Jigsaw table problem

fitzhugh · Post by **fitzhugh** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:13 pm

I've got one that came with my recently purchased shopsmith. It is in the ugliest shape of the various parts (no idea if that actually translates to worst mechanical shape) and it is something I won't use right away so I haven't looked at it yet - still cleaning the first of the two shopsmiths that were included.

I dragged it out and checked - the table does seem to work correctly. It can be tightened or loosened as one would expect.

Do you still have this problem? I'll take mine apart and take photos as I do to see if that helps find the problem.

steve4447 · Post by **steve4447** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:19 pm

Yes...the problem seems permanent....I had taken the saw all of the way apsrt and cleaned everything insde and out.... the sump was full of dried up crug and repainted and assembeled it all and of course oiled it....

And everything seems fine except for the table ...

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:22 pm

Dumb question:)

Are you observing the trunion move relative to the base, or have you verified the mounting tubes are not 'loose'/moving?

DQ #2, what is the crud in the groove in the second pix in the second set?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:29 pm

IIWM, I would clean all the paint(paint remover only) from the flat surface the surface the trunion presses against when the screw is tightened and the groove and mating surface. I think the parts are not 'mating' tightly.

fitzhugh · Post by **fitzhugh** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:38 pm

Well that was easier than I figured - nothing stuck, just very grungy.

If I understand correctly, the two pieces that mate together, one with an arc shaped groove and one with a matching arced tennon (lack of better way to describe it) don't fit tightly. In mine they do. I can rock the part that the table bolts to when it is sitting by itself (not screwed down) but only a very small amount. With the part rotated/slid to one extreme I can just barely feel it rocking as I twist as if around the bolt that tightens it. At the other end of the range it moves a tad less than 1/32". I brushed the crud out after taking the photo but before checking the movement.

[ATTACH]24752[/ATTACH]

told you it was dirty! Blurry, but yeah, those are the only parts I encountered.

fitzhugh · Post by **fitzhugh** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:47 pm

What about shimming?

If it were me and just making it up as I went without having a clue what the right way was - well, I'd find a strip of metal to slip along the side of the slot and that extends a little on each end so it could be bent over and kept in place with a drop of epoxy. I'm sure there is a proper way that others could suggest.

If you need different size shims on each end you might get away with just a shim at each end. The part that engages the slot is longer and contacts the slot along the whole length of the slot regardless of the angle the table is set so one at each end might work.

Ideally someone with a clue will chime in and correct me!

steve4447 · Post by **steve4447** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 6:01 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Dumb question:)

Are you observing the trunion move relative to the base, or have you verified the mounting tubes are not 'loose'/moving?

DQ #2, what is the crud in the groove in the second pix in the second set?

Yes... the mounting tubes are not the source of the movement..The movement is between the the saw table and the saw base...I wish there was a way for you to actual see the movement.

What I am seeing is the play between both haves ...Male and female of the trunnion...Instead of the parts having to move in an arc as a bearing... there is so much play /excess clearance that they can rock from one edge of the grove to the other with an obvious clink..clonk at it hits both sides of the grove...It never slides along the path of the trunnion but rather is rigidly held at it's position along that path...Nothing is sliding ...only rocking on the point provided by that spring loaded washer...And limited by the width of the groove ....

The crud that I believe you are referring to is white lithium grease...

steve4447 · Post by **steve4447** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 6:12 pm

JPG40504 wrote:IIWM, I would clean all the paint(paint remover only) from the flat surface the surface the trunion presses against when the screw is tightened and the groove and mating surface. I think the parts are not 'mating' tightly.

The parts are clamping tightly...In the direction that the screw is compressing them...But there is play in a direction perpendicular to that ...A movement that I feel should be limited by the tolerance between the tongue and groove of the trunnion....Leading me to believe that the parts are not actually a match?..

I may try removing the paint but I doubt that will help because ...It appears to be a situation of to much.. (Excess).. clearance rather than not enough clearance..

steve4447 · Post by **steve4447** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 6:18 pm

fitzhugh wrote:Well that was easier than I figured - nothing stuck, just very grungy.

If I understand correctly, the two pieces that mate together, one with an arc shaped groove and one with a matching arced tennon (lack of better way to describe it) don't fit tightly. In mine they do. I can rock the part that the table bolts to when it is sitting by itself (not screwed down) but only a very small amount. With the part rotated/slid to one extreme I can just barely feel it rocking as I twist as if around the bolt that tightens it. At the other end of the range it moves a tad less than 1/32". I brushed the crud out after taking the photo but before checking the movement.

[ATTACH]24752[/ATTACH]

told you it was dirty! Blurry, but yeah, those are the only parts I encountered.

I am afraid that you are right and that there is no easy fix...and that if mine was right it be as you describe yours...

20/20 hindsight ..I now wish I had tried to check the operation of mine before I started...But there is no going back..

steve4447 · Post by **steve4447** » Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:46 pm

Just came back in from the shop...and I have solved the problem....

That trunnion bolt part # 32 with the complicated spring and washer...When I replaced it with just an ordinary bolt and washer...It locked down and stays put just like it should...

I tried installing it half a dozen different ways...With a washer under it...tightened way up with an allen wrench for a cheater...No matter how I tried ...no joy...It would always rock...

Every time that I replaced it with the regular cap screw...Problem gone...

I don't know if a new part would work but ...I'm going with the ordinary bolt and washer...or perhaps a fender washer...

Thanks to all of you that tried to help...