I've started over from scratch setting up my table with the manual in hand.
All goes fine until I try to check column-to-column support adjustment.
With the arm indexed at 0 degrees and locked, the end of the arm can be lifted about 3/8 inch, and you can see the column shift within the column support.
It does NOT shift side-to-side and it is NOT shifting at the arm-to-column attachment point.
Elevation resistance is normal.
To help visualize it, it's as if there's a missing lower stabilizing ring on the column, allowing the bottom of the column to shift front-to-back inside the the column support when the end of the arm is lifted by hand.
Is some vertical play normal? How much do you have?
I thought I had tried every permutation, but I guess I'd missed one.
I tightened the #3 bolt ONLY about 1 flat and it was perfect. I think
I'd been snugging #1 and #3 equally as I went along. It's solid both
ways, locked and unlocked. It's a little stiffer (ugh) to crank, but
now I can move on with the set -up.
Thank you for the replies.
(I'm looking forward to recieving the book - just couldn't wait to
start)
On Fri, 27 Oct 2006 07:44:31 -0400, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> I've started over from scratch setting up my table with the manual in
>> hand.
>>
>> All goes fine until I try to check column-to-column support adjustment.
>>
>> With the arm indexed at 0 degrees and locked, the end of the arm can be
>> lifted about 3/8 inch, and you can see the column shift within the column
>> support.
>>
>> It does NOT shift side-to-side and it is NOT shifting at the arm-to-column
>> attachment point.
>> Elevation resistance is normal.
>>
>> To help visualize it, it's as if there's a missing lower stabilizing ring
>> on the column, allowing the bottom of the column to shift front-to-back
>> inside the the column support when the end of the arm is lifted by hand.
>>
>> Is some vertical play normal? How much do you have?
>
>Should be no vertical play other than the very slight slack in the
>adjustment screw. 3/8 is way too much.
>
>Do you have the Jon Eakes book? If so check page 43.
>
>If this is a Craftsman, there should be 6 bolts going side-to-side at the
>back of the casting. Two of them may be a different color--try taking up on
>those. If they're all the same color then try the top one and not the one
>immediately below it but the one below that (if the bolts are numbers 1, 2,
>3, 4, 5, 6 starting from the top it would be "1" and "3" that you're
>adjusting).
>
>Also, in a good light inspect that casting for cracks.
>
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've started over from scratch setting up my table with the manual in
> hand.
>
> All goes fine until I try to check column-to-column support adjustment.
>
> With the arm indexed at 0 degrees and locked, the end of the arm can be
> lifted about 3/8 inch, and you can see the column shift within the column
> support.
>
> It does NOT shift side-to-side and it is NOT shifting at the arm-to-column
> attachment point.
> Elevation resistance is normal.
>
> To help visualize it, it's as if there's a missing lower stabilizing ring
> on the column, allowing the bottom of the column to shift front-to-back
> inside the the column support when the end of the arm is lifted by hand.
>
> Is some vertical play normal? How much do you have?
Should be no vertical play other than the very slight slack in the
adjustment screw. 3/8 is way too much.
Do you have the Jon Eakes book? If so check page 43.
If this is a Craftsman, there should be 6 bolts going side-to-side at the
back of the casting. Two of them may be a different color--try taking up on
those. If they're all the same color then try the top one and not the one
immediately below it but the one below that (if the bolts are numbers 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6 starting from the top it would be "1" and "3" that you're
adjusting).
Also, in a good light inspect that casting for cracks.
[email protected] wrote:
> I've started over from scratch setting up my table with the manual in hand.
>
> All goes fine until I try to check column-to-column support adjustment.
>
> With the arm indexed at 0 degrees and locked, the end of the arm can be lifted about 3/8 inch, and you can see the column shift within the column support.
>
> It does NOT shift side-to-side and it is NOT shifting at the arm-to-column attachment point.
> Elevation resistance is normal.
>
> To help visualize it, it's as if there's a missing lower stabilizing ring on the column, allowing the bottom of the column to shift front-to-back inside the the column support when the end of the arm is lifted by hand.
>
> Is some vertical play normal? How much do you have?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I can't imagine that vertical play is normal on
any radial arm saw, otherwise the depth of a cut
could vary on a cross cut. With my arm unlocked
there is very little play and with it locked there
is no play. Well if you lifted hard enough you
could bend the arm, but that would be stupid.
It sounds like something is worn out or has
shifted. Probably the only thing you can do is
take it apart and look.