My Omega 1000 is 10 yrs old, but I've only been using it regularly for 1 yr and 3 months. Putting a carrot through isn't stabilizing it anymore. It takes off when the screen is 1/2 full. But the weirdest thing is the chipping of the bottom of the chute. I started hearing loud cracking noises occasionally and then I noticed that the bottom of the chute is now all chipped up. Is the blade hitting it? If so, why?

Yes the blade is hitting it when the juicer vibrates
severely. I have an Acme, 21 years old, and found
very difficult to control vibration especially with a
new shredder blade. If you are handy this is what
to do. Order a new cover from omega, cover design
has changed so you will need the plunger also. This
may sound incorrect, but you will have to use a small
file to file down the cutting burrs on the blade a fraction
of an inch. Then with the juicer fully assembled, unlock
the set screw on the center of the bottom and turn it
clockwise until the chute contacts the blade then back
it off a half turn. Now the chute to blade gap is set
correctly. In filing down the burrs you make the blade
a little duller but you also narrow the gap and feed
the produce through more slowly and evenly. This
comes from 21 years of using this machine. With
a new blade I could not control the vibration no matter
how I fed the thing. If this sounds a bit too much get
rid of the Omega and try the pulp ejecting type. The
Miracle MJ1000 is a nice little juicer for about $130.