520 table not level?

[Bruce]

I have a 520 (started as a 500, then upgraded to 510, then 520). Anyway, I purchased the cross-cut sliding table (pn 555535) a while back and have noticed that when I slide the table forward to where the washer on the miter-bar exits the miter slot and then try to slide the table back to the front of the table, the washer (or whatever it's called) will not re-engage the miter slot with out pressing down on the table. I thought this behavior was kind of weird since I was using the extension table to keep the sliding table level. Today I checked the main table and it is not flat. With a straightedge laid from the front left corner to the right rear corner, there is a huge gap (.015) at the center of the table. When I put the straightedge across the opposite corners (RF to LR), the center is high. Is there anything that can be done to flatten the table?

[Bruce]

Well, after posting this I went back and re-read the post titled "main table ribbing". Maybe I need to re-visit aligning the table. I doubt if that will correct all of the problem, though. Has any one else had this problem with the cross-cut sliding table?

[dusty]

Actually, I would describe your situation as a table that is "not flat" rather than "not level".

You could level it if it was flat. Since it is not flat and since it is cast, I don't believe it can be "fixed". However, your problem could be trunnions; you could be twisting the table when you tighten the trunnions bolts.

When did you do the upgrade that brought you the current table? I expect that would be the 500 to 510 upgrade.

Nick has previously addressed a case of an out-of-true table.

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... light=flat

[dusty]

I have had the same experience with the miter bar on the x-cut table. I remounted the miter bar so that the "washer" was under the table rather than out in front.

In other words, I turned the miter bar end-for-end.