Craftsman Commercial 12" Clutch Adjustment

[roadie33]

Been doing some heavy milling lately and my clutch seems to be pretty loose so as to not even power feed turning Aluminium.
I've read the Manual and tried to set it like it says, but finding a 5 lb. weight, that will fit on a rod thru the lead screw, to allow you to adjust the screws, is near impossible.
So, how do you set the clutch on the screw or what do you use to do it?

 

[kd4gij]

I don't have that lathe. But if I where doing that I would use a fish scale to pull on the rod.

 

[roadie33]

LOL Didn't even think of that. Thanks.

 

[wa5cab]

Another way is to use a torque wrench. 5 ft-lb is 60 in-lb. Get a 0-100 in-lb torque wrench of the beam or dial type (not the click type) and a 6-point socket for it to fit the self-locking nut on the right end of the lead screw. Put the QCGB in the finest feed position and put the tumbler in FWD or REV. Turn the spindle until the 1/8" hole in the clutch adjust collar is at about 9:00 o'clock. Engage back gear without pulling out the direct drive pin. Put the socket connected to the torque wrench on the nut and slowly raise the wrench handle until the lead screw begins to turn or until 5 ft-lb is indicated. Adjust the clutch collar one way or the other until the lead screw rotates slowly with the torque wrench reading 60 in-lb.