Replies

1. 
   [email protected] | Jun 02, 2011 07:28pm | #1

   Just so we know where we are starting from:  Has it ever been in alignment? 

   If so has it suddenly changed or is this the result of long term drift? 

   How are you measuring the blade offset from the miter slot:  Do you have a Truing/Sanding plate, or are you using a blade?

1. 
   JeremyClarkson | Jun 03, 2011 11:12am | #3

   It has suddenly shifted. I have made many a small boxs in the past with perfectly mitred corners so it was in alignment. As a rule, I typically check it every 6 months or so it is way out now. I am measuring the offset with a dial caliper attached to the mitre gauge. For reference I am using a brand new Forrest blade.

   Mark

2. 
   hammer1 | Jun 03, 2011 07:26am | #2

   Contractor saws go out of alignment due to the motor hanging off the back, weight and vibration. Usually, adjustments to the rear mounted yoke are enough but you may have to loosen one of the mounting bolts at the front of the trunion when it's out a lot.. You can lay a straight edge against the body of the blade, not touching the carbide tips. The length of the straight edge will magnify any discrepancy more so than just measuring front and back of the blade.

   
3. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 04, 2011 03:41pm | #4

   What you are seeing is generally caused by the trunnion being out of parallel.  Here is how Delta says to fix it.

   You need to remove the blade and leave it at maximum height. Place a flat plate(at least 6"x8") on top of the 2 tie-bars.  Use a 3/8" piece of steel but wood or plywood will work as long as its perfectly flat.  A pane of glass works well.  .Depress one corner of the plate and if it rocks,the tie-bars are not paralell.  To correct,loosen the tie-bar locknuts located at the rear of the saw. Grasp the motor bracket and move it to the left and or right.  Check the rocking of the plate and when it no lnger rocks,the tie-bars are paralell. Re-tighten the locknuts.  As a side note alternately tighten one nut then the other a little at a time or else you move the alignment off ever so slightly.

   After you have the trunnions parallel, go through an alignment process making sure your blade is absolutely parallel to the miter slot and that the fence is parallel to the miter slot

1. 
   JeremyClarkson | Jun 06, 2011 01:29pm | #5

   Howie,

   Thank you! It took about ten minutes to resolve once I knew what to look for.

   Thanks again!!

   Mark

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 06, 2011 02:58pm | #6

   Yup, it's pretty straight forward.  I don't know why Delta (and other makers of Delta clone contractor saws) don't include it in their instruction manual.