HF 10" Table Saw

[aborza]

I just bot the HF 10" contractor saw. It can be found here: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46813

I have run into a problem. The cranks for the blade height and angle adjustments will not properly fit their respective shafts. The holes and flats in the cranks are too big for the shafts and when properly assembled and tightend down with the included washers, the cranks seriously wobble and flop around on their shafts.

I have contacted HF's "Tech" department. The department consists of an operator who said up front, "We have no hands on experience with any of our products." Needless to say, she was of no help at all. She did, however, order free replacement parts from China and says they will get here within three months! But my guess is that the new cranks won't fit either. Interesting, no parts inventory at HF!

I know there is no such thing as a free lunch. So, when you get the bargains available at HF you pretty much take your chances. That is ok with me, but I would like to have known about it before I bought.

Other than moaning, the real reason for this post is to ask those who have bot this saw recently (and have found the same problem as I have) how they dealt with the sloppy crank fit? A friend has suggested that I simply epoxy the cranks onto their respecitve shafts. But I hope there is a better way. What did you do about it?

Any practical suggestions out there from anyone?

Thanks

ab

[Knottscott]

Grizzly has several handwheels in their catalog. I'd take some measurements and see what matches.

Also, I've got two plastic handwheels off an 80's era Craftman contractor saw that I'll sell for $4/pr plus s/h if you think they'll work...they're ~ 1/2" diameter with a flat spot for grip on the shaft and have a screw to hold them onto the shaft.

[BobSch]

Did you get it from a local HF or mail order? If local, go back to the store and talk to them about it.

[Stytooner]

Aluminum duct tape is your friend. A wrap or two of that around the shaft should snug it up for you.

[monte]

Seems like 3 months is a long time to get replacement parts. If you bought it from a local HF store I would definately pay them a visit. They may have the parts on another saw that they can give to you.

[LCHIEN]

If the wheels don't fit right on one HF saw they probably don't fit right on all the saws, whether its a replacement part from the factory or another saw at the store.

The difficulty in getting parts, the bad instructions, the poor fit sometimes, all part of HF stories, heard before...

take Lee's (Stytooner) advice.

[aborza]

I agree the new cranks will probably not fit unless they acknowledge the problem and provide different cranks. Perhaps ones with set screws? Only time will tell.

But that is not to say that I am PO'ed by the purchase. The fence alone is worth more that what I paid. And since I am not using it for business, it is like a great jigsaw puzzle for me. It is fun. And with some tuning and a bit of luck, I will end up with a decent saw for very little outlay. No matter what, it will be better than the Craftsman that it is replacing.

Thanks

ab