Well the problems continue

[DonHo]

First let me admit I'm about the worlds most mechanicaly challegened guy. Any way, after my post the other day about blade raising and lowering problems, I checked as suggested and sure enough the bracket threads were striped so I checked the articles section and found just what to do. I needed a 9/16 helicoil kit, well there wasn't one to be had in Shawnee, OK so I had to order one. 2 days and $62 later I had the helicoil kit in my hand, disassembled the saw and then discovered I needed a 19/32" drill bit. Sure enough there were no 19/32" bits in Shawnee either so I had to order that too (a smarter guy would have figured that out and ordered the bit when he ordered the helicoil kit ). Well another day and only $20 and I had the bit and got the kit installed with no problems. Now to reassemble the saw. First I checked the articles again and learned to reinstall the belts and thanks to John's article I got that done with no problems. Next I checked the shim articles and Mark's article was informative and I don't think shims are my problem but I can't get the arbor bearing race to seat, so I can't tighten the screws, etc. I check again and found Whaler's suggestion to use quick clamps to seat the race, but I couldn't get it to seat even with the clamp pressure Well I've walked away for tonight and will try again tomorrow but right now I'm thinking seriously about the Craftsman Club deal on the 21829 Sunday and either parting out my saw or just keeping it for parts.
If anyone has an idea what I'm doing wrong, I welcome the input.
Thanks for letting me blow off steam,
DonHo

[big tim]

Don,You might try to get some longer screws than the ones that normally hold the bearing plate in place. You can then use the bearing plate with the long screws to force (pull) the bearing into the guideholder. Be sure to tighten the screws a little bit at a time, first one then the other, so as not to skew the bearing. Once the bearing has sufficiently been drawn into the guideholder, you can remove the longer screws and replace them with the original ones to complete the job.
I'm still a bit puzzled though that you are having that problem. You didn't indicate that you had a problem removing the arbor with bearing from the guideholder. Check everything again and if nothing looks out of place, try the suggestion above.
Hope this helps.

Tim

[Whaler]

I wish I could solve the problem but it's been long enough ago that I don't remember much of how I did it.
The quick clamp did work for me and as Tim suggested the longer screws to seat it would work. The key is to get it going in straight, cocked to one side or the other is going to jam it.

[DonHo]

Thanks for the input. I had come to the conclusion that it probably wasn't going in straight and was going to try to make sure it was straight tomorrow. The longer screws seems like a good idea also, so I'll get the screws on hand before I start over. I hope to reassemble the saw and I'm pretty sure I can do it if I take my time and follow the good advice I get here.
But even if I do get the saw together tomorrow, I'll still be tempted by the 21829 on sale Sunday

Thanks again,
DonHo

[bmyers]

Hey DonHo,
I have a few bags of raise/lower guts and I'm pretty sure I'd whatever you might need to fix it. You're also WAY in the black with the karma bank. Let me know what you need and I'll send you off a care package.

Unless of course you've got some Sears gift cards in your pocket burning a whole. In that case enjoy your new saw..

Bill

[gwyneth]

If you have a 3000, replacing it with a 21829 for $315 is an awfully good deal. (I paid about $360 a few months ago and was happy with that price).

[softop41]

Good Morning DonHo,
If you end up going with the long screw solution, be VERY careful not to overtighten the screws in an effort to pull the bearing straght since they are in aluminum, IIRC, and will strip surpisingly easy. But, then again, they make Helicoil kits for that size too. Good luck.
Jerry

[DonHo]

GOOD NEWS!! The longer screws + being more careful about alignment worked. Now I only have to finish the rebuild.

Many thanks to all who posted helpful hints and to those whose articles I used as reference. And a special thanks to bmyers for his offer of parts, I didn't need any but it's good to know that he was will to help if I had needed it.
DonHo

I still haven't gotten the 218229 that's on sale tomorrow outta my head yet, we'll see