First use of MFT/3 - rail not aligning on lug when 90 degrees to holes

[Wheres_my_pencil]

Hi all this is my first post. Had a TS-55 for a couple of months and got an MFT/3 today.

Have been setting it up and wanted the rail square to the 20mm holes. Have aligned it all up but when folding down the rail it never drops straight onto the lug. It’s always about 5mm to the left and I need to pull it across slightly to make it lock in place?

My question is, is this normal? I know I could just ignore the holes and square the fence to it and would drop on fine but I want it square to the holes. It’s as if there is a slight twist in the rear folding bracket making it pull the rail to the left.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

There are screws under the hinge to adjust so that the track falls square. Look at the manual for instructions.
There is also a device called the SlopStop you can buy from Festool products.com for about $20; I read about it here on FOG. It does just what it says; once you get the track aligned square, there will be no slop where the tab of the part receiving the far end of the track meets the track.
I found it essential to have a large, accurate square to double-check the squareness of the track, as you don’t always have the holes to line it up.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have to wiggle my drop down rail to get it into the tab. A cheap improvement is to buy a Slop Stop. It removes almost all of the left right movement of the rail when locked down.

 

[peter halle]

Welcome to the FOG!  My advice would be to go to youtube and visit Festool USA or Festool.tv.  They have tips and tricks on setting up your MFT/3 that you can watch and walk thru on your mobile device while doing it yourself with a rewind or two.

Here is one:



Peter

 

[Wheres_my_pencil]

Thanks all for your replies.

I’ve fiddled about with all the screws on the back bracket and after a while have managed to get it to drop down square. I think I had tightened the screws to attach the rail in a strange order/too tight and the rail wasn’t aligned correctly.

Think I will still invest in a slop stop though as there does seem to be a bit of play.