Replacing cam on MFT/3

[pugilato]

The cam that holds the swinging rail on my MFT/3 broke, so I ordered one (thanks Tom Bellamere). Here is a picture of the new cam installed. The question is, how tight do you make the cam to the back plate? Before I broke it, it seemed like the cam was not tightening correctly... that is, instead of a smooth tightening, I had to push on it hard and them it would suddenly fall into a tight position.

What I'm looking for is a quick and dirty guidance on how tight those screws holding the cam need to be.

 

[Carl Prentiss]

While I can't answer your question specifically, Your post has reminded me that mine (both front and rear) are really annoying in that about a third of the way down, will catch, requiring  a lot of force and then will pop past the sticking point with a loud crack. They do this with the adjustment either backed off or tightened down.
  Back to the adjustment, I would say only tightened enough to keep it from moving when in the down position. 

 

[peter halle]

In the video where Steve Bace demonstrates sitting up the MFT/3 his guide for tightness is tight enough to prevent the bracket from sliding down when pressure is put on the rail.  Please note that Steve mentions that a little turn of the screw goes a looooong way.

He covers this at about 1:40 in:



Peter

 

[Laminator]

A little grease will go a long way too!

 

[Mismarked]

I have been encountering the same issue, where it requires a lot of pressure before it suddenly clicks into place.  I tried backing out the bolts, but at the point where the cam worked smoothly, it was too loose in the locked position, so I gave up.  To avoid stressing the plastic piece and breaking it, I have just been reaching underneath, palm facing up, and pushing the rear side up with my fingertips while pressing the front side down with my thumb, and the cam works a lot more smoothly without catching.  Maybe some grease would help as Laminator suggested.  I am going to try that.

 

[sancho57]

You sort of have to lift up on the handle while you lock it down if that make sense

 

[NL-mikkla]

You sort of have to lift up on the handle while you lock it down if that make sense

It does make sense, I do it like this to  [big grin]