ss250 broke

[wwalker47]

Last week my Delta SS250 broke right at the end of the upper arm. Right were all the blade tension is located. So I took it back to Sears, where I bought it, and sense it has a 2-year warranty on it they fixed it a no cost. They put on a new upper arm.

I noticed that it was real hard to pull the tension lever before the break, I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not. To all of you that have the SS250 just beware. The scary thing is I was in Sears looking at table saws and noticed the 250 no the display shelf and it was broken at the same place my was (Ouch ). Has anyone had that same break?

I almost went through withdrawlas not getting to saw.

-Bill

[GrayBeard Phil]

Bill:

If I understand your post... (and that is not a sure bet by any means!!)

Look at page 3 of the following link (parts drawing / parts list for ss250)
http://media.ptg-online.com/media/dm...1508_SS1DA.pdf

I think what you are talking about is that the press fit roll pin call out #124 broke off, or got sheared off, in your machine.

Take notice of the item call out #121 which Delta calls a grommet. This is a small hard rubber disk about 1/2 inch in diameter and maybe 1/4 inch thick. This is an important item in the assembly of your saw.

When you flip the tension lever (items #116, #115 and #114) the upper arm tip needs to contact that small rubber grommet and compress the rubber grommet. However, that round grommet has a habit of not staying put where it belongs. You should check to see if it is there before each session.

If that grommet drops out of the upper arm assembly, you can and most likely will have tension problems which could result in your shearing off the roll pin.

That grommet cost about a dollar, and you should replace it every now and then. Say about every 50 to 60 projects IMHO. What happens is that it gets so compressed, it does not un-compress and needs to be replaced.

If you loose that grommet, don't run your saw!!!

I only have one spare left in my tool chest. It is such a PIA for me to get over to the Delta service center in my area to pick up another. Just wish other WEB stores that sell to Scroll Sawers would carry that part.

Phil

[wwalker47]

Phil-

No, the actule upper arm broke (Item #120). The whole end of the arm where the 120 is pointing in the drawing on page two. I will take notice of the gromet and the placement of it. I'll look into getting some spares.

Thanks for the replay and the helpful hint on the gromet.

-Bill

[Mick Walker]

I had an older Delta VS 20" scrollsaw with that rubber grommet that created the tension. Whenever I would break a blade before I could turn the saw off it would vibrate the grommet out of place. I would then have to disassemble the head assembly to get it back into place. I called Delta and the gentleman that I talked to told me to glue the gromment in place with silicone caulk. Which I did and it never came out again. I now have the Delta P-20 which has a much better tension system. Mick.

[wwalker47]

Mick-

Thanks for the idea of glue the gromment in place with silicone caulk. I going to do that. I didn't realize that those gromments would fall out. Maybe that's what made the brake in the upper arm in the first place. Like Phil said I think I will go to my local Delta parts store and buy me some extra gromments.

-Bill

[GrayBeard Phil]

Hmm-m-m; Silicone Caulk.

Thanks for the idea.

Phil

[jttheclockman]

Hmmm-----mmmmm ------mmmmmmmm

[bronco]

Bill,
When bought my ss-250 from lowes,a few weeks later the upper arm broke the exact same place yours did.Delta sent me a replacement with in 5 days. The reason the arm broke was because I was tightning the locknut too much which made me have to put too much pressure on the blade tension lever which broke the end of the upper arm.I have since learned from expert advice from this forum to put very little tension on the locknut.I hope this makes sense. I have not had any more problems so far.
Happy Scrolling,
Bill

[wwalker47]

Bill-

Thanks for pin pointing the problem and why it broke. Exactly which locknut would that be? The locknut for thghtening the upper blade in place? If that's the case then you have to tighten it just enough to hold the blade in, but how much is too much? I want to prevent this from happening again.

To change that grommet out how would one take the spring pin out that holds the tensioning mechanism on the saw?

BTW I got my saw back and I got to finish my project. Now for the sanding and the finishing.

[bronco]

Bill,
Tighten the locknut just enough to hold the blade in the upper chuck,
otherwise you have to pull too hard on the blade tension lever to tighten the blade. I hope this helps.
Bill