Powermatic 66 owners! Please help me!
| Arrived today, my second PM 66 from Amazon. This one like the other is F^&$#D up! I am really getting sick of this! Should have been up and running two seeks ago. Problems: 1) Bolt holding the wing fast for shipping came off and dropped in the carton scratching the saw base. Haven’t checked it for flatness yet (my greatest concern). 2) When adjusted fully to 0 degrees the front of the center trunnion lifts. I can hear, feel and see slop in the union of the front and center trunnion (half moons)! Same issue as the last one! I am just about ready to burst! In speaking with PM from the last saw seems I need to adjust the front trunnion tighter to the center by loosing the bolts and prying on the front trunnion (with the top off). On my time! Seems this saw, after two assemblies and added adjustment is really costing me alot of $$$! Not to mention the down time! Anyone with a new PM 66 have the same issue? I was also told to adjust the tilt worm gear but that shouldn’t hold the center trunnion tight to the front, it should be tight from the get go, hanging on the trunnion assembly! I am ready to have them take it back all together and get a General or Uni. Any advise regarding this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, JP |
Replies
Call them, tell them you want a tech there immediately to fix the saw. Tell them there is at least a hundred wood working forums on the web, you will post to every one of them with your problems with Jet= powermatic.
I am pretty sure you will get quick action. If this is not the case, send it back, get a refund and if you have a local distributor of any other major brand of saw you like, buy it .A local distributor will give you service . Personally I would buy the Grizzly G1023 with the classic fence. I have this saw going on five years now with no problems at all. You were expecting the same quality tool that PM was known for for many years, unfortunately Powermatic, Delta and many other companies have let the quality control slip. Most of these tools are not made in the USA , Grizzly isn't made here either but my saw cost me $ 750.00 delivered in 2000, I believe that was the correct price. For the $2600.00 or so the PM costs, it should be perfect, and come with an operator for a year for that price.
Wood Mag had some scoring problems with the PM due to a faulty arbor during their cabinet saw test in October 2003. They had to send the saw back and PM sent them another one....don't know if there's any similarities with the problems. Ironically, the Jet also had some scoring problems, but not as pronounced as the PM.
You're more patient that I am. I'd pick the General any day over the PM. The PM is a nice saw, but seems more prone to quality issues in recent years, which makes me wonder are they really built to the same standard they used to be?
Most people that have examined and used these two saws side by side acknowledge the beef and smooth performance of the General. It's extremely rare to hear of problems with a 350 or 650, and General has not cheapened any aspect of the manufacturing process that I know of. It's a family owned business that doesn't have to answer to stock holders.
Sorry to hear about the issues you're having and I hope everything works out well.
Edited 3/11/2005 5:49 pm ET by sliversRus
Edited 3/11/2005 5:50 pm ET by sliversRus
Tech guy coming out Monday. Hope he can adjust it to my satisfaction.
Jay, I'm a little late, seeing you have the rep coming to your place. I trust all is set up
so you can enjoy the PM. I have a pm 66 I bought from a woodworking machine
outlet in cincinnati in 1988. I love this saw . I have not had 1 problem and use it on a
daily basis.I just replaced the contacts in the on/off switch. thats it. best of luck. I
hate to hear about things like this RE: Jet buying pm, because I'm thinking or was
thinking of buying a pm jointer. But now I will look real hard @ others.
myron
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