The hubs and the coupler should not be tight. The end of the coupler that does NOT have a spring goes onto the hub on the SPT. It should slide on and off with only very slight resistance. Same at the other end. When you push the couppler onto the hub and let loose, the spring should eject it.woodshopflunky wrote:Well, the first thing I noticed was the plastic coupler was jammed onto the powerhead side, used a pair of pliers to free the powerhead collet-there was a bunch of rust colored gunk around the spring. I have to collet on the headstock, tigthened the ser screw.
When I slide the headstock to the bandsaw, the coupler doesn't want to slide onto the bandsaw collet, I have the plastic internal spines lined up with the grooves in the bandsaw collet. The plastic coupler only goes a hair. Basically everything seems to be lined up, it's just incredibaly tough to the headstock(and coupler) to slide that last inch.
Hopes this clears things up.
Carl
If the splines in the ends of the coupler are damaged, they may be seizing the coupler. If that be the case, you should be able to see the damage.
If the hubs are not aligned with one another (drive shaft and SPT), the coupler would be cocked somewhat and would be hard to push on.
Alignment of the hubs, I believe, can best be done without the coupler.
After many years, I have gotten good at aligning the jointer and/or bandsaw hubs (without help) but over those many years I have done a lot of humbling and even used an expletive now and then (if you can believe that).
BTW The couplers are pretty darn tough. I'll not be surprised if you find you do not need a coupler.
