Fence locking cam worn out - first post

[pantrybear]

Hello to the board, this is my first post.

I have inherited my father's woodworking equipment which includes at BT3000. I was really happy to find this site and all the great information here. It will be a great help to me as I start to use the saw.

There were a few things wrong with my dad's saw when I got it. The knob had fallen off the height adjustment wheel - I found the info on the board here and ordered the Sears wheel. The switch is a little scary to try to turn off and I also found out about the recall on the board and Ryobi is sending me a replacement switch.

The last problem is one I couldn't find out here on the board so I thought I would share it. The far side of the fence wouldn't lock down and the front side barely locked. I took a good look at everything and couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally I realized that my cam was completely worn. There was so much steel gone that I thought that this must be the way the part was made at first. Here's a picture of the worn part:




So I ordered a new cam and installed it and the fence locks down great. The saw is a 9311 serial number. They must have had a bad batch of cams that were really soft for it to wear like this.

Anyone else every had this problem?

Matt

[scoly]

Welcome! Glad you found this board. So much info on the bt and ww'ing in general.
Feel sure you will enjoy the "new" saw. There are so many here that someone has a solution to everything. Enjoy!
Steve

[Stytooner]

Welcome aboard.
I haven't heard of that particular issue before. I do miss a few threads though. Perhaps others have heard of it occurring.

[LCHIEN]

Hello to the board, this is my first post.

I have inherited my father's woodworking equipment which includes at BT3000. I was really happy to find this site and all the great information here. It will be a great help to me as I start to use the saw.

There were a few things wrong with my dad's saw when I got it. The knob had fallen off the height adjustment wheel - I found the info on the board here and ordered the Sears wheel. The switch is a little scary to try to turn off and I also found out about the recall on the board and Ryobi is sending me a replacement switch.

The last problem is one I couldn't find out here on the board so I thought I would share it. The far side of the fence wouldn't lock down and the front side barely locked. I took a good look at everything and couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally I realized that my cam was completely worn. There was so much steel gone that I thought that this must be the way the part was made at first. Here's a picture of the worn part:

[ATTACH]4962[/ATTACH]


So I ordered a new cam and installed it and the fence locks down great. The saw is a 9311 serial number. They must have had a bad batch of cams that were really soft for it to wear like this.

Anyone else every had this problem?

Matt

9311 date code - that would be about March (11th week) of 1993 manufacture. certainly an oldie.
Worn-cams - as the FAQ writer, I have not heard of that one before. Certainly not a Frequent issue.
Glad you found the other info of use.
At one time I was collecting date codes - I'll look later at my list.
In the meantime, welcome to the forum.

[leehljp]

For your father to have used it since 1993 and have the cam wear like that - it means he used it well, often and took pretty good care of it too. As to why that part had so much wear, I don't know except that it was used a bunch.

Welcome!

[bigstick509]

Welcome

[Ed62]

Welcome aboard. I haven't heard of that problem before, either.

Ed

[pecker]

That cam is supposed to rub against an inexpensive plastic part which is self-lubricating....I'd think it would have worn out, not the cam. Perhaps that plastic piece broke off or is missing.

If you look in the articles link at this site, there should be some exploded drawings showing how it all goes togeher, along with part numbers.

[timb]

That cam is supposed to rub against an inexpensive plastic part which is self-lubricating....I'd think it would have worn out, not the cam. Perhaps that plastic piece broke off or is missing.

If you look in the articles link at this site, there should be some exploded drawings showing how it all goes togeher, along with part numbers.

Actually no. The cam actually pushes against the back of the steel "clamper" lever. The edges that are worn are where it rotates, metal on metal ,in holes through flanges on that lever. Probably the lever should be replace also since I imagine the holes are somewhat worn. The diagram shows a "rubber plug" that apparently goes inside the cam and the cam/clamper assembly rides on a pin. I would probably replace those parts also but I doubt its critical to do so. Not sure what the rubber plug does.

The "clamper" operates the plastic "plate" which hold the fence to the rail in conjunction with various other bits an pieces. The plate may also be worn out but it is independant of the cam.

Tim

Tim

[pecker]

Actually no. The cam actually pushes against the back of the steel "clamper" lever. The edges that are worn are where it rotates, metal on metal ,in holes through flanges on that lever. Probably the lever should be replace also since I imagine the holes are somewhat worn. The diagram shows a "rubber plug" that apparently goes inside the cam and the cam/clamper assembly rides on a pin. I would probably replace those parts also but I doubt its critical to do so. Not sure what the rubber plug does.

The "clamper" operates the plastic "plate" which hold the fence to the rail in conjunction with various other bits an pieces. The plate may also be worn out but it is independant of the cam.

Tim

Tim

My bad. Sorry.

[timb]

Pecker - I had assumed the same as you until I examined it carefully. To be painfully correct the cam actually doesn't push the back of the clamper but rotates in the holes moving the clamper foward toward the rail such that clamper first compresses the plate against the rail then pushes the rear rail clamp rod in a fiendishly clever movement I haven't quite figured out.

[pantrybear]

Actually no. The cam actually pushes against the back of the steel "clamper" lever. The edges that are worn are where it rotates, metal on metal ,in holes through flanges on that lever. Probably the lever should be replace also since I imagine the holes are somewhat worn. The diagram shows a "rubber plug" that apparently goes inside the cam and the cam/clamper assembly rides on a pin. I would probably replace those parts also but I doubt its critical to do so. Not sure what the rubber plug does.

The "clamper" operates the plastic "plate" which hold the fence to the rail in conjunction with various other bits an pieces. The plate may also be worn out but it is independant of the cam.

Tim

Tim

The clamp lever wasn't worn at all. Maybe the cam missed a heat treating operation or was made out of the wrong material because it was the only thing that wore. There was a fair amount of steel that had extruded out of the threads where the clamp handle screws in too so it was definitely too soft.

I got a new rubber plug too. It just gets squished between the cam and the main fence casting so that the handle doesn't flop around.

Thanks for all the replies,

Matt

[leehljp]

The clamp lever wasn't worn at all. Maybe the cam missed a heat treating operation or was made out of the wrong material because it was the only thing that wore. There was a fair amount of steel that had extruded out of the threads where the clamp handle screws in too so it was definitely too soft.

I got a new rubber plug too. It just gets squished between the cam and the main fence casting so that the handle doesn't flop around.

Thanks for all the replies,

Matt

Matt,

Something just dawned on me about this. There have been occasional posts from BT3 owners who ask about the handle being all the way down in an almost verticle position for locking. The BT fence handle is supposed to be just below horizontal for complete lockdown. But, if one comes from a background of using some table saws and fences going back 40 or 50 years, it would be easy to move into the BT and assume that all fences must are locked down by pushing the handle all the way down until it is veriticle.

If this is the case I can see the plastic wearing out quick and then the cam becoming as you posted.