the ss 250 Delta #121 Grommet

[DAdams]

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Hi I have a Delta SS250 scroll saw and today I was having trouble with the top blade tension.And so i checked and sure enough the rubber Grommet has fallen out. I have new ones as replacements. But My Question is How do you get the Spring Pin # 124 out so that I can put a new rubber Grommet Back in and get back to sawing?

[GrayBeard Phil]

That spring pin is a pressure fit.

You must force it out with slow steady pressure. DO NOT USE A HAMMER!!!

1st you need a pin punch: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00942885000 (THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A PIN PUNCH IS, THIS IS MAY NOT BE THE SIZE YOU NEED!)

The size should apply pressure to the metal of the spring pin, and not force it wider which of course will increase the friction fit.

You could also use some thing called a drill blank; that is a drill, but with no flutes or cutting end. That could be hard to find for the average person since the machine shop supply places are open only when you are at your day job. Metal dowel pin would work if you can find it.

You will also need a large socket from a socket wrench set.

Now comes the hard part for me --- describing the how:

Using a large C clamp-
- Align the pin punch with the spring pin
- Use a large socket that is as deep as the spring pin and algn it with where the spring pin will emerge. (This provides a place for the spring pin as you force it out)
- Now using all of your five hands (that's a joke son )
- Slowly tighten the C clamp while:
--- holding the pin punch in place,
--- holding the socket in place,
--- holding the two ends of the C clamp in place,
--- and not letting any of it fall apart,

Very slowly the spring pin will emerge. (inside the socket)
When is almost all the out be ready with your spare hand (???) to catch the blade chuck upper head assembly.

And once you have it removed, you will need the C clamp to force the pin back in. SLowly!!

Yes, there is a tool just for this job. But it is rare and I cannot find a link for it. $$$$ and it is used just for removing spring pins.

Gosh I wish I could explain this better.

Phil

[CanadianScroller]

Not sure if this would work due to the dimensions but the tool used for removing pins in bicycle chains may work, they are cheap.

[DAdams]

replacing the rubber Grommet on a delta SS250 saw.



Thanks for what info you have sent to help me. yes Phil i see where I need 5 hands to do this job. when starting to remove the spring pin what is the C Clamp for? I got the socket part. Why does this have to be such a pain to fix why can't Delta change the set up for the blade tension so we don't have to deal with this mess. it to me seem like a honky setup with this rubber Grommet disk. do you think I should use silcone caulk to hold disk in place and how offen do I need to replace this rubber Grommet?

[Mick Walker]

DAdams, I had an older 20" Delta scrollsaw with the rubber grommet, every time I broke a blade before I could turn the thing off the the rubber grommet would vibrate out. I called Delta and the fellow I talked to suggested that I use silicone caulk to hold it in place. Worked great, never came out again. I now have a Delta P-20 with a much improved tension system. Mick.

[DAdams]

p-20 Saw

Hi Mick can you tell me if the tension sytem is different on a p-20 model ? do they still have the rubber Grommet disk? or what have they done to make it better the the ss250 model delta I have. I'm just Curious.

[GrayBeard Phil]

DAdams:

To Answer you questions:

...what is the C Clamp for?

The C clamp applies the pressure to remove the spring pin. You are making a horizontal Arbor Press. The force to remove the pin is greater than the force you could apply by hand. You need the leverage of the C clamp closing power to be applied to the pin punch. The Pin is extracted as you tighten the C clamp.

Don't forget, this setup is because you don't have the correct tool for the job. You, as a consumer end-user, may not have all the special tools that a machinist millwright is expected to have.

I cannot over emphasize enough that the most critical part of this is not to bend the upper arm to the left or right during the insertion / reinstallation. If you think about it, you will understand why it is so important to keep the upper and lower arm and blade chuck in the same plane for moving up and down. You don't want any force being applied left / right on the arm. You only want all the forces to be applied to the spring pin. You bend the upper arm, and your saw is Toasted. That is why it is so "Mickey Mouse."

...how often do I need to replace this rubber Grommet?

Maybe less than one every 2 years. That is provided you release the blade tension after each session. The gromett flattens out, becomes dried out and no longer performs the function it is ther for.

..what have they done to make it better than the ss250...

Yes the P20 is better, and it cost more too. The P20 is a middle of the road Scroll saw at about $500.00 range, give or take $100.00. There are several which are even better than the P20, but cost about $1000.00.

Others have added their comments about the caulk.

Phil

[DAdams]

A simpler way to replace Rubber Grommet



Hi My husband came home from Work On Weds. to help me try to get the spring pin out of the upper arm so that i could replace the rubber Grommet.He looked at the spring Pin area and said let try this first. He just unscrewed the Level handle out of the Blade tension area on the upper arm. took the little O ring off the the Eccentric and pulled the Eccentric out of the hole is sits in and the upper blade holder just rocks down towards the saw table of the scroll saw. we cleaned the area up with paint thinner to make sure that all the oil or grease was off the area where the rubber Grommet sits, got some silicone caulk put some of the rubber Grommet and put it back where it sits, replaced the Eccentric bolt looking thing Put the rubber O ring back on it screwed the Level back in place and we were finished Alot more simpler then trying to drive the spring pin out. it took him a whole 5 mins to do this.

[CanadianScroller]

Glad to see everything worked out well.

It is a very servicable saw, you should be quite happy with it.

[Mick Walker]

DAdams, the P-20 does not have the rubber grommet just a threaded lever with a small spring that you raise up to tension the blade. Very simple to adjust the tension and works great. I believe the price of a new P-20 is $479. Good luck with yours, the grommet should stay in place with the silicone. I would let it dry over night before using the saw. Mick