Riten MT3 live center will not seat in my Clausing 6913 tail stock

[Madein USA]

I bought a Riten live center that looked new off Ebay. It was sold as an MT3 but does not seat in my MT3 tailstock. It is loose when pushed in all the way. I also bought a Jacobs chuck MT3 and it works just fine, so does the dead center. Does anybody have an answer to my problem?
Thanks for any help!

 

[technocrat]

It's either bottoming out because it is too long or the taper is wrong. Check for bottoming first.

 

[cudafamily]

Could also be bent. Only slightly and it won't seat properly

 

[wood2steel]

I agree with technocrat, sounds like it is bottoming against the shoulder before the taper locks. Most likely the older tailstock bore has been reamed several times to clean up damage from tooling spinning in place. You may have to face off the entrance port to gain clearance for live center but there's a gamble the same mt3 tool could bottom out afterwards. Had the same issue with a mt4 live center on a 16" Lodge and shipley. It's bore had been reamed out as well. Good luck!
Johnny

 

[Overland]

So you have one MT3 that "works", and one that does not ?
Place the 2 tapers along side each other and see how they are different.
It is difficult to measure the diameters of tapers easily, so get a couple of washers, one that fits the small end of the taper, and one the large end. Slide the washers on the taper and mark the positions where they sit, with a pen or piece of tape. Then you can compare the lengths and diameters of the tapers, then you should be able to identify your problem.

 

[redlee]

Check the Tang Corners, take some bluing or marker and check.
Ive had more than one that hit on the corners.

 

[DDoug]

By chance is the tailstock quill cranked all the way in ?
could be your ejector rod needs a small adjustment.

 

[wesg]

I've seen a center where the end cap hit the bottom of the taper, where the tang slot started. I just removed the cap when I needed to use it in that machine. Ejecting it was a problem, IIRC. Or it hit the end of the spindle and I was concerned it might eventually damage the bearings.

 

[michiganbuck]

Good to blue it up and see what makes contact, the big end of the taper at the step diameter, the small end length, or the corner at the small diameter.