POINTER CASTING - TO FIX UNISAW HAND WHEEL LOCKING ISSUES - ALL NEW - STEEL PART

Description

POINTER CASTING FOR A VINTAGE DELTA 10” UNISAW
HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR HANDLE WHEEL LOCKS?
We have created a brand new, difficult-to-manufacture part to finally correct the inherent Delta hand wheel lock issues.
Early Unisaws from the 1940’s had a steel wedge system behind the hand wheel lock shafts.  In about 1950, Delta changed that to a brass bullet locking system.  Both functioned in a similar manner, by using the knob in the center of the hand wheel to force internal components to contact the shaft’s surrounding bore.
We have developed a welded steel assembly that replaces the die cast pointer casting, which has been obsoleted by Delta.  This weldment and new brass bullets will restore the locking mechanism for the vertical blade hand wheel position.
Background:
To lock either the tilt position or the vertical blade position, you simply needed to tighten the small knob in the center of the appropriate hand wheel.
Tightening the knob pushed either the steel wedges or the brass bullets out to the wall of the bore surrounding the shaft.  The pressure of the contacting parts prevented movement of the shaft so the angle and/or height of the saw blade stayed fixed.
Both systems had some inherent design problems.  The wedge system was more complicated, harder to install, and probably more costly for Delta.  The brass bullet system simplified the locking system.  Both worked great for forcing the locking parts out to the inside wall of the bore, but neither had a provision to retract them. So, although when the knob was loosened, the parts still would continue to drag on the inside wall of the bore.
The
tilt lock
parts ride in a bore that is part of the cast iron front trunnion.  Neither the steel wedges nor the brass bullets usually could not create much wear on the inside diameter of the cast iron bore.   In this application, the bullets were softer than the cast iron wall so the bullets eventually would wear down and need replacing.
The
vertical lock
scenario is a bit different.  It functions the same, but the part of the saw that the wedges or bullets press against is the inside bore of what Delta called the pointer casting, part #LTA-459.  You will recognize LTA-459 as the small casting attached to the movable front rocker casting that holds the pointer telling you the angle of the saw blade.
Problem!!!
The LTA-459 casting is die cast zinc.  The material is softer than the steel wedges and softer than the brass bullets that rub against it whenever the hand wheel is turned.  Remember the locking knob pushed the lock parts out to the inside of the bore, but does not retract them, so even with the pressure released, these parts will continue to rub against the inside wall of the bore whenever the hand wheel is turned.
Everybody knows to replace the brass bullets when they restore a vintage Unisaw or when attempting to maintain the functioning of the hand wheel locks, but seldom do they inspect or replace the pointer casting.
If you ever have the pointer casting off, put your finger the bore to see if there is a groove worn where the wedges or bullets rubbed.
Undoubtedly there will be some wear and usually it is significant.
Some of photos in this listing show what the internal wear can amount to in the bore of the die cast pointer casting.  Other photos compare our bare steel weldment to the OEM part # LTA-459.  Others show our new part installed on a rocker casting.  The part you would receive will be the black oxided weldment. The black oxided part can be painted.
New brass bullets in a worn pointer casting won’t fix the vertical positioning lock.
Worse yet, putting new bullets in a badly worn pointer casting will allow them to be pushed so far out that they will not only prevent locking the shaft, but will prevent the pointer casting from being removed to further investigate the problem or correct it.
Our weldment is an exact replacement for the pointer casting.  It is made up of three CNC machined pieces of C1018 steel.  Once the parts were fixtured and TIG welded together, the assembly was precision bored to produce a press fit over the bushing on the front rocker and was then black oxide plated for increased corrosion protection.  The part is secured to the rocker casting with two included 8-32 stainless steel socket head cap screws.  A third stainless steel 10-32 socket head cap screw is installed to prevent rotation similar to the pin on the OEM die cast part.
Our new weldment serves the same functions as the LTA-459 die cast part.  It provides the surface for the locking parts to press against and holds the pointer for the tilt gage.  However, this steel weldment will not wear from the continuous contact of the locking parts.
Shipping of the pointer bracket weldment and the included attaching screws is .00 to anywhere in the lower 48 states.  Other locations may have to pay additional shipping costs.
Payment by PayPal is preferred.