How do I free up a motor carriage that will not move?

There are two instances that can result in the saw carriage being stuck at the top of the beam.

Situation 1: The most frequent is that a copper bearing scraper has been rolled between the bearing and the ground bearing surface of the beam. This usually begins with the operator able to raise but not lower the carriage. The operator continues to test until the carriage is stuck at the top.

Solution: Get a good look at all the bearings in the housing and determine which the culprit is. A pair of needle nose pliers will work to extract the damaged scraper and return the saw to service. As a last resort consult the parts book and determine if the scraper can be freed by loosening the opposing bearing. Use extreme caution when altering the position of any carriage bearings! Do not add additional pressure when repositioning the bearing. To add additional pressure will likely crack the bearing race and cause extensive damage to the ground bearing surface. Call for assistance if you are unsure of what you are doing.

Situation 2: The second possibility is the Emergency Brake lever has activated as the result of the carriage banging against its upper limit of travel.

Solution: The Emergency brake on this machine is a spring loaded lever intended to rotate into position if there is no tension on the counterweight cables. The weight of the saw carriage forces the lever to bind into the rear ground bearing surface of the left side of the beam. This stops the carriage, protecting both the carriage and the operator. To release the lever the carriage must be pushed up slightly while a second person pulls upwards on the counterweight cables dislodging the lever. The cables can slowly be allowed to return to their natural position and the carriage can be moved down to a normal working height. Extreme care should be exercised with extra attention paid to protecting fingers when handling the counterweight cable. Pinching a finger with a 200lb.counterweight on the other end of the cable can cause physical damage!

After freeing the saw carriage examine the rear of the ground bearing surface where the Emergency brake lever had made contact. You will find disruptions in the surface. Use a flat file to remove the disruptions. Failure to do so will result in repeated locking up of the saw carriage! Call for assistance if you are unsure of what you are doing.

Situation #2 refers to the emergency brake which is position B in the attached parts breakdown.