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My Unifence handle is not staying down/engaged. It’s somehow to do with the handle/cam lever and/or thrust washer and/or…? If I hold itin position/down the fence locks tight in place as it should...no lateral movement. But as soon as I let go of the handle, it drops away from thrust washer allowing fence to travel.

It’s not the slide(s) assembly or the adjustment nuts…handle self-releases as soon as I let go of it no matter how tight or loose they are set. I think the problem has to do with the answer to the question: what keeps the handle down/locked in the first place? Are either the cam or thrust washer considered "wear" or "consumable" items? Is there something that helps create friction or "stick" that is supposed to between the cam and the washer that has worn away?

My hope is this is somehow a general, or regular, or known issue with a “tribal knowledge” fix. I am happy to take/post pics or a short vid of handle self-releasing if it would help.

Honestly, I’d replace the whole fence (not rail) assembly if I could, but kinda hard to find something I know would fit/work, i.e. an exact (where it matters) replacement.

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    Any relevant help here, finewoodworking.com/forum/delta-unifence-wont-lock-onto-rail ? – Graphus Dec 17 '19 at 6:45
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    Also see: woodworking.stackexchange.com/q/10018/5572 (not sure if a "unifence" is the same thing as mentioned in this Q&A...) (Also, the manual for this fence discusses what to do if the lock doesn't engage.) – jdv Dec 17 '19 at 16:27
  • (1 of 2) The frustrating thing is the general mechanism, and therefore standard fix, is so simple/trivial The two front set screws that adjust the slides forward or back, and therefore control how the cam part of handle registers against the rail, are the only things that can be adjusted, but for me there is no adjustment that works. I.E. I have, multiple times, started with the screws either all/most the way out (or in), then slowly adjusted them in (or out) until the cam part just barely engages (or is just not quite able to be locked down). – mblatz01 Dec 17 '19 at 17:01
  • (2 of 2) To be clear I read everything I could find on internet already and have dinked with this several times, each time for a while...there just doesn't seem to be >>any<< adjustment setting that allows the cam to properly engage and lock down the fence. And, more worrisome, even if I got it there, then when I went to go align fence to the blade, I'd have to adjust one or other of set screws, almost certainly bollocking things up again. I just feel there is something wrong at point of contact, like someone snuck in and lubricated it or something...sigh :--/ – mblatz01 Dec 17 '19 at 17:03
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    I think I'll put a call into Delta and see if they can offer any guidance...thanks to both for time and suggestions :--) – mblatz01 Dec 18 '19 at 0:01

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