Miter set screw stuck

jmoore65 · Post by **jmoore65** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:34 pm

I've managed to get the miter guage set screw stuck. I must have overtightened it - I heard a loud 'click' when I set it. I thought it strange at the time, because it didn't feel like I was turning very hard.

I cannot back the screw out at all. The allen wrench will not turn.

Help!

Jim

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:49 pm

I can't be of much help. I had the same thing happen to me. I did things that I won't repeat here to get the miter gauge off the table. Once off the table, I was successful in drilling the set screw out of the hole in the miter bar.

I don't believe I damaged the threads but I haven't put a new set screw in that miter bar yet. Fortunately, I have another miter gauge that I can secure in the miter track if need be.

Take comfort in the fact that you and I are not the only ones that this has happened to. There are reports that this has happened to even the best of us.

What ever you do, don't try to unscrew it using a worn allen wrench. Get a new one and make sure it is set well into the allen screw before you put any force to it. Once it strips out the lands in the allen screw you'll find yourself drilling.

judaspre1982 · Post by **judaspre1982** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:53 pm

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jmoore65 · Post by **jmoore65** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:13 pm

judaspre1982 wrote:Did you try using an L-shaped allen wrench to get more leverage when backing out the set screw? If not try that and see if you can get it to move. -------Dave

I tried this - but the allen wrench slipped in the socket - while the screw didn't move at all. I even saw sparks around the socket when the wrench slipped!

Now what?

Jim

judaspre1982 · Post by **judaspre1982** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:37 pm

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albie · Post by **albie** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:47 pm

I suspect the loud click was the hex tool slipping in the set screw. If the tool is worn, it may slip in the screw.

I will often grind off the worn end of an allen key, making it slightly shorter and behave like a new tool.

The set screw may be fine.

Al B

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:27 pm

Dusty's right -- this is a problem that many Shopsmith owners have had to deal with from time to time. The last time this happened here at the Academy, Drew took my Dremel tool and a small, ceramic cut-off wheel and was able to cut the allen screw in two without damaging the bar or the table. We lost the ceramic wheel; when the allen screw was cut all the way in half, it collapsed and pinched the wheel. But we were able to get the Shopsmith back in working condition inexpensively and without much fuss. And -- wonder of wonders -- Drew didn't lose his religion. That day.

The only other effective solution I have ever employed is to use a screw extractor to back out the allen screw. But this requires that you drill a hole in the table, through the miter gauge slot and right under the screw. Otherwise the extractor will not drop down far enough to engage the screw.

With all good wishes,

drl · Post by **drl** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:36 pm

I have not come across the problem--yet, but have found that the setscrew seems to get tighter than originally set. Is there a way to prevent this? Dry lube, wax, whatever on the setscrew? Setscrew needs to be tighten quite a bit so the miter gauge won't slide.
Nicks/Drews fix seems the best solution especially if the set screw is rounded out. Sorry I don't have a answer. Looking for prevention at this point. Good luck.
Regards,
Dwight

jmoore65 · Post by **jmoore65** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:11 pm

I was able to split the set screw this morning by cutting it with a Dremel tool.

I had to open the slot in the miter bar a tad with a screwdriver to get the halves out.

Fortunately, I found a replacement in the Help Kit. For some reason the new set screw binds the bar before going flush with the bar.

Jim

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:43 pm

...the new set screw binds the bar before going flush with the bar.

Have seen that problem here at the Academy, too. The cause is usually damaged threads in the bar. I usually just wander out in the factory and borrow the tap -- it's a standard NPT thread -- and clean it up. The Shopsmith factory closest to you may have one they'll let you borrow.

With all good wishes,

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