After consulting a friend of mine who is a pretty mechanically oriented shop guy, he was stating that maybe this type of clamp with a quick release is not meant for the handle to turn several rotations with the half nut staying engaged each time. It is meant to slide smoothly into the work piece...
Just got the replacement half nut and cover for my Columbian vice from Milwaukee tool. Still not engaging. I’m wondering if the cover leaves too much play on the screw. The half nut also has a pin and a small spring on the end of it. Not completely familiar with how the nut works in the vice and...