- Joined
- Jun 4, 2018
- Messages
- 37
Hi all.
So, I may have made a mistake and I really am holding out hope that I am proved wrong. My apologies now for this post being soooo long.
This year I decided to buy two new pieces of equipment. A small mill and a small lathe. Both of these are primarily for my existing business yet, I also intend to have some fun and get creative. After much thought, deliberation and informative advice found here on this forum I ultimately decided on a PM-25 mill. I am very happy with it. After that purchase I still needed a good small lathe and I was torn between the PM-1236 and the G4003. Ultimately, because of availability and timing.....I choose the Grizzly.
The lathe itself, I'm reasonably happy with. Granted there are some issues that after having it and giving more comparison to, the PM would have made me happier in the long run.
Now, for the real problem.
I ordered the G4026 collet closer assembly from Grizzly and have been working for over a week to get this thing installed so that I can - of course - use it. The very first problem is with the replacement stud at the top which replaces the one that holds the cover over the gears; it's 3/4" too long. A call to Grizzly and a picture too, after more than a week with no less than five calls (from me)......no response and no answers as to a solution have as yet, been offered. Yes, I know I could shorten the body of the replacement stud and modify the cover to get it installed, however, I didn't spend $450.00 (including freight) for the 'pleasure' of modifying THEIR accessory to FIT my lathe. I guess I'm just funny that way.
So, while still waiting for Grizzly to come around and find a solution on that, I decided to go ahead and install this system anyway - without the cover on it. Lets just agree right here that the instruction manual would make better use in lighting a fire. Still, after some time and contemplation I was able to get the unit installed.....and I use that term...loosely.
When you pull the lever the unit is supposed to 'cam-over' a set of parking pawls inside a coupling to pull the collet and collet spindle adapter tightly and securely into the lathe spindle. The reality is that when you pull the lever to "lock" it, not only do the parking pawls not lock down, but, the action of pulling the lever DISENGAGES the locking collar assembly from the adapter hub in the end of the spindle at the same time that it is pulling the collet and collet adapter into the spindle.
The result of this is that you actually are NOT locking anything securely and should you turn the lathe on, you run the very real risk of having the collet and adapter come flying out of the lathe at what could be a very high rate of speed.
In other words, it could become a projectile.
Once more I am in contact with Grizzly tech support and go over the issue with a nice fellow who proceeds to recite a literal book of notes that other techs have supplied in just dealing with the original issue of the mounting stud (still with no conclusion, nor solution...yet). I went over the installation issues I've documented and the resultant propensity for physical harm should anyone try to use this thing. He once more documented the conversation as well, and said, “someone will call me back”. I laughed. He wasn't amused. I explained that - to date - I have been told that from FIVE other previous conversations initiated from MY calls and – to date – not ONCE have I been called back.....at all. I also told him that I am a relatively patient person and am wanting to aid them in finding a solution to the problem and would love to work with them to that end. He was perplexed and also welcoming over that and assured me that I WOULD receive a call back within 24 hrs.
We'll see.
So, I may have made a mistake and I really am holding out hope that I am proved wrong. My apologies now for this post being soooo long.
This year I decided to buy two new pieces of equipment. A small mill and a small lathe. Both of these are primarily for my existing business yet, I also intend to have some fun and get creative. After much thought, deliberation and informative advice found here on this forum I ultimately decided on a PM-25 mill. I am very happy with it. After that purchase I still needed a good small lathe and I was torn between the PM-1236 and the G4003. Ultimately, because of availability and timing.....I choose the Grizzly.
The lathe itself, I'm reasonably happy with. Granted there are some issues that after having it and giving more comparison to, the PM would have made me happier in the long run.
Now, for the real problem.
I ordered the G4026 collet closer assembly from Grizzly and have been working for over a week to get this thing installed so that I can - of course - use it. The very first problem is with the replacement stud at the top which replaces the one that holds the cover over the gears; it's 3/4" too long. A call to Grizzly and a picture too, after more than a week with no less than five calls (from me)......no response and no answers as to a solution have as yet, been offered. Yes, I know I could shorten the body of the replacement stud and modify the cover to get it installed, however, I didn't spend $450.00 (including freight) for the 'pleasure' of modifying THEIR accessory to FIT my lathe. I guess I'm just funny that way.
So, while still waiting for Grizzly to come around and find a solution on that, I decided to go ahead and install this system anyway - without the cover on it. Lets just agree right here that the instruction manual would make better use in lighting a fire. Still, after some time and contemplation I was able to get the unit installed.....and I use that term...loosely.
When you pull the lever the unit is supposed to 'cam-over' a set of parking pawls inside a coupling to pull the collet and collet spindle adapter tightly and securely into the lathe spindle. The reality is that when you pull the lever to "lock" it, not only do the parking pawls not lock down, but, the action of pulling the lever DISENGAGES the locking collar assembly from the adapter hub in the end of the spindle at the same time that it is pulling the collet and collet adapter into the spindle.
The result of this is that you actually are NOT locking anything securely and should you turn the lathe on, you run the very real risk of having the collet and adapter come flying out of the lathe at what could be a very high rate of speed.
In other words, it could become a projectile.
Once more I am in contact with Grizzly tech support and go over the issue with a nice fellow who proceeds to recite a literal book of notes that other techs have supplied in just dealing with the original issue of the mounting stud (still with no conclusion, nor solution...yet). I went over the installation issues I've documented and the resultant propensity for physical harm should anyone try to use this thing. He once more documented the conversation as well, and said, “someone will call me back”. I laughed. He wasn't amused. I explained that - to date - I have been told that from FIVE other previous conversations initiated from MY calls and – to date – not ONCE have I been called back.....at all. I also told him that I am a relatively patient person and am wanting to aid them in finding a solution to the problem and would love to work with them to that end. He was perplexed and also welcoming over that and assured me that I WOULD receive a call back within 24 hrs.
We'll see.