Hullo everyone. This is my first post.



I am currently restoring a Hercus 260 lathe. I've had to replace the half nut engagement handle as it was broken. I pulled the unit down. Reassembled it. Confident I put parts back together the right way and setup the clutch correctly. However I notice the cam and the plunger pin tend to jam up. The Idler gear shift lever will go in to the middle position and the pin will go in to the detent in the cam and lock up. I pulled it all down again till I was just left with the cam and the pin and it is not clear to me if this is working as it should. If I wiggle the cam a little from side to side the pin pushes out and slides over. Now many years ago when I did my apprenticeship with one of these lathes I do not recall ever having to struggle with the idler gear shift lever or to wiggle it to get it to shift at all. I definitely don't recall the shift lever locking up. I wondered if the detent in the cam was worn but on checking it more closely it looks to be a nice sharp cutout. Could the plunger be worn? It is hardened steel(?) and I would expect the cam to wear long before it does. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what else might be wrong with this mechanism and causing it to lock up? I see replacement cams are available but the hardened pin seems harder to find.





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