Lead Screw Nut Problem?

[Geomoo1]

Why does this seem to always happen on a Friday? :mad:
I can't raise or lower the head without lifting up on the head on the keypad (left) side. I have removed the left side panel assembly and checked the lead screw and jam nut's for tightness. They are as tight as I can get them. Even with them being tight I can still lift the left side and it will move significantly, maybe 1 to 2 inches while the right side is stationary. This would lead me to believe that the lead screw nut is stripped. If this is the case can I do the repair, replacement or will I have to ship it back to the mother ship for this. I can find no info as to how this would be done.
Any and all suggestions are welcome.

TIA, George

[bergerud]

You need:

http://store.carvewright.com/product.php?productid=23959&cat=255&page=2

Make sure the lead screw threads are ok. Not to hard to change. You have to go through the head leveling procedure after the nut is replaced.

[Geomoo1]

Thanks for the quick answer, Dan. I just ordered the lead screw nut and it sure gripes my wallet to pay $23.14 for a $9.38 nut. It's always a PITA to pay more for shipping than the product costs, but there was nothing I needed to add to the order. Such is life when buying from the mother ship.

[SteveNelson46]

Thanks for the quick answer, Dan. I just ordered the lead screw nut and it sure gripes my wallet to pay $23.14 for a $9.38 nut. It's always a PITA to pay more for shipping than the product costs, but there was nothing I needed to add to the order. Such is life when buying from the mother ship.

George,

Take the bottom off of the machine and check the mounts for the lead screw. I find it difficult to believe that the lead screw nut is stripped. Although it is possible, it would take a lot of torque to strip it. I just worked on a machine where the side panel was removed and when it was replaced they didn't get the pin at the top of the lead screw in the guide hole of the panel and tightened it down anyway. This broke the plastic mounts for the lead screw at the bottom. I'm not saying for sure that this is your problem but, it might be something to check while waiting on parts.

[bergerud]

I have seen the nut on the other side stripped. There are only a few threads in it. It is fairly obvious that it is stripped (if it is) as the nut slides up and down the screw.

[Geomoo1]

I'm certain it is a stripped nut. When I took the jam nut loose the lead screw nut just slid right off the lead screw. The lead screw threads look okay tho.

[Geomoo1]

As a follow-up on this problem; It turns out that the lead screw nut on the keypad side was indeed stripped. I finally received the new nut yesterday and it is a fairly simple fix other than trying to get the jam nut tightened. Carvewright says that they use large crescent wrenches, but I don't know how they get one to fit on the jam nut. After replacing the nut I went through the head leveling procedure. The problem was, after putting the machine back together, the head would only crank down about an inch and stop. I had to remove the keypad side panel again. I checked the lead screw threads (again) and could see no problem. I then cleaned out the the threads and low and behold there was two small pieces of metal from the stripped nut in the grease. I then re-greased the lead screw, re-assembled the side panel. It seems that the shreds of metal was the culprit. I haven't had a chance to try a carve yet. Hopefully the machine is operable now.
The moral of this story is; If you strip a lead screw nut be sure to clean out the lead screw threads and re-grease them before installing the new nut... :oops: