BT3000 Play in blade adjusting mechanism

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  • woodywoodwood
    Handtools only
    • Mar 2017
    • 5

    BT3000 Play in blade adjusting mechanism

    Hello, I recently picked up a BT3000. Everything operates as it should including smooth operation of the blade adjusting handle, bevel locking lever etc.... The only issue is that I can grab the blade and "wiggle" it left to right about 1/8th of an inch unless the saw is fully lowered or fully raised. When the saw is all the way up or down there is no play. Does not seem like a shim problem since it raises and lowers very smoothly. The motor is mounted tightly and there is no play in the arbor. Any insight is greatly appreciated since the saw is unsafe/unusable at this point.

    Thanks in advance,

    Curtis
  • LCHIEN
    Internet Fact Checker
    • Dec 2002
    • 20914
    • Katy, TX, USA.
    • BT3000 vintage 1999

    #2
    Here is a picture of the BT3000 shims, They can be seen just peeking above the motor bracket on both sides.
    When they fall out there's a lot of play in the motor/blade assembly.

    Are these shims clearly visible? There's actually Right angle shims both sides R&L of the picture plus a set of flat shims in the back that are hard to see.
    In the second picture the BT3000 shims (no waves) are on the right, the RIght angle one is 3rd from left and the flat one for the backside is the fourth.
    Click image for larger version

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    Last edited by LCHIEN; 03-28-2017, 12:02 PM.
    Loring in Katy, TX USA
    If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
    BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

    Comment

    • capncarl
      Veteran Member
      • Jan 2007
      • 3564
      • Leesburg Georgia USA
      • SawStop CTS

      #3
      Before you spend a lot of time.... Is the blade arbor nut tight? Are the arbor washers in place. No sense wasting time checking shims if this is not the first check.

      Comment


      • LCHIEN
        LCHIEN commented
        Editing a comment
        Good point
    • LCHIEN
      Internet Fact Checker
      • Dec 2002
      • 20914
      • Katy, TX, USA.
      • BT3000 vintage 1999

      #4
      I did a survey of BT3000 owners only on this forum years ago. About 1/3 of owners had shim problems. The ones that didn't have problems kept the saws clean and the shims lubricated. as the secret to longevity.

      If you picked up a used saw you have not too much clue about its past care and feeding but you can control it from here on forwards.
      Loring in Katy, TX USA
      If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
      BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

      Comment

      • mpc
        Senior Member
        • Feb 2005
        • 979
        • Cypress, CA, USA.
        • BT3000 orig 13amp model

        #5
        I wondered about the arbor nut and the spacer washers too - are both spacer rings (thin and fat) and both blade stabilizer washers present? If not, the arbor nut will get "tight" when it reaches the end of the arbor threads without actually clamping the blade. But I'd expect the blade to be sloppy even with the elevation at the top or bottom travel limits... the OP said the blade slop goes away at the elevation limits...

        So that leaves the shims as the likely problem. The shims, and the itty-bitty setscrews that adjust the shim clearances, should be examined. In Loring's picture, the openings for two of the four setscrews are visible just outside the larger black-colored screws. With the side panel removed from the saw, and the side panel of the blade housing/dust collecting duct, you can see all four setscrew openings. A tiny allen wrench adjusts them. Turn them in slowly while moving the blade elevation up and down... when you feel the elevation handle stiffen a bit that's when you've turn the allen screw in just a tad too far. Back off an 1/8th or a 1/4 turn. Move onto another setscrew and repeat. Once all four have been set this way, install a blade and see how sloppy it is... or grab the back of the motor and wiggle it up/down and side-to-side to see if the shims are tight enough to do their jobs without being over-right. Being over-tight makes the elevation handle harder to turn and it causes a lot more wear-n-tear on the aluminum threads in the motor+arbor assembly riding on the big elevation jackscrew.

        mpc

        Comment


        • LCHIEN
          LCHIEN commented
          Editing a comment
          The blade would spin freely if the spacers were clamping on the end of the thread region rather than pressing on the blade body.
      • woodywoodwood
        Handtools only
        • Mar 2017
        • 5

        #6
        Thanks for all the input. The shims are in great shape it was just a matter of dialing in the set screws/shim clearance. Thanks MPC

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