armature will not move on my saw, any ideas? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

R.J. · 10-28-2008, 09:12 PM

Hello folks, I'm new here. I picked up a used Ryobi SC164VS the other day and finally got to where I could sit down and start learning with it. My plan was to cut out a simple bluebird picture.

Long story short, I reached a point where I'd finished a big cut and switched the machine off to move the blade to another pilot hole. The blade slipped out of the bottom clamp, so I got it back together, top and bottom, then switched the motor on to see if the clamps would hold. The motor was getting power, but the arms remained stuck in the upmost position.

I tried adjusting the tension knob at back to loose or tight, but it didn't do anything. It's like something is really blocking those arms, but I can't imagine what. Nothing has fallen in there, and there isn't really a lot of sawdust below the work table.

Should I take the saw apart completely, or does anyone have an idea what this could be? Thanks for any help.

Sandy Oaks · 10-29-2008, 01:30 AM

Hi R J,

Welcome to the site. About two months ago, I purchased a Hitachi CW40 from Lowes. After about three weeks of use, the unit would not run. There was power to the motor and the circuit breaker was ok. They said it was a bad controller board. Needless to say, I returned it for a full refund and purchased a DeWalt 788. I don't know if that might be your problem.

Denny

minowevie · 10-29-2008, 01:39 AM

Hi RJ, now thats a bother. sorry I don't know your saw, but do sympathize with your problem. I do wont to welcome you to the forum. and hope you get your arms fixed. dang just when you was having fun too.

lucky788scroller · 10-29-2008, 02:23 AM

Try lifting up on the bottom arm,and try pushing down on the upper arm,see if you can manually make the arms move.is it possible that one arm is in the up position while the other is in the down position??? If none of that helps, Im not sure what the trouble is.

tomsteve · 10-29-2008, 04:10 AM

on some motors, it is possible to put an allen wrench on the end of the shaft. see iffen ya can do that and turn it over. maybe a brush got jammed.

R.J. · 10-29-2008, 06:16 AM

Hey all, thanks for the warm welcome. I'm glad to have found this hobby and the people associated with it.

You know, not too long after I wrote that first post, I went back to the shop and fiddled with it some more, and I feel a little foolish now because the problem was so easy.

What happened was, every time I was unclamping the blade to make another cut, I forgot to unwind the tension knob. So eventually, what I'd done was get it so tense that it held the arms completely up. Once I figured that out, I remembered to unwind it every time and I had no problems since. Where I mentioned loosening the knob before, I wasn't loosening it enough; the knob feels really loose, but the tension is still in the arms. I didn't know that at the time, but I've got it now.

It's a silly mistake to make, but I guess it's something a newbie would be expected to do! But now that it's under control, I'm very very happy with what I've got going here. This is the pattern I tried:

http://www.woodworking-patterns.com/...etbluebird.gif

And it turned out beautifully. Thank you for the replies, I do appreciate the help.

Pajaro · 10-29-2008, 11:51 AM

Don't feel bad. I have my saw set up to an external off and on switch. One day it would not turn on. I messed around with it for about two hrs trying to figure out what the problem was. Turned out i had somehow shut the switch on the saw off. DHOOOOO

PS Welcome aboard. Post Pictures of your work when you can.

Simplyme · 10-29-2008, 01:45 PM

Please post pics of the finished piece. Would love to see it.

Wood Dog · 10-29-2008, 02:20 PM

Welcome RJ and thanks for posting your solution......it may help others at one time or another. Every bit of knowledge gained here sure does help. Happy scrolling

R.J. · 10-31-2008, 12:49 AM

Thanks for the welcomes! Pajaro, I got a laugh out of that. That's the kind of thing that just makes you glad if no one else saw it happen.

Well, I did the bluebird pattern, and I'm really happy with how it went. The camera I have isn't too hot, but at least you can get a basic idea of what I've got here. If you could see it in person, you'd see how I was still getting the feel for it near the top of the image, but by the time I made it to the bottom, I had an idea of what was supposed to happen.

I haven't had a chance to sand it or do anything else yet, as I had to leave the next morning for work, but I'd like to seal it and put a nice blue velvet behind it and frame it when I get home again. It's not exactly as nice as some of the stuff I've seen here and elsewhere, but I'm happy with it.

Again, thanks for the welcomes and the advice.

10-28-2008, 09:12 PM	#1
R.J. Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20	armature will not move on my saw, any ideas? Hello folks, I'm new here. I picked up a used Ryobi SC164VS the other day and finally got to where I could sit down and start learning with it. My plan was to cut out a simple bluebird picture. Long story short, I reached a point where I'd finished a big cut and switched the machine off to move the blade to another pilot hole. The blade slipped out of the bottom clamp, so I got it back together, top and bottom, then switched the motor on to see if the clamps would hold. The motor was getting power, but the arms remained stuck in the upmost position. I tried adjusting the tension knob at back to loose or tight, but it didn't do anything. It's like something is really blocking those arms, but I can't imagine what. Nothing has fallen in there, and there isn't really a lot of sawdust below the work table. Should I take the saw apart completely, or does anyone have an idea what this could be? Thanks for any help.

10-29-2008, 02:23 AM	#4
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,354	Try lifting up on the bottom arm,and try pushing down on the upper arm,see if you can manually make the arms move.is it possible that one arm is in the up position while the other is in the down position??? If none of that helps, Im not sure what the trouble is. __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

10-29-2008, 06:16 AM	#6
R.J. Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20	thanks Hey all, thanks for the warm welcome. I'm glad to have found this hobby and the people associated with it. You know, not too long after I wrote that first post, I went back to the shop and fiddled with it some more, and I feel a little foolish now because the problem was so easy. What happened was, every time I was unclamping the blade to make another cut, I forgot to unwind the tension knob. So eventually, what I'd done was get it so tense that it held the arms completely up. Once I figured that out, I remembered to unwind it every time and I had no problems since. Where I mentioned loosening the knob before, I wasn't loosening it enough; the knob feels really loose, but the tension is still in the arms. I didn't know that at the time, but I've got it now. It's a silly mistake to make, but I guess it's something a newbie would be expected to do! But now that it's under control, I'm very very happy with what I've got going here. This is the pattern I tried: http://www.woodworking-patterns.com/...etbluebird.gif And it turned out beautifully. Thank you for the replies, I do appreciate the help. Last edited by R.J.; 10-29-2008 at 06:20 AM.

10-29-2008, 11:51 AM	#7
Pajaro Going back to who I am. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: How can you have fun in a place where dogs aren't allowed. Posts: 2,129 Blog Entries: 1	Don't feel bad. I have my saw set up to an external off and on switch. One day it would not turn on. I messed around with it for about two hrs trying to figure out what the problem was. Turned out i had somehow shut the switch on the saw off. DHOOOOO PS Welcome aboard. Post Pictures of your work when you can. __________________ Pájaro Pete Hombre del pájaro www.pajarostudiowns.com Member " Scrollsaw Association of the world " Excalibur EX-21 fanatic One of the Chosen few "If you play with things that can eat you, you're going to get eaten" (Tarzan) . " Last edited by Pajaro; 10-29-2008 at 02:22 PM.

10-29-2008, 02:20 PM	#9
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,929	Welcome RJ and thanks for posting your solution......it may help others at one time or another. Every bit of knowledge gained here sure does help. Happy scrolling __________________ WD

10-29-2008, 01:30 AM	#2
Sandy Oaks Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,244	Hi R J, Welcome to the site. About two months ago, I purchased a Hitachi CW40 from Lowes. After about three weeks of use, the unit would not run. There was power to the motor and the circuit breaker was ok. They said it was a bad controller board. Needless to say, I returned it for a full refund and purchased a DeWalt 788. I don't know if that might be your problem. Denny

10-29-2008, 01:39 AM	#3
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,297	Hi RJ, now thats a bother. sorry I don't know your saw, but do sympathize with your problem. I do wont to welcome you to the forum. and hope you get your arms fixed. dang just when you was having fun too.

10-29-2008, 04:10 AM	#5
tomsteve Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 402	on some motors, it is possible to put an allen wrench on the end of the shaft. see iffen ya can do that and turn it over. maybe a brush got jammed.

10-29-2008, 01:45 PM	#8
Simplyme Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 199	Please post pics of the finished piece. Would love to see it.

10-31-2008, 12:49 AM	#10
R.J. Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20	one blurry photo Thanks for the welcomes! Pajaro, I got a laugh out of that. That's the kind of thing that just makes you glad if no one else saw it happen. Well, I did the bluebird pattern, and I'm really happy with how it went. The camera I have isn't too hot, but at least you can get a basic idea of what I've got here. If you could see it in person, you'd see how I was still getting the feel for it near the top of the image, but by the time I made it to the bottom, I had an idea of what was supposed to happen. I haven't had a chance to sand it or do anything else yet, as I had to leave the next morning for work, but I'd like to seal it and put a nice blue velvet behind it and frame it when I get home again. It's not exactly as nice as some of the stuff I've seen here and elsewhere, but I'm happy with it. Again, thanks for the welcomes and the advice.

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