Checking over the cabinet, I found that the clip that holds the head was loose and the panel that is nailed to the lover cabinet had separated. So the end result was that the head could be pushed "forward" and the lower cabinet timber frame (or neck) lifted. There was a poor earlier attempt at a repair, and a replacement clip may have been used. Regardless, it needed to be addressed.
Here's what it looks like ;
Removal of the lower clip bracket highlights the damage ;
Solution is simple. The "neck" timber section must be glued and then 4 long woodscrews are screwed in and I'm done. I dre drilled the holes through the neck, then used some wood glue in the gap. All four screws are then screwed in and the two braces are affixed to the cabinet. Leave for 24 hours, and the job is done.
The old holes where the clip was installed needed to be filled, so I used Bondo (or equivalent) to fill it in. After it dried, I sanded down the section, and created the "lip" where the clip is mounted. I will paint the rear of the machine tomorrow !
