Latest Model Base Arm

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:20 pm

I too need help this time. I have a few late 1990/2000s base arms that has no set screws to hold the way tubes. It looks like a lead plug (?) (different material) with a hole but no indents inside the lead plug hole. These Shopsmiths also had the casters with the allen head screw in each end of the lift bar. I tried all my old farming tricks but no luck. I will try drilling the lead plug next if no one has a solution. I ended up sawing the way tubes off leaving about 4" at the base arm to play with. I made SHORTY way tubes (18" shorter) from these tubes. Any help, information and/or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:54 pm

Bill,
Very interesting! This sounds like a temporary production attachment system which must have been discontinued in more recent years. My 2007 unit has the allen-head screws (all very accessible) for the Way Tubes.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:37 am

Dave Ruggles answered my question. Thanks. I disassemble and reassemble all my frames upside down on short saw horses. It makes the casters really easy to work on. I never thought to look under the way tubes (actually on top outside of the base arm) for a set screw (first ones I have seen on the outside). That took care of two of my base arms. Of course, the one I am fighting has no set screws in the base arm. Even Kroil is not helping me. A big pipe wrench and a large hammer will not loosen either of the short 6" tubes I left to play with. A torch is next on the list to try.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:08 pm

Two hours and a lot of heat from a torch with the large pipe wrench and a big hammer finally broke the short way tubes loose. It looks like there were some kind of gunk/crud/LocTite used and the base arm aluminum had galled to the steel tubes. I ran my brake hone inside the tube holes on the base arm to clean the inside up. It appears no set screws were used as the holes were filled with this gunk/crud. I retapped the set screw holes and will have to see if I bent the base arm before using it.