Wrong shims?

[eccentrictinkerer]

I tried replacing the shims in my 21829 today. I picked up a couple of sets of the shims specced for the BT3100.

When I got the saw apart, it was apparent that things had gone awry. The shims appear to be the same as the BT3000.

My dilemma is, should I get the BT3000 shims or the guide holder to convert to BT3100 version?

I tried assembling the new shims into the present guide holder and they seem to be to thick to fit.

I'm stuck. BTW the number on the guide holder casting is R4306501.




I'm trying finish a cabinet job for a client, so any help would be greatly appreciated. The tips presented on this site have been incredible. Shortened the learning curve by more than half. Many thanks to all involved.

J.D.

[eccentrictinkerer]

I'm shamelessly bumping this thread 'cuz I really need some advice.

Thanks.

[cgallery]

Let me make sure we understand what you're saying. You ordered the BT3100 shims, and it looks like you received the correct ones (the ones on the left in your pic). Then you took your saw apart and found it was using BT3000 shims (the ones on the right in your pic).

Now you tried using the BT3100 shims but they didn't work well with your bracket.

Is that correct?

I can only relate my experience. I have a BT3000 and ordered the BT3100 shims and the new bracket, too. When I was assembling everything, it did seem to me that the old bracket would have worked. The only real difference I found between the two brackets was the old one had some set screws (for adjusting the bracket w/ the older style shims). But I didn't do an exhaustive comparison.

I did notice that even with the new bracket, things were a little tighter going back together.

I'd go back to it (if I were you) and see if I could get the old bracket to fit w/ the new shims. A little filing/sanding/adjusting may be necessary.

Perhaps someone else will jump in here and let you know if they've been able to get the old bracket to work with the new shims.

[LCHIEN]

I really have very little knowledge of the insides of the 21829.
It's always sorta been assumed since it was a contemporary of the 3100 that it would have the 3100 internals but that's perhaps not the case. Your's is the first post I've seen where anyone tear into one.

I guess one thing to do is go to the www.sears.com page, click on parts and enter
315.218290, you can see the table breakdown and the shims part nos 34 and 39
then you can go to the 315.22811 (Sears model no for their earlier BT3000) and see the part numbers are different...
the part numbers are usually same as or similar to the Ryobi part numbers, so check the BT3 FAQ and see what the shim numbers are for the BT3000 and the BT3100; that might tell you the story there.

[JR]

I replaced the shims on my BT3000 with those from the BT3100. It was a snug fit, requiring some jimmying to get it assembled. But it came togethe eventually.

I don't know if this helped, but I swore like drunken sailor during the whole process. HTH.

JR

[Black wallnut]

IMHO if your saw is designed for the older style shims then there is no reason to change that. See my article on shim replacement for a link to Norm's shim fix. Once shim supports are installed and the shim set screws are adjusted and lock-tited in place you will never have problems again. You still may need to disassemble and clean the shims but that may be necessary no matter which style of shims you have. Several users have felt the need to upgrade to the new. The cost is minimal and this is also a forever solution. Seems like you are already half way there.

[crokett]

On my BT3000 I tried using the BT3100 spring shims with my stock BT3000 guide holder and could not. I ended up buying the new guide holder as well.

[cgallery]

I replaced the shims on my BT3000 with those from the BT3100. It was a snug fit, requiring some jimmying to get it assembled. But it came togethe eventually.

I don't know if this helped, but I swore like drunken sailor during the whole process. HTH.

JR

Were you able to do this w/o replacing the guide holder (the big aluminum thing)?

[JR]

Checking my old post, I realize I replaced the guide holder at the time I replaced the shims. Thank goodness for the search function!

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...highlight=shim

JR

[Jim Boyd]

I just came across a pair of BT3000 shims yesterday while looking for a drill bit. P.M. me with your address and I can drop them in the mail to you. Never did find that drill bit

[Jim Boyd]

Got your P.M. No payment needed. I'll drop them in the mail in the next couple of days. I sure don't need them anymore, they need to be where they can be of use

[eccentrictinkerer]

We have ignition!

I got the saw put back together this afternoon after replacing the shims. Here's what I learned:

I have labored under the impression that the Sears 21829 is a clone of the BT3100. Mine is not (maybe later models are). I bought BT3100 shims from my local parts shop. I tried installing the new version shims and they would not fit. I measured the gap filled by the shims and the total gap is about .018".

The old version shims are about .007" thick each. The "new verson" shims are about .018" EACH. That may be why I couldn't get them to work.

I brought my "guide holder" casting to the parts store and compared to the BT3100 guide holder and they were slightly different in design, but the width, where it counts, was identical to the old casting. So, I would have had the same problem.

If I use the new version shims next time, I think I'll mill off a little bit of the guide holder rail, rather than buy a new version. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks to all who responded. This board is a godsend for all things BT3!



BTW, thank you, golfeng for your terrific suggestion to use long threaded rods to aid re-assembly after replacing shims. They made the job much, much easier.

[LCHIEN]

so, what you are saying is that the 21829 has the BT3000 guide holder shim system?
is there any difference from the BT3000, then, in that area?

[eccentrictinkerer]

so, what you are saying is that the 21829 has the BT3000 guide holder shim system?
is there any difference from the BT3000, then, in that area?

Near as I can tell, the 21829 is the same as the BT3000. I have a BT3000 parts saw that I'm going to disassemble and check. Maybe this weekend. (If I can get out of caroling.)

What I don't understand is, the guide holder casting I saw at the parts shop (had the correct BT3100 p/n) had the same critical dimension as mine did. This leads me to believe that it wouldn't have allowed me to install the new shims.

[cgallery]

What I don't understand is, the guide holder casting I saw at the parts shop (had the correct BT3100 p/n) had the same critical dimension as mine did. This leads me to believe that it wouldn't have allowed me to install the new shims.

Yeah, that is odd as many of us with BT3000 saws have done just that (used the BT3100 shims and BT3100 guide holder).