Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 11, 2007 01:58am | #1

   Sorry to be slow in my response but I needed to get inside of a Unisaw to be sure of my answer.

   I looked in two Unisaws of different vintages, and while all of the parts were different, the basic layout of the components was the same in both saws.

   The arbor of the saw is moved up and down by a gear segment that meshes with a worm gear mounted on a shaft turned by the blade height handwheel. If you look inside the saw cabinet, you can see this shaft, which is a half inch or so in diameter, running from the handwheel all the way to the back of the machine. The shaft is about ten inches below the underside of the top. The noise you are hearing is most likely caused by the bearings that support this shaft being out of oil.

   The shaft's bearings are simply holes drilled through the cast iron front and rear trunnions. At low speeds, a steel shaft running in cast iron is actually a good bearing as long as it is kept lubricated. All you need to do is apply a light oil like "3 in 1" to each point where the the shaft goes into or out of the castings. If you raise and lower the blade, and possibly tilt it, you should be able to get at all of the points that need oiling.

   While you are at it apply a wax like ordinary furniture wax or a stick lubricant to the worm gear to make that run smoothly.

   John White

1. 
   MikeEd | Oct 12, 2007 05:53am | #2

   John:

   No apology is necessary.  Your research and answer are  worth the wait.  I am very greatfull.

   MIKE EDWARDS

    

    

2. 
   n1k86 | Oct 13, 2007 06:21pm | #3

   I have an old unisaw (1940's) and whenever I adjust the bevel, there is a similar problem as the one discussed above. Would the same course of action be appropriate just on the bearings for the bevel adjust shaft? Thanks for any help,
   Nick

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 15, 2007 03:13am | #4

   The tilt and height mechanisms are almost identical so lubricating the shaft and gear on the bevel control should solve a similar problem there also.John White

1. 
   sapwood | Oct 30, 2007 03:03am | #5

   I have had a Unisaw for twenty-five years and have found that squirting lubrication oil onto the worm gears that move the trunnions will eliminate any squeek. I've never lubed the bearings, but perhaps when squirting the worm gear I'm also lubing them. I use LPS #1. WD-40 will also work.