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[normrp]

Hi all,

Started cutting a rock today and after about 2 inches of cut the feed quit. Tomorrow we will be taking the carriage out to see if anything is wrong under there.

The motor is turning fine and the set screws on the feed shaft collars are tight. I am thinking maybe the half nut spring is not working properly or ???

Have any of you experienced this or have any suggestions on what to check?

Thank you,

Norm

[peruano]

Does the sled pull back from the blade easily when you give up on the cut (i.e. is it wedged against the blade)? Are your guide supports clean or gunked up causing obstacles?  Is there a way to put additional force on the feed dog (clamp or rubber band) to see if the spring weakness is the issue.  When in doubt try to cut a softer or smaller rock and watch for signs of similar behavior.  When this happens its almost always resistance/friction or lack of grip at the feed dog junction.

[normrp]

Does the sled pull back from the blade easily when you give up on the cut (i.e. is it wedged against the blade)? Are your guide supports clean or gunked up causing obstacles?  Is there a way to put additional force on the feed dog (clamp or rubber band) to see if the spring weakness is the issue.  When in doubt try to cut a softer or smaller rock and watch for signs of similar behavior.  When this happens its almost always resistance/friction or lack of grip at the feed dog junction.

It is not wedged against the blade, the sled pulls back easily. The guide supports are not gunked up.

Great idea on adding more force to the feed dog. I will give that a try.

Thank you.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

How's the blade? Look at it with a little magnification.

A friend of ours started having that problem and found his notched-rim blade was getting close to where the rim was bonded to the core.

If you have a continuous or segmented rim blade the edge could be getting rounded.

Either condition will slow the blade down, or even stop it as the surface area against the blade increases.

Also be on the lookout for sludge buildup in the cut. I get that sometimes when I'm slow to change the oil on our LS-14 drop saw.

[normrp]

How's the blade? Look at it with a little magnification.

A friend of ours started having that problem and found his notched-rim blade was getting close to where the rim was bonded to the core.

If you have a continuous or segmented rim blade the edge could be getting rounded.

Either condition will slow the blade down, or even stop it as the surface area against the blade increases.

Also be on the lookout for sludge buildup in the cut. I get that sometimes when I'm slow to change the oil on our LS-14 drop saw.

Thanks.

Never would have thought of that. It is a continuous rim blade and is worn down to the core in a couple of spots. It is the blade original to the saw and we bought the saw second hand.

Any ideas on the best blade to buy? The majority of what we cut is agate.

P.S. Just searched and the MK303 blade seems to be recommended.

[Felicia]

Someone be got good use out of that blade, but it's a goner. Have fun with your new one. Mk blades are good

[normrp]

Someone be got good use out of that blade, but it's a goner. Have fun with your new one. Mk blades are good

 

[irockhound]

Reading the replies some are talking about the blade stopping or not cutting but the original comment was that the feed had stopped.  A stopped feed is most likely the half nut threads are gone.  The feed rod will still turn but not advance the sled like you mentioned.  If the blade stopped cutting but the feed was still working it would simply bend the blade till it folds or cuts into the arbor etc...   Sounded to me like half nut issue.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Hey Norm. If your blade is worn that much it might still cut a little - or still cut soft materials. Older, worn split nuts or weak springs can let the drive slip if there's that much resistance from trying to cut with a worn out blade.

We just put a 301 on our Frantom, and our friend who had issues like yours also got a 301. He really liked it. Since there's no segmented rim 303 for the 14" saws you would probably also like the 301.

[normrp]

Reading the replies some are talking about the blade stopping or not cutting but the original comment was that the feed had stopped.  A stopped feed is most likely the half nut threads are gone.  The feed rod will still turn but not advance the sled like you mentioned.  If the blade stopped cutting but the feed was still working it would simply bend the blade till it folds or cuts into the arbor etc...   Sounded to me like half nut issue.

That is where we got to also since it is not feeding with no load on it.

Thank you.

[normrp]

Hey Norm. If your blade is worn that much it might still cut a little - or still cut soft materials. Older, worn split nuts or weak springs can let the drive slip if there's that much resistance from trying to cut with a worn out blade.

We just put a 301 on our Frantom, and our friend who had issues like yours also got a 301. He really liked it. Since there's no segmented rim 303 for the 14" saws you would probably also like the 301.

We were also thinking it was the split nut.
Thank you for the blade recommendation.