My, hopefully, last order of parts came, and I replaced the saddle and hand wheel. As you know from a previous post the old saddle was abnormally worn. The old hand wheel was cracked at the set screw hole and had a big chip out of it, more a cosmetic problems on it than anything else.
Installing the new saddle I realized something that I had not seen anywhere about how the retainers were adjusted.
In the photo above (that is the old saddle used for illustrative purposes) you see that there are three hex-socket cap screws and two set screws with lock nuts on them. Most of what I have read on the web says you adjust the set crew for the proper clearance by fiddling with them a lot and then tighten the cap screws. Only, that is not the way to do it at all.
Instead, ignoring the hex sockets in them, tighten down the cap screws with your fingers until they are just starting to snug up. Check that the retainer strip is level with even spacing (we are assuming that no one had destroyed you lathe yet by improper adjustment, if they have you nay not be able to level the retainers).
Move the saddle back and forth on the ways. Does it slide easily without being able to wobble it? It should not be able to rotate noticeably in any direction, but should move back and forth freely. If it does not do that, tighten or loosen the cap screws a smidgeon with your fingers. We are talking something like a sixteenth of a turn here.
Check it again, and readjust again if needed. When you have it just right, using a hex key turn in the set screws until they are just slightly tight. That will put tension on the cap screws so they will not loosen. Then holding the set screws with the hex key so they can not turn, tighten down the lock nuts.
Check that everything is still OK, if not back everything off and do it over.
To double check everything, put a few drops of oil on the ways and run the saddle back and forth. If everything is OK, the oil should spread out evenly. Remember, that the saddle actually rides on the sloping sides of the rail, and about the rear half-inch of the bed.
Congratulations, you have just set your saddle retainers exactly right without bending them, cracking them, or warping the saddle.