Just a heads up!

keekee · February 22, 2007, 04:34:18 PM

I had some lathe problems last weekend. And after taking the head stock apart on the Jet lathe I found that the shaft had been turned under size from the factory. Both bearing fittings on the housing were also bored over size, and both bearings had been spinning inside the housings. And one bearing had been turning on the shaft. The shaft micrometer reading was the same from the bearing fitting all the way to the key way. So the shaft had to be turned under size from the factory it didn't show any wear ( how I don't know). There was about .005" difference between the bearing and the shaft and about .004" difference in the bearing housings. Looked like the front bearing never was touching the shaft. And the back bearing was taking all the load.

My guess is that the bearing housing on the head stock was bored over size as well, it showed no wear or grooves that would indicate other wise.

I got two new bearings and put the shaft back in. Still its not going to last long!

I tried calling Jet and I cant get threw, sent them emails they got sent back!

I contacted a couple distributors here and they say, 3-4 weeks on the shaft to get it from Jet. Cheap! 11.00 but I wont be getting it anytime soon!

So, I switched gears! Went to buy a new Jet lathe and they are not making the Mini Jet lathes no more! So, if you want one of these machines you better get it now. And you will haft to find a suppler that has them in stock.

Jet replaced the Mini with a new model. It wont be ready to ship till Mid March form the factory. And its going to cost allot more than the Jet mini did.

So, I wont be buying a new Jet lathe, I will be on the search for a new brand!

Brent

FinsnFur · February 22, 2007, 05:07:54 PM

Too many calls

I told ya to slow down, but Noooo

THO Game Calls · February 22, 2007, 05:19:31 PM

Look at the Rikon from Woodcraft. They run 249 and are a much better lathe than ajet ever was. They are getting rave reviews.

You can buy a delta, but it is just a jet with plastic handles and cost about 30 buks more.

Rockler has a new Jet knock off for 159. A bit longer bed than the jet but accepts all the jet accesories. The one I looked at the head stock and tail stock did not line up with live centers and spur cneters in them. The guy told me that on a mini lathe it wouldn't matter. I said really? Yeah, not a big deal. I just figured someone had stuck a "newbie" sign on my back and let it go.

If you can afford it, the best mini lathe on the market is the Vicmarc but it cost 749

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=191-6500

If someone shows you a Fische, run. Run fast. They have had more problems with the Fische lathes than you could shake a stick at.

As for calling Jet, you probably called the worng people.

You need to call WMH Tool Group. They are the ones who fix all jet tools

http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/

The number is on the Contact section of the main page.

Good luck and hope it works out for you.

Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com

Member - Custom Call Makers & Collectors Guild & Call Makers & Collectors Association of America

rjl54 · February 22, 2007, 06:32:04 PM

Hey Al, what type of problems have they been having with the Fisch lathes? I've had mine about a year and a half and so far no problems other than having to get a new belt. What do I need to watch out for? Maybe I'll be in the market for a new lathe too.

THO Game Calls · February 22, 2007, 07:04:03 PM

When they first came out, about 3 or 4 years ago, they seemed to be really nice. Then there were a bunch of post on the old Usnet Woodturning news group about people having all kinds of problems with motors, bearings and other small things, but mostly motors. I looked at one and it seemed pretty nice, but the stuff reported really made me think about them more. If yours is working, then don't jinx yourself LOL. From looking at it, it seemed to be a better built lathe than the Jet or Delta.

Al
THO Game Calls
www.thogamecalls.com

Member - Custom Call Makers & Collectors Guild & Call Makers & Collectors Association of America

Bopeye · February 22, 2007, 07:28:28 PM

That's a bummer Kee...........hope ya find some parts or get ya a new one soon. Gotta keep those calls rolling.

keekee · February 22, 2007, 08:58:51 PM

I got a quick fix Bop...I'm still turning. And if I haft to I have a older Duracraft lathe that still turns well, its just big and a little over kill for calls. But I still got wood chips flying...lol

I figure I can get a couple weeks out of these bearings, If I take it easy on them, and if not I got a spare set...lol

I will have a shaft in 14 days they say, so I can get that long out of these two sets of bearings if not I will use the DuroCraft. I cant afford to be down right now, I would really get behind. I got a three day show in March!

AL,
That WMH Tool group is who I tried to contact. I got the local rep here working on them now.

I'm still going to buy me a new machine, just don't think the Jet will handle the punishment or the work load. But when fixed it should make a good spare.

I was just over there looking at the Rikon. And reading about it. That maybe the way I go. I cant see dropping 800.00 on a lathe right now, I got three video's to have stamped....lol

Brent

Hawks Feather · February 22, 2007, 09:42:16 PM

Brent,

I was just wondering if your lathe trouble started about the time that LBL took place. You didn't let anyone, who was not properly trained and certificated, use your lathe for their first call or anything like that. Did you?

Jerry

keekee · February 22, 2007, 11:54:24 PM

Yep, sure did Hawk! And now I'm paying for it!

But! My momma said there would be months like this!

Brent

Bills Custom Calls · February 23, 2007, 02:37:07 AM

Hey Brent

I seen Northern Tool Carries Jet Lathes .

Bill

KySongDog · February 23, 2007, 06:08:58 AM

Quote from: Hawks Feather on February 22, 2007, 09:42:16 PM
Brent,

I was just wondering if your lathe trouble started about the time that LBL took place. You didn't let anyone, who was not properly trained and certificated, use your lathe for their first call or anything like that. Did you?

Jerry

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: Those looong shaped calls are HARD on equipment! :roflmao: :roflmao:

BryanStanley · February 23, 2007, 01:18:33 PM

Brent
the lathe I have been useing is Rikon, I could not be happier with it. But then again what do I know . Only been turing for a month now. good luck in your search for a new machine.

Bryan

keekee · February 23, 2007, 03:26:52 PM

I finally got a email threw to Jet. Or there other company. It had something to do with the email address from here at work. She sent me this back............

Brent,

Thanks for your email. I will be glad to help you with this. Unfortunately this spindle is on backorder until April. What is the serial number on your lathe, when and where was it purchased and what is your shipping address?

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Aundrea Berkey

Internet Customer Support

WMH Tool Group

Makers of POWERMATIC®, JET®, and WILTON® products

So, I sent her all the info she asked for and we will see were it goes!

Byran,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking into driving up to Columbus to pick up a new Rikon. I'm going to be going right by there store, so I may as well take advantage of the cost of shipping! If I don't have a distributer here that can get them and save me some money.

Brent

Just a heads up!

BryanStanley