Issue with mill handwheels

[Maplehead]

Hi All
I've been on a house renovation project since September but now I am just getting to use my new Grizzly G0678 mill, which I frickin' love.
Anyways, I do have one annoying issue with it. Those big hand wheels keep tightening up on me.
So before the handle goes onto the axle the graduated dial goes on first, then the handle goes on, gets lined up with the keyway and then a set screw tightens it down into place. I discovered that about a 32'nd to a 16'th of an inch gap on either side of the graduated dial helps the wheel turn smoothly, and I mean super smooth. However, what keeps happening is this... When I turn the handle clockwise it runs smoothly but often when I turn it counterclockwise the handle tightens up the gaps on either side of the graduated dial, which makes turning much harder.
So, why is this happening? The wheel is not on threads on the axle and the set screw is tightened pretty good.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

[eugene13]

When you turn clockwise your shaft is pushing against it's nut, turning counter clockwise the shaft is pulling into it's nut and tightening up the gap, sounds like a thrust bearing adjustment issue, look at the exploded view in your manual, should be an easy fix.

 

[Larry$]

Look @ the shaft to see if it is moving in/out while being cranked, it shouldn't.
I don't think the lock ring for adjusting the index ring could do that but check it out.

 

[Larry$]

I was typing when eugene13 was posting, same idea!

 

[Maplehead]

I'm not quite following what I need to do. Here's a pic of the Y axis parts. Can you detail out the adjustment?

 

[Maplehead]

Here's the rest of it.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

Hi All
I've been on a house renovation project since September but now I am just getting to use my new Grizzly G0678 mill, which I frickin' love.
Anyways, I do have one annoying issue with it. Those big hand wheels keep tightening up on me.
So before the handle goes onto the axle the graduated dial goes on first, then the handle goes on, gets lined up with the keyway and then a set screw tightens it down into place. I discovered that about a 32'nd to a 16'th of an inch gap on either side of the graduated dial helps the wheel turn smoothly, and I mean super smooth. However, what keeps happening is this... When I turn the handle clockwise it runs smoothly but often when I turn it counterclockwise the handle tightens up the gaps on either side of the graduated dial, which makes turning much harder.
So, why is this happening? The wheel is not on threads on the axle and the set screw is tightened pretty good.

I have the non-VFD version G0730. i have also notices the utility of a "bit of space" between the graduated dial and the markers.

I suspect the CW versus CCW has to do with which end of the leadscrew is pulling on the table. Note there is no thrust bearing at either end.
When the table is traversing to the right there is tension between the leadscrew nut and the bearing near the right handscrew (and vice versa).
So, which end of the table is having forces move it changes with the direction of the handwheel turning ! I think this is the key.
I suspect there is too little slack on one of the nuts closest to the table bearings.

 

[derfatdutchman]

I popped the hand wheel off my G0678, you need to bend the tab on the star washer and then adjust the nut till you get to the point where the table moves without any take up from the lead screw. It takes some fussing to get it right. Same goes for the y axis. When you done the dials will have no gaps.

 

[Maplehead]

Thank you. Will try this out tomorrow.

 

[SLK001]

Don't you just hate a 8 TPI lead screw?