replacing slide on mk 101

[lesismore]

So I installed a new slide bar and the teflon bearings on my MK 101.

Anybody have some experience to share here. The slide bearings seemed perfect, but now that it is all put together... the table binds up.

Not sure what I did wrong.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[tilelayer]

I am not familiar with this saw but did you try to spray is with some lubricant like liquid wrench or wd-40?

[lesismore]

I pretty much hosed down with a spray silicone. I will try some other vintages.

[ceramictec]

did you tighten the bolt too tight or miss place a washer ?

[Kman]

I've been having the same problem with mine. There's a bushing that's about 1/8" thick that goes around the slide bar and inside the bracket on the tray. Did you replace that?

[tiletrends]

It's an MK. Maybe buy a Felker next time.

[ceramictec]

some may think differently.
I had a Felker in 1994 and it fell apart in a year, got an MK 101 and haven't
had a problem with that saw in 16 year...go figure !

[lesismore]

KMAN, yes... I replaced the slide bearings(I think the jargon is linear bearings).

This rebuild project came about because the electroplating on the slide rusted through and the slide snagged up on the rough spots.

Re: Felker, I have only owned MK 101's. The saw sits in my cutting room and never leaves the shop... These are monster's to have to lug around. I do not have any complaints with the MK as long as I can rebuild it when it falls apart.

[lesismore]

MK customer support sent me a note that...

1) They are going to send me a new slide and bearings.

2) That the use of silicone spray is a negative practice... that it dries out the bearings, and that a light weight machine oil is better.

Gonna try the oil, and hope it helps. Maybe I will use the slide oil from my trumpet...

[Kman]

That the use of silicone spray is a negative practice... that it dries out the bearings,

I think I just found the answer to my problem.

[lesismore]

Yeah well... cautiously optimisitc.

THere was a time in my shop that we used WD 40... until we were advised that no, it left a residue and this was a bad thing, so we switched to spray silicone which worked fine for years... Maybe we should have been using oil all along... I will post up the reply.

[HS345]

Silicone is a dry lubricant, not the best thing to use in a wet environment.

I spray the slide of my MK-101 down with WD-40 on a regular basis, works great.

I am not sure why there are so many people who are biased against MK saws, they last forever.

If you keep the shaft that the motor assembly slides onto clean, and lubed with white lithium grease, you can easily remove the motor assembly. Making the MK-101 just as portable as any small saw. It's not rocket science ladies and gents. You should do this anyways, since the 101 has two motor positions, one for smaller tile, and one for larger format tile.

[lesismore]

Tru that... This saw is older than my college aged son. Some of the custom features I put on are a 2 hp motor upgrade (spins at faster rpm), a set of curtain rails and plastic inserts with a dust collector port in the front and back, A spray guard clamped to the front, and a variety of cutting jigs produced by my local water jet company so I have ready made fixtures to cut the most popular sizes.

Setting the blade perpendicular to the table is always a hassle though. I am guessing this is true on all the saws of this size...

[gueuzeman]

les- good to see you here. Long time. I think we haven't spoke since wednesday.

Me, I've used WD-40 on my slide for years, so far, so good.

[thuffner3]

I had to take my slide bar off of the table.
Insert it into the carriage, the put the bolt in and chuck mydrill to the bolt and run it back and forth for a few lengths.