very sticky blade guide assembly

vevangcb · Post by **vevangcb** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:35 pm

on my bandsaw, on both blade guide assemblies the square key that slides in and out is REALLY sticky. It is supposed to slide back and forth simply with the adjusting screw but I have to remove the adjusting screw and tap (pound) it with a hammer to move it. I believe the Guide Block Spring is the problem but without the spring in place it is just a very sloppy fit. I tried to use graphite but it has no effect. I have tried to clean all of the rubbing surfaces but that doesn't seem to help either. Has any one else run into this problem? Thank you in advance.

drl · Post by **drl** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:13 pm

I have the same condition. I have improved the situation by cleaning all parts involved and spraying on Bostik bearing lubricant. I can now adjust the guide using the adjusting knob but it is not an 'easy turn' adjustment to make. Would be curious if this is common with the other members. Good luck.
Regards,
Dwight

reible · Post by **reible** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:28 pm

Hi,

Got pictures of what you have so we can take a look at them?

Hammer probably not a good solution.

Ed

vevangcb · Post by **vevangcb** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:59 pm

drl wrote:I have the same condition. I have improved the situation by cleaning all parts involved and spraying on Bostik bearing lubricant. I can now adjust the guide using the adjusting knob but it is not an 'easy turn' adjustment to make. Would be curious if this is common with the other members. Good luck.
Regards,
Dwight

Dwight, Thank you! I couldn't believe I was the only one with this condition. Tomorrow I think I will try some of that spray from Boeing Aircraft that Woodcraft sells, T-9. I'll let you know how that turns out. Actually once I got it apart and cleaned it well I was able to turn the knob by hand but as you say it doesn't turn easy at all.

vevangcb · Post by **vevangcb** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:04 am

reible wrote:Hi,

Got pictures of what you have so we can take a look at them?

Hammer probably not a good solution.

Ed

Ed, I agree a hammer is a poor solution but I only tapped it lightly. Now it turns, but not very easy at all. It's a long way from the usual level of high quality Shopsmith adjusting screws.

vevangcb · Post by **vevangcb** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:01 pm

vevangcb wrote:Dwight, Thank you! I couldn't believe I was the only one with this condition. Tomorrow I think I will try some of that spray from Boeing Aircraft that Woodcraft sells, T-9. I'll let you know how that turns out. Actually once I got it apart and cleaned it well I was able to turn the knob by hand but as you say it doesn't turn easy at all.

So here's the latest chapter - The T-9 spray didn't help at all. So I took it apart one more time and tried to decrease the "bow" in the spring. This is sort of a tiny leaf spring that fills the gap between the sliding square key and its housing. #78 for the upper assembly Part # 502575. Anyway I broke the spring in two when I was trying to decrease its "springy-ness" But the good news is that one of the two broken pieces works just fine because it is not as springy. It does however slide out if you are not careful when making an adjustment, but the knob sure turns nicely. I'm going to order a new spring for $.80 and see if that helps. I still have to turn the lower assembly nut with a pliers.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:30 pm

I had a similar a few years ago. I completely disassembled the guide assemblies and cleaned them. I reassembled them using white lithium grease and they worked OK. They are difficult to turn but I think they should be that way to prevent them from moving due to vibration. Just one guy's opinion.
Bill V

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:57 pm

once cleaned the units slide pretty easily with the hand screws. Shopsmith recommends graphite, but I have found that silicone. If you use silicone be careful to not get any on the table.

I cleaned up my sticky slides with WD-40 and a shop rag. A small bottle brush might also help.

Don't break any more springs!:eek: They produce the proper amount of pressure and pose no issue if the entire internal space is cleaned and lubed. The square slides and screw threads also need to be clean.

Best wishes!

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:27 am

charlese wrote:once cleaned the units slide pretty easily with the hand screws. Shopsmith recommends graphite, but I have found that silicone. If you use silicone be careful to not get any on the table.

I cleaned up my sticky slides with WD-40 and a shop rag. A small bottle brush might also help.

Don't break any more springs!:eek: They produce the proper amount of pressure and pose no issue if the entire internal space is cleaned and lubed. The square slides and screw threads also need to be clean.

Best wishes!

I second the use of silicone on the guide bars.