Colchester Student – no power feed working

[Donovan KaardalParticipant @donovankaardal43990]

I've got an odd issue with my Colchester Student. I'd bought it years ago and finally started using it after getting some wiring issues sorted out and doing a general cleanup.

The manual states that crossfeed and longitudinal power feeding is directed by a plunger (1) and enabled by a lever (2).

My plunger doesn't move. Not in, not out. Not even a little.

Anyone seen this before? Am I missing something that releases that plunger so it can be pushed or pulled? Or is it more likely it's just jammed somehow and I'll need to pull the saddle apart?

Regards,

DAK

[Donovan KaardalParticipant @donovankaardal43990]

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

How hard are you pulling or pushing it?

mines quite hard to push or pull

a gentle tap with a rubber hammer or copper hammer??

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

Silly question: are the half nuts engaged (lever 3)?

Colchesters have an interlock mechanism in the apron that stops you engaging screw-cutting and sliding/cross feeds at the same time. Does lever 2 operate as you would expect?

It is not too difficult to drop the apron on them and peer inside: pull the dowels on the tailstock-end shaft support bracket and remove the securing screws. This allows the two shafts to disengage from the gearbox. Unscrew the apron-securing bolts. Manual with exploded diagram is availble online in many places.

[Donovan KaardalParticipant @donovankaardal43990]

Thanks for the responses!

Ian, I'm not going crazy on it, but I gave it a good push and yank. I'll grab my 'gentle persuader' and give it a few taps tonight when I'm in the shop. A few bonks with a rubber mallet might get it to notice me.

DC31k, lever 3 is in the position that is shown on the pic above, so that shouldn't be a problem. If trying to convince it with a rubber mallet doesn't help at all, I'll pull out my manual and see about doing what you suggest.

Regards,

DAK

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

This may be a silly question, but are both the Leadscew and the Feed shaft rotating?

i. e has a shear pin in the drive failed ?

Or is there a gear missing from the drive to the shafts?

Howard

[Rex HanmanParticipant @rexhanman57403]

If it works the same as on my Bantam, lever 3 should be down. Up engages the half nuts. Don't go bashing it. It should move easily and "click" into place.

[Donovan KaardalParticipant @donovankaardal43990]

A little tap was all it took to have the plunger move in, and now it's moving freely.

Thanks for the assist guys – I should have asked for help weeks ago!

😀

DAK.

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