Facetron mast ball bearing

[RoughCreations]

Hi, a basic question for Facetron owners out there, is the machine supposed to have a ball bearing sitting in the top cup-shaped indentation of the mast (see image of my machine below)? The micrometer adjuster in the mast sleeve pivots here. I was reading a post on another forum where someone mentioned the ball bearing, so it alerted me to a potential problem. If so, what size bearing goes in? I might have lost it when I removed my mast in the past...



Thanks,
RC.

[FlashGP]

Hi Rough Creations,

Yes.  I read on the Facetron Users Facebook forum that it is a 6mm ball bearing.  Although it being an American machine, it wouldn't suprise me if the ball bearing was a 1/4 inch ball bearing.

Maybe Andrew knows the size, he is probably easier to contact than Brett.

Regards
Flash

[RoughCreations]

Thanks Flash, appreciate that info, I have been unknowingly cutting for quite some time (read - years) without a ball bearing in place I reckon. This might explain a little wander observed in the indicator dial gauge reading I see under certain situations, for example: when stopping to examine an individual facet when doing a pavilion, and then rotating the head and placing the facet back onto the lap in the same spot as before.

RoughCreations.

[Rusted]

I reckon a bike shop (pushbike) should have that size ball.

[RoughCreations]

Thanks,
For anyone reading this thread in future: the local bike shop was the go. I dropped in a 7/32" ball bearing, slightly smaller than a quarter inch (8/32") which would have been a bit tight.

[Bucket]

Well I'll be buggered! Like roughcreations, I've been cutting for a while without one as well, looks like a trip down to the bike shop tomorrow for me!

[RoughCreations]

I've heard that losing your mast ball is quite common for male cutters after a certain age.

[Bucket]

It's not loosing the ball I'm more concerned about, it's loosing the mast!

[FlashGP]

Or worse still, bending it by having a stone catch on the lap and pull the quill through under the head.

It makes a bit of a racket and spins the head around a few times.  Luckily the stone stayed on the dop.

[Bucket]

I'm currently directly in contact with Jarvi Manufacturing awaiting the official size that they use. I'll pass it on as soon as I get it.

[RoughCreations]

Ok, thanks for that - probably worth getting the exact info for the records.
It seems strange that the Facetron user manuals have no mention of a bb there, you would think that they would go missing often, given that grease would make the bb stick to the centre of the inside of the sleeve, before detaching and rolling off to join wherever missing socks and biros live.