I have a Record 53 vise which I have had to mount and dismount several
times in the process of building a new top for my workbench. In the
process, I must have bent or otherwise disturbed something since now
when I go to loosen the vise, it does not widen the jaws but just clunks
as the quick release mechanism "ratchets".

I must reach underneath and press upward on the back of the long steel
flat bar in order to ensure that the mechanism remains engaged as I turn
the handle. I have had a look underneath and it is not obvious wh

The vise closes normally and once the pressure is off the jaws will open
further without any further intervention.

What can I do to adjust this vise so that it will let go of my work
without intevention?

Cheers,

Larry
--
DocRec Ltd
www.docrec.com

On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 03:04:04 GMT, Larry Spitz
wrote:

when I go to loosen the vise, it does not widen the jaws but just clunks
as the quick release mechanism "ratchets".

You've probably not got enough clearance (or maybe jammed shavings)
around the bar that controls the quick-release. This is spring loaded
and its own spring should be enough to always re-engage the nut within
one turn of the handle. Sometimes these bars can get bent - that causes
it too.

If you use the vice like this and try to tighten it (with the nut only
partially engaged), there's a rist of breaking the nut.