Sliding Miter table problem...

[RyFitz13]

Hey all,

I recently had to disassemble my sliding miter table to get at a couple parts that had fallen into the slot that the miter fence rides in. Long story short, now that it's re-assembled, there is significant side-to-side wobble in the miter table itself. I've taken it apart again and put everything back as it originally was, but for the life of me I can't get a snug enough fit to keep the miter sliding straight back and forth with no lateral wobble.

Has anyone else run across this, or does anyone have any suggestions to correct the problem?

[LCHIEN]

there's four screws that hold the sliding table in place. Three of them are "Eccentric shaft" screws. One is "fixed". The screws are adjusted by rotating the screw head with a screwdriver until the left-right position of the screw takes up the slack and points the table slide in the right directions. When its right, hold the screw and tighten the nut.

Somewhere there's probably a better description of how to make these adjustments.

[SARGE..g-47]

It appears Loring has given you a fix... just thought I would add how to stay away from a re-occurance of the "fix... Get yourself a cheap little tele-scoping magnet. Only about 6" long and telescope out to around 24". Their is a magnet at the end. Their are a zillion various sizes.

You can get them at any auto parts store and I think I have even seen them at the box stores if you look hard. They are a mechanic's "best friend" outside his dog.

[RyFitz13]

there's four screws that hold the sliding table in place. Three of them are "Eccentric shaft" screws. One is "fixed". The screws are adjusted by rotating the screw head with a screwdriver until the left-right position of the screw takes up the slack and points the table slide in the right directions. When its right, hold the screw and tighten the nut.

Somewhere there's probably a better description of how to make these adjustments.

Thanks a ton - I'll check it out tonight and, with any luck, be back in business... Any tips on identifying which screw is the eccentric shaft screw? I don't think I did - but it's possible that I moved the screws around from their original positions when I first dis- and re-assembled the table. Assuming I can ID the eccentric shaft screw, is there any one specific spot where it's "supposed" to go?

Thanks again!

[LarryG]

Any tips on identifying which screw is the eccentric shaft screw?

It's the other way 'round ... three are eccentric, one is not. If memory serves, as you face the saw the non-eccentric one is the right front (i.e., nearest you, and nearest the blade).

Getting the other three adjusted "just right," so that the SMT slides freely but without side-to-side wobble, will take some time and patience. The best way I've ever been able to figure out how to describe the final adjustment, when you're getting close, is to not think so much in terms of turning the screws as applying pressure. It's a hair-trigger adjustment between "just right" and "too tight."

[LCHIEN]

An additional note or two - the screws are made of some hard but brittle metal - overtorque those babies and they'll break and are ONLY available from Ryobi, not your run of the mill local ACE hardware screws. Most people try and adjust them so that there's no play at all, then they complain that the slider binds... you need to leave a tiniest bit of slop so it will slide freely.

[Black wallnut]

It's the other way 'round ... three are eccentric, one is not. If memory serves, as you face the saw the Non-eccentric one is the right front (i.e., nearest you, and nearest the blade).

Getting the other three adjusted "just right," so that the SMT slides freely but without side-to-side wobble, will take some time and patience. The best way I've ever been able to figure out how to describe the final adjustment, when you're getting close, is to not think so much in terms of turning the screws as applying pressure. It's a hair-trigger adjustment between "just right" and "too tight."