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A couple of weeks ago, while I was finishing a bed step for my grandaughter, a shim became stuck and the blade would not retract. Yesterday, I decided that it was time to do a complete tear down maintenance on this saw. After all, it was very early production model and hasn't been apart in nearly 14 years, so I went at it with gusto. The offending shim has been slipping around for over a decade, but never caused any problems, so I left it until it did. Once apart, I found a couple of interesting tid bits.
When I took the old shims out, there were areas of packed saw dust that had gotten between the shims and the aluminum slide areas of the locker bracket.
The original shims had been tacked in place with some small deposits of what looks like silicone. I used the same idea when I put the new ones in place and let it cure before reassembling things. This made the reassembly a piece of cake.
The belts were in like new condition, so the two extra sets I bought many years ago went back in the parts box.
The motor brushes are less than half worn, so I didn't need replacements for those either. There was almost no dust inside the motor. I firmly believe this is due to the way I have the cabinet enclosed and that I always run the saw with the shop vac connected.
Before I bolted the locker bracket back together, I made up a paste of powered graphite dust and mineral spirits. I liberally brushed this paste on all of the aluminum slide surfaces and on the shims where they would contact the locker bracket. I also brushed this paste on the elevation screw shaft. I let this paste dry completely overnight before reassembling things. The locker bracket slips up and down with almost no effort now.
When I took the old shims out, there were areas of packed saw dust that had gotten between the shims and the aluminum slide areas of the locker bracket.
The original shims had been tacked in place with some small deposits of what looks like silicone. I used the same idea when I put the new ones in place and let it cure before reassembling things. This made the reassembly a piece of cake.
The belts were in like new condition, so the two extra sets I bought many years ago went back in the parts box.
The motor brushes are less than half worn, so I didn't need replacements for those either. There was almost no dust inside the motor. I firmly believe this is due to the way I have the cabinet enclosed and that I always run the saw with the shop vac connected.
Before I bolted the locker bracket back together, I made up a paste of powered graphite dust and mineral spirits. I liberally brushed this paste on all of the aluminum slide surfaces and on the shims where they would contact the locker bracket. I also brushed this paste on the elevation screw shaft. I let this paste dry completely overnight before reassembling things. The locker bracket slips up and down with almost no effort now.
Mine also has some years on it, without problems. Keeping my fingers crossed. 
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