Radial Arm Saw Re-Assembly

[HenryHH]

I have just inherited a Craftsman radial arm saw, model 11329411. It's pretty heavy so to move it, I decided to take the motor assembly off the arm and carry them separately. That was a good idea but I went about it wrongly. Thinking that the cap at the front of the arm prevents the rollers from coming off the arm, I removed it. It came out easily, along with the shaft that disengages to allow the arm to swing. I should have left it on and simply taken out the hex-screw that really does stop the motor from coming off. Anyway, the problem is that I cannot seem to get the shaft to reengage with the mechanism at the back of the arm to lock/unlock the arm swing. Any advice on how to do that would be greatly appreciated. The arm is currently locked.

For reference, here's a diagram of the unit. I'm trying to get part 24 to engage with parts 25 and 26.

http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_png/PLDM/00037135-00001.png

 

[My Old Tools]

So did the shaft #24 come unscrewed from the latch pin #54? Did the latch work before disassembly? If so (if the latch pin wasn't frozen in the latch ring, common) then the pin maybe laying in the arm somewhere. Tip it forward and bump it a bit to see if it drops out.

 

[HenryHH]

So did the shaft #24 come unscrewed from the latch pin #54? Did the latch work before disassembly? If so (if the latch pin wasn't frozen in the latch ring, common) then the pin maybe laying in the arm somewhere. Tip it forward and bump it a bit to see if it drops out.

The latch did work before I took it apart. I believe you have given me the information I need, though. I didn't know that the shaft is meant to be screwed to the latch pin. When I get a chance I'll see if I can get it screwed back on. It will probably take a fair amount of trial and error. I'll report back here (but it may not be until Monday). Thank you so much for your quick reply.

 

[HenryHH]

I managed to get it back together. If anyone with a similar problem sees this thread, my recommendation is to remove the knob and assembly from the near end of the shaft. When you do that, be careful to keep the pieces in order, so you know how to put them back on when you are done. That will allow you, with some auxiliary lighting, to see where the other end is without having to guess. If the pin is engaged in the cogs (if the arm does not swing), you will probably need to remove the lower pin first (26 on the diagram here: http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_png/PLDM/00037135-00001.png). To do that, fit the rear end of the shaft over it and turn counterclockwise until it comes out of its threaded hole. With that removed, you should be able to get the flange on the end of the shaft into the slot on the upper pin (number 25) and pull it out. Try to pull it most of the way out but not all the way (which is tricky because you don't know how far is too far until it falls out). If it comes all the way out (as is likely), you'll need something to hold it that lets you get it back into it's hole. I used a 3/4 inch socket on a long extension and that worked quite well. Then, with the upper pin just into it's hole, fit the lower pin into the shaft, position the flange on the end of the shaft in the slot on the upper pin, and thread the lower pin into its hole. It's a bit fiddly but it's doable. Once that's done, it's a simple matter to reassemble the knob on the front of the shaft.