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Lubing Plastic Gears In The Tablesaw.

3K views 34 replies 16 participants last post by  jumbojack 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'd like others help on what I should use for lubing the plastic gears in my tablesaw for miter cut arbor tilt. I've had my hitachi c10fl table saw for several years now and the plastic gears for rotating the blade have never been lubed since I've had brand new from Lowes thus it's now a struggle to tilt the blade.

Thanks
 
#2 ·
Well, I've not used it on plastic gears, but Johnson's Paste Wax has always been my choice for lubricating my table saws. I apply it with an old tooth brush. The surface of it dries so sawdust doesn't stick to it, but it stays in place
and lubricates like heavy petroleum grease. It's also the only thing that I use on my tape tops to reduce friction and also prevent rust. It would seem that it should work on your plastic gears too. I only use a Teflon base dry lubricant on bearing points of the shafts, etc. where the paste wax doesn't flow into. Gears and ways always get the paste wax.

Charley
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've heard white lithium grease, but I have concerns of it attracting clogging with sawdust. Paste wax I use on table top as well, I never thought about using it on the gears.
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
I would like to say to use some sort of silicone spray, but with my experience silicone spray doesn't seam to last that long under high friction, one thing too, is no matter what lube you use in will still hold onto the saw dust. silicone spray not so much though. ( plastic gears) why
On earth would and do they put them in power tools is beyond me. But the other thing I think you should do is maybe call a power tool service center and maybe ask them what they would do or not do in dealing with plastic gears in such a tool. Try calling Hitachi, it might be a common situation.
 
#7 ·
It's a learning process Mrkixx, now if and when the time comes that I swap the saw out for a new saw, I'll be sure to take a look inside to see how it ticks.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
Blackie, plastic gears are often self-lubricating if kept clean. Your problem might not be the gears themselves, but the other points in the crank chain. You probably have bearings and guides that could use oiling and perhaps trunnions that could use cleaning and lubing. Any parts that move during the process of adjusting the angle may be the source or sources of the added friction.

I built this jig and have seldom angled my blade recently.
 
#11 ·
Oh perhaps I just need to look at the bigger picture? Alan I remember that jig and have it saved to my favs but I just want the full function of my tablesaw as I should. :)
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Randy,

I recently experienced a problem with gears and I was getting a rumbling noise from my grizzly cabinet saw. Thought the worst . "I'm going to have to replace bearings." Grizzly even provides a video for this task. While I use to do maintenance on my craftsman once a year I seem to have slipped in that dept. I didn't have to remove the table which is a beast for one whoosie guy. I had wood chips that had fallen in hard to reach places and my dust collector seems to have less suction. combination of the two produced really hard turning of the wheels to adjust height and angle. Once I had thoroughly cleaned the saw and lubed with silicon spray it was its old self again. Thank the Wood Sprites ! Got to do more regular maintenance. Inside and out. Paste wax??? Only been using it on saw blades and small hand tools to prevent rust, and to wax the table saw top.
 
#23 ·
Hey Grizz, that was all in caps.

sorry guys, I'm in a bit of a fog. Having breathing problems and sleeping problems. The medication I got from the doctor isn't helping. whaaaa! First time in 15 years due to the intense rain the plants , wild flowers and rag weed are out in force.

Got to get some ADVIL my head is killin me.

Later
 
#24 ·
oh im so so sorrry tom…...i go through this every year, and as usual…it makes me feel so sleepy…..i bet living in the antarctic is the answer…..i will have them build a huge igloo, like 200 feet long and 100 fooot wide, an indoor pool…yea…welll anyway sorry to digress here randy, i hope you find the right solution, what about wd40, or is that too obvious
 
#25 ·
We sure could use some rain down here, I went and picked up some of that dry lube with teflon in it, can't remember the name, I picked it up at Lowes. Going to give it a try.

Hope you get to feeling better Tom and Grizz keep on trucking on.
 
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