does not quiet it down check to see if the edge of the belt is rubbing on the next side of the pulley.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Jorge Castaneda

Stanley,

It does it with the bare spindle, gets louder with chuck and wood loaded.

The belt seems fine and every screw is tight, the one on the pulley behind the revolutions counter thing, is the only I have not figured out how to get to it.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

Doug Wolf

Does the frequency of the Tic, tic, tic change when you move the belt between the Hi Range and Low Range pulleys?

Or maybe there is a chip in one of the indexing holes around the headstock shaft. Try blowing out the holes with an air hose.

Re: Tic, tic, tic

John Veerkamp

to get to that last screw, that off the spindle lock cover plate and reach in through there.

That did it!

Jorge Castaneda

John,

Thank you! Feel much better ...