Table Saw binds when blade lowered
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I have a General International 10 inch table saw, model 50-200R, 10 months old. The raise and lowering mechanism worked like silk when new, and still does, however when the blade is raised to its highest position to change blades, it won’t lower. In other words, I can feel a binding in the mechanism through the handwheel. As the motor is attached to this mechanism, it provides a bit of leverage to grab hold and with a slight hank, something releases in the mechanism and the handwheel once again is easy to turn and lower the mechanism. Nothing seems bent or loose upon cursory inspection.
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You're going to need to get to where you can see the mechanism more clearly. It sounds like one of two things: (1) somre sawdust or chips or something has gotten into the pivot or the lifting mechanism, or (2) the lead screw (if there is one) is going just a little bit too far and its nut is jamming.
If it were me, I'd get a good bright light and a helper. I'd remove the throat plate and the blade, and then carefully study what's happening while the helper cranks the balde all the way up, and then yanks on the motor. With luck you can see the problem w/o having to remove the table.
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