Shes ridin off the rails!

[myxpykalix]

While jogging the carriage to the bottom of the table I went too far and had some stuff piled up on the table that got wedged under carriage lifting it up off the rails.

My thought is to simply release the stepper motors and unscrew the turnbuckle taking all force off the carriage and simply lift up and place it back on the rails retighten steppers, ect.

Is there anything else i need to do in this process? I have not had to mechanically do anything to this since i bought it in 2006 so i was a little rusty on the mechanical aspects and wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else I need to do?:eek:

[knight_toolworks]

if only one roller is off on each side (twisted) then it is not hard to lift up and get it on. but if both are off on one side outwards and the other inwards it is more work. take off the springs first. two people can do this with little effort. but if your alone what I do is make a tapered block that I can drive under one side of the carriage and lift it up just above the rails. the go to the other side and pull it over and set it on the rail remove the block and you are done. be sure to pull the carriage against the stops to make sure it is square. your not using your machine enough if it took you this long to knock it off the rails (G)

[butch]

I agree with Steve. If you haven't done this a few times you aren't trying hard enough. I find that forgetting to start the spindle is a great way to knock the bearings off the rail, so once you figure out how to put it back on you might want to try this just for practice. It usually costs a bit and the wood piece I am working on each time, but well worth the cost to keep in practice.
I usually just turn off the power and then lift it back into place. I use to loosen the springs, but not always any more.

[harryball]

I can't remember how many times I've done that... not because I've done it often, as I get older I just can't remember things like I ... what was I saying again? :)

Check your rails for dings, I had to file out a small ding one time, no big deal.

/RB

[beacon14]

Don't forget to move all that c**p off the table so it doesn't happen again - at least not for the same reason.

[bleeth]

Dave:
Asking Jack to keep his table clean is like asking Mcdonald's to use healthy food!

[myxpykalix]

To quote a person who was a great influence on me as a kid......
"
"Hey! I resemble that remark!"......Curley Howard

All i can tell you is this is the FIRST time for me....now who's the STOOGE? lol

[srwtlc]

Hey, you ain't nuthin' until you've managed to do it with a PRS! :eek: Don't ask! ;)

[Mayo]

The couple times I did it on my machine, I just put a long 2x4 underneath the carriage, lifted up on it just enough so the wheels could get repositioned, pushed it into place, pushed too far and now it was off the OTHER side of the rail, then did the same thing the other direction to get the wheels in the right position. Now that 90% of my cutting is EPS foam, I never have this off track problem.

I should mention I had to do the 2x4 method while standing on my spoil board.

When I use my spoil board for storage it is as a drying rack for painted items, so for obvious reasons I'm not cutting while the paint is wet! I've also learned not to use the air gun to blow off the table or myself while paint is still drying...

[Brady Watson]

You can greatly reduce the possibility of the carriage coming off the rails by installing carriage blocks between the carriage and the rails as shown here:

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy8/braidmeister/CarriageBlocks.jpg

You can use carpet tape etc to hold on whatever material you want. I prefer something slippery like HDPE. Just make sure it doesn't rub the rails after you get them on there. You want at least a little gap to prevent drag.

-B

[navigator7]

I have not had to mechanically do anything to this since i bought it in 2006 so i was a little rusty on the mechanical aspects and wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else I need to do?

I was contemplating a mirthful response when your words popped out at me.
I don't think there is any bigger complement that can be paid to a man than old tools that work just fine.

[bleeth]

2006 Old? I don't think so. I have equipment in my shop that is twenty to thirty years old and don't think of them as old since the more recent versions of the same tools are not nearly as robustly built, and have fond memory of a shop I worked in not that long ago, but well before 2006 with 1930-40 era Tablesaws, shapers, bandsaws, etc that were built like a brick s**thouse and were far superior to "new" comparable equipment. Think the likes of Northern, Oliver and other great names that if not gone, are not the same.
That being said Jack is fortunate that he has gone this long without the dreaded de-railing. The first time it happened to me my machine was about a year old or so and I purely freaked. A fellow botter responded to my need and came over after he got done his day's work and taught me how to put it back on and re-square till around 10:00PM that evening. I'll never forget it.
He hasn't beeen on forum for a long time now and has moved away from my neck of the woods but if he is still lurking out there I would like to say: "Thanks again Dave".

[road_king]

Jack,
That happened to me a couple of times when I first got the bot running. I too totally freaked both times. I stood up on the table and lifted it back onto the rails, which by the way was difficult. I like the suggestions others have placed here, especially the shims. Fortunately, this happened to me before I aligned it. That was a "whole different story".

GOOD LUCK!!!
Gerald

[myxpykalix]

its back on track and running good again. However i am noticing a "growling" noise that i didn't hear before. I'm just wondering if you can tighten the turnbuckle too tight or what might make that happen?

Talking about old tools, we would spend the summers on our farm in michigan and my uncle had a shop in his shed where he had a homemade tablesaw (that i was never allowed to use at 10yr old) but he also had a handcranking large drill press mounted to the wall. When we wanted to use it my brother and i would take turns being the "crankers" for each other.
As far as i know its still on the wall there...

[bleeth]

Jack:
It is possible to overtighten your turnbuckles. That may be the problem but there is also a good chance that you need to resquare the Y.