Sears Craftsman 10" flex drive table saw - Page 2 - Woodworking Talk

smallrc · 10-09-2009, 03:41 PM

Greyeagle,

Thanks for sharing your experience with the flex-
drive. It sounds like a job that I don't want to
tackle. I'll just continue to use mine until it
dies (again).

Later...

Greyeagle · 10-10-2009, 11:50 PM

smallRC, others:

Thank you SmallRC ... and you're welcome.

I had reached a point of giving up on the conversion. But, by chance, I had called Grainger to check on those round belts. (Another bit of idiocy came out that effort. The rep contacted their manufacturer and it seems an engineer for the company who make round belting states that there are no specifications, performance data, or limitations published for round belts! Quoted: "They're replacement belts. There are no specs since no one designs with replacement belts." Huh???) And the young rep happened to have inherited a nice table saw from a grandfather. He said it was either a Ridgid or a Ryobi, I can't recall which, and that the motor is mounted/fixed ridgidly to the saw frame. Yet, of course, the arbor/blade carriage moves for bevel cuts and depth adjustments. The interesting thing about this is that apparently, the belt runs 'okay' when twisted through some 45 degrees. And he says the saw runs/cuts very well. He said he really looked carefully at it too, checking, basically, what I'd told him about the problems with the flex drive. He did mention that the belt is a 'slim' one, about 3/8ths, and that it's a 2 horse motor. If a belt will run twisted like that, then the flex/belt conversion may not be so difficult after all. But in my experience with belt drives, the cardinal no-no is misaligned sheaves. I can't see how this saw would run well. The guy promised to email several pics of the saw, and how the belt drive is designed/arranged. Will keep you posted ...

Meanwhile, I've become an avid Craigslist watcher for the saws up for sale in my area.

Best to all ...
Grey

Greyeagle · 10-15-2009, 03:37 AM

All:

An update ...

I received the photos from the guy with the 'fixed' motor mount, belt drive saw. Turns out, the motor is not fixed, but actually slides side-to-side as the bevel angle is adjusted, slaved to the arbor pulley. The saw is an ancient Sears (103-22161) saw and has worked well for many years he reports. It is v-belt driven, and is an eigth-turn drive (the driven and driver sheaves run at a 45 to each other at maximum bevel cut angle, twisting the belt). And it runs very well, from what he says.

The photos (just three) have provided enough of an idea of the concept, and confidence that it will work, that I've proceeded with having several components fabricated in the machine shop.

When I have it all together, at least as a test setup, in a couple of weeks at the outside, I will get back to you to let you know how it goes, as well as some photos.

Grey

aamartin · 11-13-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyeagle

Thanks, Rdy2go. I appreciate it.

I noticed that you appear to be one of the few who've found this saw 'workable'. And that you cut 2x6s with it. One respondent, another website, said he broke the drive cable every time he attempted to cut anything over an inch in thickness, had replaced under warranty one drive cable, broke that one shortly after, replaced it again, under warranty, then promptly sheared another one. Upon which event, he returned the saw and exchanged it for a new one. He then very soon after that broke yet another flex drive. At that point he returned the saw and got his money back. All this within three weeks of purchasing the first saw! Surely an extreme example, but from many posts I've read, reviews, it may explain why Sears only sold these saws for a short time--as saw marketing goes.

I've pretty well, sadly, reached the point another poster had reached. It just isn't practical, isn't worth the struggle, guys. It's one of the first Craftsman tools I've personally encountered, that really is bad. And I've always had a lot of faith in Craftsman tools for everyday use. Maybe not professional level, but useful, reliable, and affordable. This was/is a surprise.

Thanks again, Rdy...
Grey

I have a craftsman saw that I got from my fater, who purchased it in the 80s. My dad had updated the fence and added a couple of extentions before upgrading to a cabnit saw and giving me this one. I have to say that I and my dad before me have never had any issues with it. As long as you have a good blade on it and don't go too fast it works fine. I have ripped 2x6s and also cut a lot of hardwood up to 2" I believe. The flex drive scares me every time I turn it on though it tends to flap around until the blade comes up to speed.

I wouldn't invest in converting it to belt or drive and at this point and if the shaft broke and I couldn't locate another quickly I would probably scrap it but it has done a really good job for about 20 years now (I think the flex shaft has been replaced once). It wouldn't hold up for profesional use but it has gone through a number of weekend projects.