Thread: Table Top Stability

Trying to think of the various potential causes....

Start with the obvious: make sure that the 4 "feet" of the height winder are all in the slots of the workbench.

2. (And the most likely - hopefully) - make sure the locating clip (the red thing) is the right way up, and engaging the table top properly. It is very easy to have this out of position, and therefore will lift the table top up.

Hopefully this will already solve the problem. If not, post again, and we'll have to look further!

[This message has been edited by stuart_lees (edited 15 November 2002).]

Hi found i have same problem last weekend (have had hieght winder on table since new so cannot compare to how it was).I use a block mounted to mitre gauge (previous post) for better mitres ,moved my table slightly sideways & found timber being cut jammed against blade gaurd mount then noticed table top can be twisted around slightly.Looking at buying small ext table then if i dont have to take the top of table maybe screw it down somehow.But before anything to drastic will check it over this w/end.
Neal

Bit concerned to hear that there is such movement in the table top. Before going any further, try removing the saw (and height winder obviously) from the table altogether, and put the table top back on, lock it in position (as per normal), and see if you have movement.

If so, it ain't the height winder! Check that everything is tight & square and level.

If the top is secure, put the height winder & saw back without the red clip. Other than the red "clip" that engages in the table top to accurately position the saw's longitudinal position, no part of the height winder should be impacting on the table top.

Check table top stability again. As no part should be touching, the situation should not have changed at all from not having the height winder mounted.

Finally, remove the top, and replace the red clip in the right place, and the right way around. Put the top back on and recheck. If this is causing the problem, try remving it, and turning it to face the other way. The round part of the clip is obvious- it clips onto the round bar of the height winder at the end furthest away from the switch. The u shape engages into one of the horizontal girders located under the table. If you look closely at the shape of the U, you will see it actually matches the profile of the girder.

If it does not engage the girder properly, your height winder is not in the correct position fore-aft. This will result in the clip being rotated slightly, making it higher, causing the top to not sit securely.

Thanks all, i'll give these a go this evening and let you know......

How did it work out?

Will check mine out this w/end & post reply thanks for response.
Neal

Almost there! I removed the saw and winding chassis and voila, the table was stable. I checked the sliding channel lugs that attach to the frame and turned them through 180 degrees (it seems I incorrectly installed it in the first instance) and placed in position the saw and chassis. I placed the table top back in position, with the red locating lug, and the table was stable at the switch end but not so at the other end. I then removed the lug and replaced the table top and it was stable. So the culprit seems to be the lug. So tonight I'm going to file it back and try again. Will keep you posted.

I find it hard to believe that the lug is so mis-shaped you would have to file it down. First obvious question: Are you using the correct lug for your table top? I seem to remember when I bought the HW kit, it came with 2 lugs, one for the older table (or maybe mk3) and one for the new. Obviously will be a problem if you use the wrong one.
Second obvious question: if the correct lug is not sitting flush with the table underside, is there something mis-shaped about your table?
Third less obvious question: When you put the HW kit together, did you mount the square runners correctly? Remember that they mount through a small rectangular hole on the chassis and that you have to align them correctly with the rectangular tab on the runner. The orientation for the runners is OPPOSITE if you use the HW. There is a specific step in the mounting instructions to remove the runners from the chassis, rotate them 180, and refit them. If you did not do this then the chassis will be sitting 2-3mm above where it is supposed to be.
Before you go filing bits of plastic, maybe this is the culprit.

John
Thanks for your feedback. I am using the correct lug ('u'shaped one side and 'w' the other) and it isn't mishapen ( at least it doesn't look like it). In regards to the runners, it seemed I initially installed the switch-end wrong, but have since corrected them. The other end can only be installed one way. When the lug is in situ and the table top in place, the table seems atraight and square. When viewed from underneath, it all looks like it fits as it should, but the locating lug which positions itself to the reinforcing channel seems to have a bit of a gap. It seems as the upper-most prongs of the locating lug are in contact with the underside of the table causing them to sit fractionally high. It is these lugs I intend to file back a bit, unless there are other solutions. My mind is open.

Andre i have been following your post as my problem seems simular table top rocks on front panel.I fitted up mini ext table today & went thru all setups etc + as posted all ok put it all back together with dust bag & it rocked again, turned out that the dust bag velcro on the left top sliding channel is to fat to allow table top to sit down correctly so twisted it around to sit at side of channel & all is well.Thanks for tips guys.
Neal

I had this same problem. When I added the dust bag it was rocking at the front end, I ended up doing the same as above, moved the velcro and padding around a bit until it sat neatly, now it doesn't rock anymore

I manage a company that manufactures and sells consumer products. One of the things that gets up my nose is consumers who have assembled one of our products incorrectly, then "modify" the product in an attempt to overcome this. Usually, this makes the product perform even worse.

Then they come to us to make a warranty claim. Unfortunately, their modification nullifies the warranty. Why didn't they come to us in the first place? Almost invariably, the so-called fault was a failure to carefully follow assembly instructions. Although it sometimes happens, it is rare for any single unit to vary from manufacturing specs.

The consumer's premise that the manufacturer is making products that need to be modified to work properly is a strange one. When it comes to Triton products one should start from the premise that they work as designed. Thousands of their products are successfully installed in many countries around the world. If Triton identifies a shortcoming, they correct it in manufacturing and make the modifications available for retrofits. Their database is by definition larger than any single user's. They should be the first point of contact for any user experiencing problems with their products. For those of us located in Australia, we have no excuse, they are just a phone call away. My experience is that their customer service department is very helpful and capable.


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Woodchuck Canuck
Good luck is the residue of good planning!

Point taken but hey dont most of us buy stuff like this cos we enjoy tinkering & dont forget its only human to ignore the basics