New Scroll Chuck Tight

[parshal]

I got a new TMX set-tru 3-jaw chuck. It is tight when trying to open and close the jaws. I removed the two backplates and jaws and it's still tight which tells me is the gearing on the inside and not jaws on the scroll. I don't see a way to adjust the gears at all.

I realize it's new and might be tight but the new Chandox I got with my 1340GT wasn't tight at all. I can use one finger on one side of the key and wind it down by hand. I need my entire hand to get this one to move.

 

[darkzero]

It's normal. The new TMX chucks are made in Poland now, probably by Bison. The older TMX made in China were crap, I sent it right back the day I got it. I've had 2 brand new Bison chucks, both were tight out the box. My 6-jaw is broken in & I can wind the key with one finger no problem. My 3-jaw is only about a year old & doesn't see that much use, it's not quite there yet but getting there.

If it really bothers you, you can take it apart, clean out the grease & regrease lightly. I personally wouldn't & would just let it break in. Bison uses fancy smancy expensive grease, Gleitmo 805 grease. If the TMX chucks are indeed made by Bison I assume it may have the same stuff in it.

 

[parshal]

I was going to take the entire thing apart including the scroll and gears. I won't use this enough to break it in. I bet it'd take five years at the rate that I'll use it. I wonder how I can break it in quicker?

 

[Toolmaker51]

I was going to take the entire thing apart including the scroll and gears. I won't use this enough to break it in. I bet it'd take five years at the rate that I'll use it. I wonder how I can break it in quicker?

If you want to twirl a chuck key, buy a cheaper workholder. If you want secure accurate centering use a high quality chuck. Bisons are fine interpretations of older and expensive brands; I don't hesitate a minute shelling out for Bison tooling.
Just spin it in and out a few times every day. Build an adapter to run it with a cordless drill, at a speed similar to by hand. Taking chucks apart, especially separating the body, will teach you very little except "I don't have enough brass drifts. . ."