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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
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    Parkside - South Australia
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    45
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    3,316

    Default Problems with GMC 16" scroll saw

    Stop the presses .... there has been a problem with a GMC scrollsaw.

    Ok, Ok so nothing unusual there.

    I purchased a GMC 16" just over 2 years ago (just past warranty of course) which has had minimal use. As I haven't used it for so long I am not sure what is usual noise and what is broken noise (both sound the same on the GMC). To be honest for $50 I didn't expect much and when it was working well it was quite good.

    I have been really pushing the limits of the machine as of late trying to cut 3mm MDF. The machine has been vibrating like mad and then yesterday the motor seemed to vibrate free from its support bracket.



    After some poor quality welding I put it back together again and it seemed to improve somewhat. Then I noticed a small ring of metal which I couldn't identify.



    After thinking about it for a while I concluded that there should be a bearing where I found the small ring of metal and it has basically disintegrated into nothing without a trace. Without the bearing this would explain the excessive vibration leading to the motor coming off its brackets (that and the initial poor quality insertion of the rivets which were so deep they penetrated the frame resulting in two rivets connected to the motor with a broken circle of frame surrounding)

    Could somebody with the same saw please take off the side panel and just check to see if my suspicions of a missing lower bearing are correct. I would think that I need to get another bearing like the top one to replace.



    With any luck there may be some life left in the old dog.

    Cheers

    Stinky.
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Moonta Bay in the Copper Triangle, S. Australia
    Posts
    822

    Default

    It may help a lot more if you can find the exact model nuber. My GMC is getting rather old, as it must be seven or eight years old by now. Still runs, but I've stopped trying cut beef bones on it.
    Buzza.

    "All those who believe in psycho kinesis . . . raise my hand".

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Newtown Geelong
    Posts
    1,878

    Default You are right Stinky

    Yes you sure need the bearing.Take it to Rob Hamilton in Gordon Ave West.They will have one.Or a nother bearing place.
    I had the later variable speed saw with the same prob. from new,and I didnt know any different for a short period.Thinking how the $8&* do people use these things.I was looking over it and noticed there was no bearing and no sign of broken bits either.
    Sent it back and the new one is great.If you cant cut 3mm MFD it is bad .I cut 19mm tas oak with ease.Worth getting some good blades also.Got mine from Jim Carrol at Drysdale.Aussie
    Back To Car Building & All The Sawdust.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Orange NSW
    Posts
    264

    Default

    The Australian Woodworker Magazine tells me that GMC has been put into the hands of the recivers

    Red Gum

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
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    Parkside - South Australia
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    3,316

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Buzza View Post
    It may help a lot more if you can find the exact model nuber.
    I just found an old post of when they were on sale the receipt states that the model number is MTR800 and the box RSS170. I don't think that there is a model on the machine itself.

    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE View Post
    Yes you sure need the bearing.Take it to Rob Hamilton in Gordon Ave West.They will have one.Or a nother bearing place.
    I had the later variable speed saw with the same prob. from new,and I didnt know any different for a short period.Thinking how the $8&* do people use these things.I was looking over it and noticed there was no bearing and no sign of broken bits either.
    Sent it back and the new one is great.If you cant cut 3mm MFD it is bad .I cut 19mm tas oak with ease.Worth getting some good blades also.Got mine from Jim Carrol at Drysdale.Aussie
    Thanks Aussie ..... after some deliberation I expected as much. I purchased some decent blades from Jim Carrol and Harris Traders .... no problems with either. When the machine was running it was fairly good for the price but it must have been deteriorating over time and as it was used so infrequently I mustn't have picked up the lack in performance (or the increased sound). Do you know if Rob Hamilton is open on Saturday mornings? (Just found a web page - 8:30-12.00) I can picture in my mind the facade of a bearing place (in North Geelong I think) but I cant recall where it is .... I might have to look up the yellow pages (Looks like it may be another outlet for Rob Hamilton). I am just wating to find when I get to the bearing place that they tell me they are GMC special and not standard size .

    Oh and in reply to the other thread ..... Lara.
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Newtown Geelong
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    1,878

    Default How Didya Go With it Smelly

    How Didya Go With it Smelly
    Back To Car Building & All The Sawdust.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Parkside - South Australia
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    45
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AUSSIE View Post
    How Didya Go With it Smelly
    Hey Aussie,

    I went to Rob Hamilton Bearings in Thompson Road (not the one I was originally thinking it was) on Saturday morning. I felt fairly stupid walking in asking for a single bearing (a bit like going to a bolt specialist to purchase a single washer). I often find it difficult going to these specialist stores with such a small request as they generally treat you like a fool and aren't interested in helping.

    The guy at Rob Hamilton was completely different and was very helpful in light of the fact that I only needed one bearing. He was more than happy to measure it up and then go searching for it. As I felt embarrassed asking for one bearing I got two (one for a backup). I got a bit of a shock when I was told that they were $6 each ..... adding 25% to the value of the saw (I have never bought a bearing before so I had no idea how much they would be).

    Quite a simple process to refit. Fortunately there was minimal damage caused to the saw by not running with a bearing for I don't know how long. With the new bearing it is now running like it should .... compared to how it was running I am surprised I didn't pull it apart earlier. Very happy to get it back up and running for only a few dollars ..... I was expecting to have to get a new machine based on the sounds it was making.

    Thanks for the help
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Orange NSW
    Posts
    264

    Default

    I don't think there is any need for embaresment asking for a small item such as one small bearing. I have done such a thing many times at out local specilist supplier and they are used to supplying the Newcrest Gold Mine who big as in big. They are always very willing so give me service which I apreciate but also know that I am going to pay a big mark up on such a small item. lets face it somthing worth a dollar with a 200% mark up isn't going to put me in the poor house.

    Also there are many small but expensive machines out there that need small parts to get them going again and I don't hink the repairers blink an eye lid asking for a small item.

    Good on you for getting your saw back into working order.

    An old proverb that I have neaver forgotten.

    They who are to big to do small things are to small to do big things

    Red Gum

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Eltham
    Posts
    5

    Smile Same problem ...same bearing!!!

    Hi All,

    First time on this forum and unbelievably found this thread with exactly the same problem I have with my GMC scroll saw. Obviously not a great design. If you look at all the other (better, more expensive) saws you will notice they all have the motor mounted at right-angles to the blade arms. hence they are smoother and do not need the spherical bearings. I'm not sure which one of you actually bought the new bearings at Rob Hamilton but if you still have the invoice could I please have the part number for the bearings. I have spoken to the guys at Rob Hamilton Geelong but it is not easy doing it over the phone (I am in Melbourne). Thanks....

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Newtown Geelong
    Posts
    1,878

    Default

    CAMERAF you could send a PM to Sirstinkalot,he was the last one I know of that replaced the bearing.Have a look around the saw,for bearing bits.I have seen a few of these so called failed bearings on the scroll saws (GMC) 200w variable speed.
    I havent seen any bearing bits laying around them at all.Makes you think there was no bearing placed on shaft in the first place. Maybe whoever was putting them together was keeping them or something.When bearing is replaced they run smooth,no more troubles with mine anyway.
    seeing you are new I will send a PM to stinky for you.
    Cameraf.
    I just had another look at Stinkys photos.His saw is one with the motor sticking out the side like you said all good saws have!!! Maybe it is a different bearing number for that one.
    Undo the screw that holds the bearing plate in and have a look at the number on the other bearing.I think they are both the same.
    Any bearing supply joint around your area would have the bearing.Just take the plate along and they will fix you up.Or maybe stinky will sell you the spare one he has
    Back To Car Building & All The Sawdust.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Eltham
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Thanks Aussie, I will have a good look but the people at CBC Bearings say it looks like a $20 plus bearing and they would need to order it in from O/S. Maybe it was a different saw. Mine is the 405mm Variable Speed Saw model with lazer red eye.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Newtown Geelong
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cameraf View Post
    Thanks Aussie, I will have a good look but the people at CBC Bearings say it looks like a $20 plus bearing and they would need to order it in from O/S. Maybe it was a different saw. Mine is the 405mm Variable Speed Saw model with lazer red eye.
    I think they are having you on.I PMed Stinky for you .See what he says.
    Back To Car Building & All The Sawdust.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Parkside - South Australia
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    Default

    CAMERAF .... unfortunately I didn't get a part number. The day I went in there was a blackout in the suburb for some reason so all of their computers were down. It ended up just being a cash sale for a couple of bearings.

    If you look closely at image 3 above you will see that on the lower arm the bearing was missing but the second bearing above was still there. I took off the bearing holder and took it all along. If you only have one missing bearing you should still have the bolt which secures it in the centre (Giving you the internal hole dimension of the bearing) and if like mine the bearing holder will give you the outside diameter.

    As for your quote the price seems high but I also though that $6 was high for a bearing. Perhaps try a few places (difficult when you don't know what you need). Alternatively post a photo of your setup and I will see if my spare will fit.

    I would hold off on saying that " all the other (better, more expensive) saws" have the motor mounted at right-angles to the blade arms. Mine is mounted at right-angles and now that I have fixed the bearing the motor housing is jumping all over the place and breaking free of the holding brackets (image 1 above). I need to re-weld the motor to the holding bracket every 10 minutes of use. Unfortunately the motor needs a certain degree of movement. Without the movement (play) the bearing setup cannot move the arms ... too much movement and then there is not enough power to move the arms.

    I am keeping an eye out for a replacement to the GMC .... got to try and stop buying cheap and problematic.

    Cheers

    Stinky
    Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    bateau bay
    Posts
    275

    Default gmc

    well you guys are too good, I bought a gmc scroll saw for $50 at the local markets.
    when I used it for the first time I couldnt believe the clattering and banging going on, and thought this was normal.
    after seeing this thread I pulled the side cover off and guess what? no *&^%$#@! bearing!
    No wonder the damn machine sounded like it was self destructing, it was!
    I'll let you know where I get a bearing from, it may help other gmc owners.
    Im on the central coast of NSW, but work in Sydney so thats where the bearing will probably come from.
    Cheers, Billy.
    no wonder I cant make quality sawdust on the scrollsaw.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Eltham
    Posts
    5

    Smile GMC Parts Shop!!!

    Hey Guys, found this on another thread, thanks to Trainer for the info......

    Contact info for gmc spare parts
    <HR style="COLOR: #f0e9d0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f0e9d0" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Hey Guys,

    If anyone is chasing GMC spare parts, try this company-

    Ghebrial Power Tools (GPT)

    1860 Hume Highway Campbellfield

    Victoria 3061

    Ph (03) 9357 6168

    Hope this helps anyone thats chasing spares. Not sure of the range they carry but the are the company I've been told to deal with.

    Regards

    Trainer


    My brother has contacted them and they do spares for lots of GMC stuff (probably from returned stock - remember GMC did not have spare parts, they just replaced the units if they were still under waranty!) They may just have the bearings or the complete link with bearings. I will try them during the week and report back.

    Frank

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