A scroller's worst nightmare..... - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

bearfretworks · 11-02-2006, 05:26 PM

...time to find the DeWalt service center closest to me.....

Working on the last batch of ornaments for the swap when "it" happened. The most awful clunking, vibrating, "missing engine" sounds emanating from my DW788. I stopped, turned it back on and same sounds. Turned it off and stripped off the upper arm covers - nothing obviuosly wrong visible. Blew it out with compressed air......same "bad" sounds - you know....the ones that "sound" expensive!

I'll keep you posted

Oh, and I did get all the ornaments done.......not my "best" effort, but pretty good. Went for a simple pattern, only 7 internal cuts and a little veining....pictures to come.....

pete00 · 11-02-2006, 05:30 PM

bummer....sorry to hear that, looks like you'll have to raise your prices

pete

workin for wood · 11-02-2006, 06:01 PM

That's like the sort of thing that happens to me with my hawk..and it is sure to happen on saturday morning, so that I can't even get parts sent out till monday, putting the saw on hold for a week. Usually for me it's the fingers that hold the lower blade holder in place..they are thin aluminum and they snap off over time. Finally now they sent me extra's since it occurs every few months...god forbid they should just fix the source of the trouble to begin with.
Sorry bout your luck...I feel you pain. At least you finished your cutting.

Dusty Buffalo · 11-02-2006, 06:02 PM

I know that horrible sound all too well. Happened to my Dremel saw about a year after I bought. But they fixed it, replaced the motor actually and it works better than before.

At least you got our ornaments cut. That's the most important thing.

Greenfield_Bob · 11-02-2006, 10:50 PM

I think there a place in Barrow, AK that will fix it.

Bob

bronco · 11-03-2006, 02:32 AM

Barry,
Sorry to hear about your saw,hope you can get it fixed soon.
Bill

MikeDingas · 11-03-2006, 03:08 AM

Ouch. that's gotta hurt. Hope you get things fixed soon.

Begs a question, though. I have an inexpense Craftsman 16" model that I'm quite please with. The only quick access is a panel on the left of the motor housing held by two screws. Can't see any wear and tear here, though. Should one take off the other covers and inspect the parts getting the most wear periodically?

Mike

lucky788scroller · 11-03-2006, 03:15 AM

Wow Barry, That sucks. And, right at the beginning of busy season! You can come borrow one of mine if you wish. Dale

William Young (SE BC) · 11-03-2006, 03:24 AM

You might be able to fix it yourself if it is what it sounds like. Many DeWalts have started that loud knocking sound after so many hours of use. There is an adjustment on the rod that goes from front to back and it is located under the switch cover. Some can be adjusted several times before no more adjustment can be made. I did mine three times over a period of a couple years before the wear was too excessive to be corrected..
Rather than try to explain the procedure here for adjusting it, Rick Hutcheson has the procedure in his site.
http://www.scrollsaws.com/
Scroll down on the left side to DeWalt tune up and I hope that helps you out.
Be prepared for lots of fiddling of taking it apart and adusting and putting it back together to test and usually takes several tries to get it right but that is the same thing a dealer would charge you to fix it..
Good luck on that.
W.Y.

bearfretworks · 11-03-2006, 04:43 AM

William.....if this works, SHARON will kiss you for me!!

Thanks.

11-02-2006, 05:26 PM	#1
bearfretworks Retired Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buse Township, MN Posts: 1,367	11/24 UPDATE...A scroller's worst nightmare........ ...time to find the DeWalt service center closest to me..... Working on the last batch of ornaments for the swap when "it" happened. The most awful clunking, vibrating, "missing engine" sounds emanating from my DW788. I stopped, turned it back on and same sounds. Turned it off and stripped off the upper arm covers - nothing obviuosly wrong visible. Blew it out with compressed air......same "bad" sounds - you know....the ones that "sound" expensive! I'll keep you posted Oh, and I did get all the ornaments done.......not my "best" effort, but pretty good. Went for a simple pattern, only 7 internal cuts and a little veining....pictures to come..... __________________ I love the smell of burnt gunpowder.....it reminds me of a full freezer Last edited by bearfretworks; 11-24-2006 at 09:32 PM.

11-02-2006, 05:30 PM	#2
pete00 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 260	bummer....sorry to hear that, looks like you'll have to raise your prices pete __________________ Pete Ripaldi --------------------------------- "Insert Clever Tag Line Here..."

11-02-2006, 06:01 PM	#3
workin for wood Master Scroller Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Eaton Rapids Michigan Posts: 2,474	That's like the sort of thing that happens to me with my hawk..and it is sure to happen on saturday morning, so that I can't even get parts sent out till monday, putting the saw on hold for a week. Usually for me it's the fingers that hold the lower blade holder in place..they are thin aluminum and they snap off over time. Finally now they sent me extra's since it occurs every few months...god forbid they should just fix the source of the trouble to begin with. Sorry bout your luck...I feel you pain. At least you finished your cutting. __________________ Jeff Powell

11-02-2006, 06:02 PM	#4
Dusty Buffalo Southern Cheesehead Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 350	I know that horrible sound all too well. Happened to my Dremel saw about a year after I bought. But they fixed it, replaced the motor actually and it works better than before. At least you got our ornaments cut. That's the most important thing. __________________ Kelly "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." Walt Disney

11-02-2006, 10:50 PM	#5
Greenfield_Bob Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,417	I think there a place in Barrow, AK that will fix it. Bob __________________ Delta P-20 & Q-3 Ever notice that anyone going slower than you is an idiot, but anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

11-03-2006, 02:32 AM	#6
bronco Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 296	Barry, Sorry to hear about your saw,hope you can get it fixed soon. Bill __________________ Delta P-20

11-03-2006, 03:08 AM	#7
MikeDingas Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 823	Ouch. that's gotta hurt. Hope you get things fixed soon. Begs a question, though. I have an inexpense Craftsman 16" model that I'm quite please with. The only quick access is a panel on the left of the motor housing held by two screws. Can't see any wear and tear here, though. Should one take off the other covers and inspect the parts getting the most wear periodically? Mike

11-03-2006, 03:15 AM	#8
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Wow Barry, That sucks. And, right at the beginning of busy season! You can come borrow one of mine if you wish. Dale

11-03-2006, 03:24 AM	#9
William Young (SE BC) Scroller/Turner Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wynndel, British Columbia Canada Posts: 710	You might be able to fix it yourself if it is what it sounds like. Many DeWalts have started that loud knocking sound after so many hours of use. There is an adjustment on the rod that goes from front to back and it is located under the switch cover. Some can be adjusted several times before no more adjustment can be made. I did mine three times over a period of a couple years before the wear was too excessive to be corrected.. Rather than try to explain the procedure here for adjusting it, Rick Hutcheson has the procedure in his site. http://www.scrollsaws.com/ Scroll down on the left side to DeWalt tune up and I hope that helps you out. Be prepared for lots of fiddling of taking it apart and adusting and putting it back together to test and usually takes several tries to get it right but that is the same thing a dealer would charge you to fix it.. Good luck on that. W.Y. __________________ http://www.picturetrail.com/willyswoodcrafting The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us Delta P-20 Scroll Saw, 14" x 43" Craftex Wood Lathe and Jet 10" Mini Lathe .

11-03-2006, 04:43 AM	#10
bearfretworks Retired Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buse Township, MN Posts: 1,367	William.....if this works, SHARON will kiss you for me!! Thanks. __________________ I love the smell of burnt gunpowder.....it reminds me of a full freezer Last edited by bearfretworks; 11-03-2006 at 04:46 AM.

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