Domino not plunging smoothly

[Clifford]

I have a brand new Domino 500.  I've cut two test joints so far and everything is good except that the plunge isn't smooth. It goes in a little, then sticks and I have to push harder, then it goes a bit farther, then it sticks again.

I thought it might be squirrely wood, but then I found that when I plunge it without cutting, that is, with no wood, it still sticks. In fact, I can push it all the way and it won't retract by itself without a little wiggle.

Looking inside, it appears that the bottom of the bit housing night be rubbing on the top of the baseplate. Is that possible? That seems the most likely explanation.

If I'd used it more, I might think it was lubrication on the posts. Do I need to put some light machine oil on those before use?

Cliff J.

 

[Clifford]

On closer inspection, I found this: a scrape on the top of the baseplate.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Cheese]

I wouldn't worry about the scrape, here's a shot of mine. There's only .013" clearance between the bottom of the mechanism arm and the stainless base plate. Any heavy handedness would certainly flex the plate enough to leave witness lines.

Check the guide rails for any damage, if you can feel something with your fingernail, that'd be a place to start.  I lube mine very lightly with Never-Seez. Maybe the guide rails got tweaked and they are slightly out of parallel.

 

[Clifford]

Cheese,
I am pushing from the back of the machine, by the plug and pushing straight in.

I can't find any problem with the rails using your suggested thumbnail technique. I went ahead and put some light oil on them, but that didn't make any difference.

I just can't figure out what's causing it to stick.
Cliff

 

[Clifford]

Cheese,
Your reply turned out to solve the problem!

I looked at your picture and at mine and saw that the dust collection tube was parallel to the machine on your photo and not parallel on mine.  I removed the dust collection port and put it back in, carefully making sure it stayed parallel. There is an indentation where the dust collection sits against the base and mine hadn't been inserted correctly. Now that it is installed correctly, it works nice and smooth, much better action, much more what I was expecting.

Thank you for you help and especially for taking the time to take a photo.
Cliff J.

 

[Cheese]

Cheese,
Your reply turned out to solve the problem!
Now that it is installed correctly, it works nice and smooth, much better action, much more what I was expecting.

Cliff, sometimes these issues are tough to diagnose from afar...yet sometimes, we all get lucky!  [big grin]  The DF 500 is an awesome machine so just enjoy using it...it is one of my favorite Festool tools.  [big grin]

And remember...a picture is worth a thousand words, that's the reason I try to punctuate my posts with a picture. The meaning of words vary between peoples & cultures...a picture, well it is what it is, the quintessential bridge between cultures and languages.

 

[waho6o9]

Good job Folks!