Easy lift on DeWalt

[Bill Wilson]

I just installed an easy lift on my Dewalt saw and I noticed a difference in how the tensioning lever felt once the spring was attached. I could move the tension lever and the arm wouldn't move at all. If I put a little downward pressure on the top arm, it would tension as normal.

I don't know if my tensioning cam is worn or what, but this is kind of an undesirable situation. Any Dewalt owners out there ever experience a similar problem?

Thanks!

[Janette]

I have the same problem. I've just gotten used to pushing down the top arm before tightening the blade. Since I put my easy lift shortly after I got the saw, I don't even remember what it was like before hand.

[minowevie]

Gosh, I realy feel alittle stupid hear. but what is a easy left? your friend Evie

[tomsteve]

what i do is use a piece of 1" by 4"-6" long and stand it on edge and set the upper arm on it when changing blades. it seems to get the arm outta the way and only takes a second after i used it fer a while.

[JohnB]

G'day Bill,
I have the same thing happen with my Dewalt and I don't have an Easylift. I find that If i put a little pressure on the top arm when changing blades it tends to "Pop" down another 2 - 3mm, If I don't do this the correct tension can not be applied to the blades.

Evie, an Easylift is a device that fits to the top arm of a dewalt and holds it up and out of the way while changing blades and or threading fret work.

[AKAkopa]

My Dewalt came with the easy lift already installed and like many have said, I need to push down on the arm in order to get the proper tension. It is now just part of my routine.

[Wood Dog]

Ditto for me.........just push it down a bit, but watch out once I started the saw while changing blade.....ouch.

[Kevin12]

Evie - I believe the Easy Lift is peculiar to the DeWalt 788. It's a third-party add on that uses a spring to hold the top arm up so you have both hands free to reposition the fret piece and rethread the blade. (Like Tomsteve said, a hunk of wood works, too, just not as "elegantly.")

Like others, it's just a part of my routine to push down a bit to make sure the blade will tension correctly.

[Bill Wilson]

Thanks for the responses everyone! It's good to know that this is a common circumstance and not a sigh of a flaw or undue wear on my saw.

Evie, the Easy Lift is also referred to as the Jim Dandy. I had been using a piece of "custom scrap" 2x4 to hold my top arm up, but have been wanting to go to this for a while now. Looks like the tensioning will just take a little getting used to.

Thanks again!

[Tor]

My saw lifts the arm out of the way for me, although I do find that my blade goes into the top clamp easier than in the bottom one. I think the blade has something to do with that. Fussing with flimsy blades is not my choice, and with other challenges of topfeeding (where is the hole in the table?) I choose to bottom feed. Of course, I don't do fretwork, which may be part of what tips the balance.

Tor