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Thoughts of freeing up a seized part...

Thrashingcows

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I picked up an old Craftsman radial arm saw for free a while back, had been left out in the elements for a number of years.

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I have been working on getting everything cleaned up and working as it should and have only one area I can not get working again. It's the arms left and right movement that is seized solid. I have heat cycled it a dozen times or more with torch or heat gun then soak in PB Blaster, Tranny fluid, and other penetrating fluids, used brass hammer and punches to smack around the offending area, run it twice now through an electrolysis bath for several days but no luck.

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As it currently sits...

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I agree with the acetone/atf mixture. But you would probably want to find a way to cover and seal the container and part while it soaks for a few days, so the acetone does not evaporate too quickly.
 
I could be totally wrong here but are you sure that's made to rotate and not just elevate? Doesn't look to be a compund
 
I could be totally wrong here but are you sure that's made to rotate and not just elevate? Doesn't look to be a compund

Yes it is supposed to rotate, there is a degree wheel on the top and there is all the mechanisms and rod inside the the arm to lock the arm in place when it is moved, all pulled apart now. ;)
 
Did you get the locking mechanism loose. Maybe see what parts are inside by obtaining a online manual.

Good luck. They are handy when you need one.

(The motor runs?)
 
Did you get the locking mechanism loose. Maybe see what parts are inside by obtaining a online manual.

Good luck. They are handy when you need one.

(The motor runs?)

Yup motor fired right up after all that sitting which is why I thought I would clean it up and use it. Every part for the arm locking mechanism is out so there is no chance of it being locked.

I think the tolerances are so tight between those two parts that the little bit of rust that has formed between the two has essentially welded them together. :(
 
Can you soak with evapo rust and keep wet?
 
lock the bottom down and get a 6 or 8 ft 2x4 , or whatever will fit in the arm, stick it inside and use it as a giant cheater to break it free. work it back and forth while lubing it up.
 
I have heard of another trick to free up seized bolts, but have not tried it myself. I read that melting candle wax with heat into rusted parts works. They say the melting wax will get into the parts and help free them up. There are threads on the web about it, but I have never tried it.... yet....
 
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