Porter Cable 375SS - Problem

[BobG]

A couple of months ago, I bought a new Port Cable PCB375SS at Lowes.  Relied a lot on the brand name.  Maybe that's a mistake.  At any rate, I noticed several posts here referring to blade wobble.  My first "assignment" was kind of a quick mass production job to cut a bunch of cardinals from 3/16" balsa.  Not real tough for me or the saw.  That said, when viewed from the front, the blade's movement just didn't look right.  Seemed like there was some sort of lateral movement. 

Took it to Stanley / B&D shop and they said "it's normal."

 

Eventually, I videoed it.  You can see it here:

https://www.hightail.com/download/dDZGeVdrMVgrV3hBSXRVag

 

In the last couple days, I started opening up covers to try to learn more.  This is what I found:

 

Took rear covers off the saw, which exposes the back end of the top and bottom rocker arms, plus the connecting bar. Tried wiggling the arms side-to-side. No movement. Seemed pretty tight.

 

Looked down tube housing upper arm towards blade end. Could see the "Special Bolt" on which the arm rocks. Access is hidden behind Porter Cable label on right side.. Very reluctant to access.

1. Looked down tube housing lower arm. Can't really see through. "special bolt" is accessible. Looks like it can be removed or whatever with hefty hex key. Looking again, it appears that two different size hex keys are used here. No idea why. Again, didn't touch it!
2. Removed plastic cover from left side, opposite motor. Blade is under normal tension. Again, everything seems pretty tight. Tried rotating the "eccentric" as motor would turn it, observing blade. At table level,
   • At start of up-stroke, blade clearly shifts to the right, about 3/64". No slop to blade at that point.
   • During upstroke, blade remains in that right-shift position.No real slop.
   • At start of down-stroke, blade clearly shifts to left.
   • During entire down-stroke, blade stays in the left-shift position.
   • If "eccentric" rotation is reversed so that blade direction is reversed, blade position shifts. Example: during down-stroke, when blade is in its left-shift position, if I reverse direction, blade will shift to right.
   • Further note - resistance is encountered when blade switches from down-stoke to up-stroke. Opposite holds true also.
3. Tried to observe action of connecting bar at rear. Checking at about the midpoint of the bar,
   • On the bar's up-stroke, it shifted to the right side of the saw.
   • Conversely, on the bar's down-stroke it shifted back to the left.
4. I tried to gauge how much movement there was at the front of the arm, but found that much more difficult to do. My guess is that the maximum shift was 1/32". I finally gave up trying to gauge the movement at the front of the lower arm. Bad view, angles, light, and all that stuff.
5. I tried to gauge how much movement there was at the front of the arm, but found that much more difficult to do. My guess is that the maximum shift was 1/32". I finally gave up trying to gauge the movement at the front of the lower arm. Bad view, angles, light, and all that stuff.

I'm trying to avoid returning it to Lowes, but I think I'm just about to that point.  Any comments from anyone?

[ike]

I bought one from Loews when my dw788 was in the repair shop. I was going to use as a backup saw.  Well I took it back on the 3rd day it was a piece of junk. The man in the tool dept wasn't too happy about it but the book said that you could return it with in 90 days  for a full refund.. I would take it back and but something better buy the best that your budget will allow.

IKE

[hotshot]

Yep, from the video, side to side looks excessive.  I would probably be returning it, and if you can afford, jump up to the 788 or Delta.  You would be shocked at the difference that would make.

Edited March 18, 2017 by hotshot

[BobG]

It always annoys me when I buy something that basically doesn't work like it should.  Guess this is just another example.  If i could get rid of the lateral movement - which is terribly consistent - I'd still keep it for the minimal use it's going to get.  Doesn't seem likely though

[WayneMahler]

That's a lot of side to side movement. Explains the vibration I had in mine.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Take it back to Lowes and do not take no for an answer. If one Lowes gives you a hard time try another. Talk to the managers.  You can do better in the saw dept though. 

[Rolf]

Looking at the video, yes that motion is not acceptable. But the first thing that I saw was that the blade was all the way to the right in the upper blade clamp. I would remove the screw on the right and replace it with a set screw so that it comes in further. that will move the blade to the left side of the slot. 

[SCROLLSAW703]

looks like several of these guys done what I suggested in the end, bob. You done all you could do. It has one one of two uses now. brad.

[ike]

read your book and highlight that you can bring it back for any reason we don't card what lowes says.. afterrunning a dw 788 it feels like a piece of junk.

IKE

if I step on any toes sorry about that.

Edited March 18, 2017 by ike

[JimErn]

So how does it cut?  the cut line should be the same size (thickness) as the blade being used.  Is it a straight line or is there wobbles?

 

It could be that what you see with no load on the blade is just immaterial to what the saw meant for..

[AK Moose Nugget]

I've noticed this side 'wobble' of the blade on my Porter-Cable. I guess I have adjusted as it doesn't affect the cut as I work.  But then again mine is only about 2 months old.

[amazingkevin]

A couple of months ago, I bought a new Port Cable PCB375SS at Lowes.  Relied a lot on the brand name.  Maybe that's a mistake.  At any rate, I noticed several posts here referring to blade wobble.  My first "assignment" was kind of a quick mass production job to cut a bunch of cardinals from 3/16" balsa.  Not real tough for me or the saw.  That said, when viewed from the front, the blade's movement just didn't look right.  Seemed like there was some sort of lateral movement. 

Took it to Stanley / B&D shop and they said "it's normal."

 

Eventually, I videoed it.  You can see it here:

https://www.hightail.com/download/dDZGeVdrMVgrV3hBSXRVag

 

In the last couple days, I started opening up covers to try to learn more.  This is what I found:

 

Took rear covers off the saw, which exposes the back end of the top and bottom rocker arms, plus the connecting bar. Tried wiggling the arms side-to-side. No movement. Seemed pretty tight.

 

Looked down tube housing upper arm towards blade end. Could see the "Special Bolt" on which the arm rocks. Access is hidden behind Porter Cable label on right side.. Very reluctant to access.

1. Looked down tube housing lower arm. Can't really see through. "special bolt" is accessible. Looks like it can be removed or whatever with hefty hex key. Looking again, it appears that two different size hex keys are used here. No idea why. Again, didn't touch it!
2. Removed plastic cover from left side, opposite motor. Blade is under normal tension. Again, everything seems pretty tight. Tried rotating the "eccentric" as motor would turn it, observing blade. At table level,
   • At start of up-stroke, blade clearly shifts to the right, about 3/64". No slop to blade at that point.
   • During upstroke, blade remains in that right-shift position.No real slop.
   • At start of down-stroke, blade clearly shifts to left.
   • During entire down-stroke, blade stays in the left-shift position.
   • If "eccentric" rotation is reversed so that blade direction is reversed, blade position shifts. Example: during down-stroke, when blade is in its left-shift position, if I reverse direction, blade will shift to right.
   • Further note - resistance is encountered when blade switches from down-stoke to up-stroke. Opposite holds true also.
3. Tried to observe action of connecting bar at rear. Checking at about the midpoint of the bar,
   • On the bar's up-stroke, it shifted to the right side of the saw.
   • Conversely, on the bar's down-stroke it shifted back to the left.
4. I tried to gauge how much movement there was at the front of the arm, but found that much more difficult to do. My guess is that the maximum shift was 1/32". I finally gave up trying to gauge the movement at the front of the lower arm. Bad view, angles, light, and all that stuff.
5. I tried to gauge how much movement there was at the front of the arm, but found that much more difficult to do. My guess is that the maximum shift was 1/32". I finally gave up trying to gauge the movement at the front of the lower arm. Bad view, angles, light, and all that stuff.

I'm trying to avoid returning it to Lowes, but I think I'm just about to that point.  Any comments from anyone?

Manufacturers i guess are cutting corners or the help doesn't care.

[Daddieo]

Hey Amazing Kevin, Can this be fixed?