I have a Shop Fox so this may not be related...
The gas spring is to keep the motor from falling down on your fingers when
you are not ready. Sharp chisels will make you say Ow very loudly.
Lifting the motor back up by hand is by design.


Thom


"Leon" wrote in message
om...

"Mike in Arkansas" wrote in message
ups.com...
Just finished assembly of my new 14-651 Delta mortiser. Amazon $249.00
-$25.00 (purchase of 150 or more) - $50.00 Delta rebate, free shipping.
Question is about the Hydraulic cylinder that mounts on studs between
the base and carriage. Is the purpose of it to raise the motor to the
top or just counter balance it so it doesn't drop on it's own? Mine
doesn't automatically raise the motor when I let go of the handle and
I'm wondering if I have a bad part. In fact the motor assembly is
suprisingly hard to re-raise. The further I lower it, the harder it is
to raise. Thanks, Mike


These cylinders go bad over time and sometimes they go bad right away.
The
automotive industry was using them in the late 70's and early 80's on
hoods
and deck lids. Needless to say we replace a bunch of these parts.
My 10 year old Delta mortiser has one and when new it would gently lift
the
motor up when I let go of the handle if the chisel was not embedded into
wood. Today it only holds the motor at the location that I leave it.