Scroll Saw Won't Hold Tension Under Power

[reible]

BTW you can get the upper arm any more, I had tried to order one but they said they don't have them anymore. So that truck has left the station and we are on our own to modify the standard parts to fit.

Also the two bushings I ordered came in at $18.?? total to my door. Do you remember what you paid? I didn't have the time to shop around so it done and all that but I was just wondering if that seems excessive.

Ed

I guess this explains why they don't sell the old bearings anymore. I did take a look at the teal saw parts list online and I don't see bushings listed(or did I miss them?).

So I wonder how close the plastic version is to the old metal version size wise? Could I add the plastic ones to my saw? Yea I don't know the answers either. But I would like to.

My guess would be the plastic parts are cheaper but then I wonder if they will hold up any better or not. I'm also wondering, a lot of that tonight, if one were to send in there old gray saw to shopsmith for a rebuild what would they get back. Or, would shopsmith not do a rebuild on this old gray model? See what I mean about all this wondering?

I don't really expect answers on those last questions.

Ed

The flange on the teal version bushing has a much larger od than the bronze bushing. SS did not sell the bronze bushing either. Only with a complete arm. We are not supposed to know how to press parts in/out.

[JPG]

I do not recall the $ I paid for mine, but that seems high.

The important thing is the id, od, length and flange thickness. 1/8" seems to be sop today. The original flanges were thinner.

[algale]

I wonder if a replacement arm (or pair of arms) for a "new" teal scroll saw would fit a grey one. Potentially expensive experiment.

[algale]

Oops, oops, oops! I went back to the drawing. Something was bothering me. The drawing isn't a picture of clarity but it shows an unnumbered shaft passing through two "washers" # 80 and #80A. Well, when I looked at mine I found one spring washer on the shaft and then the plastic part I thought was a "bushing." But what if that plastic "bushing" is really a plastic washer?

Surprise!

IMG_2812.JPG (233.03 KiB) Viewed 3724 times

[reible]

Oops, oops, oops! I went back to the drawing. Something was bothering me. The drawing isn't a picture of clarity but it shows an unnumbered shaft passing through two "washers" # 80 and #80A. Well, when I looked at mine I found one spring washer on the shaft and then the plastic part I thought was a "bushing." But what if that plastic "bushing" is really a plastic washer?

Surprise!

So the plastic bushing is the width of the arm? The washers are like that on both sides of the arm?

Now I'm wondering if I should be ordering a plastic bearing from some where and the washer set from shopsmith............

I didn't have time today to look at the two arms but I'm thinking that if it were me designing this I would have made them identical or as close to it as I could. I will also take a couple of pictures of the arms so we can think about the possibles of the old and new arms being the same.

Hope to have some shop time tomorrow, today was taking care of other business except for the shelf liner I purchased getting installed and turning a small part on the lathe. Want to get the machine back together as it is taking up my work area and I need it back for more projects.

Ed

[algale]

The new arms appear to have no bushings whatsoever. The shaft is pressed right into the arm casting. Then plastic washer and one spring washer only on one side. Nothing on the other. Rather, as shown in next post, the housing casting contains bushings!!!!

So the plastic bushing is the width of the arm? The washers are like that on both sides of the arm?

Now I'm wondering if I should be ordering a plastic bearing from some where and the washer set from shopsmith............

I didn't have time today to look at the two arms but I'm thinking that if it were me designing this I would have made them identical or as close to it as I could. I will also take a couple of pictures of the arms so we can think about the possibles of the old and new arms being the same.

Hope to have some shop time tomorrow, today was taking care of other business except for the shelf liner I purchased getting installed and turning a small part on the lathe. Want to get the machine back together as it is taking up my work area and I need it back for more projects.

Ed

[algale]

As I have further examined my teal scroll saw, I have discovered major changes between it and the grey scroll saw.

The grey scroll saw has bushings in the arms. Not so the teal scroll saw.

Instead, the teal scroll saw has bushings pressed into both sides of the upper housing castings. Moreover, the bushings are different.

Below is a photo of the right side (if you were standing from operator's position) upper housing casting. Note the bushing with a wide flange. It also isn't perfectly centered over the casting hole.

IMG_2814.JPG (198.45 KiB) Viewed 3468 times

Both bushings on this right side are like this. Moreover, the side of the arm that contacts this side of the upper housing has nothing but bare metal riding against this wide flange.


Below is a photo of the left side upper housing casting. Note bushing has no flange and is pressed in flush with casting.

IMG_2817.JPG (110.34 KiB) Viewed 3468 times

Both bushings on this left side are like this. Moreover, the side of the arm that contacts this side of the upper housing has a plastic washer and spring washer that are in contact with this side of the upper housing casting.

[algale]

New parts arrived. Hole in tension rod measures .212 inches. Tension pin measures .196 inches.

[reible]

So the new design is indeed new. I'm glad you have yours apart so we can see inside and learn new things..... while I'm also sorry you had to do repairs to yours.

So if you were looking at the front of the saw which side has the plastic washer/special washer? Is that the same side as the drive connection?

Ed

[JPG]

So the new design is indeed new. I'm glad you have yours apart so we can see inside and learn new things..... while I'm also sorry you had to do repairs to yours.

So if you were looking at the front of the saw which side has the plastic washer/special washer? Is that the same side as the drive connection?

Ed

Yea his 'right'/'left' side had me confused as well.

Flanged bushing is on the side AWAY from the drive shaft.

His left/right are as viewed from the back.



IIUC I did not! See below!!!