Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Carter Guide Installation on Rikon 10-325

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Suwanee, GA
    Posts
    297

    Carter Guide Installation on Rikon 10-325

    Has anyone else had issues with the blade guard interfering with the upper guide block? I have attached some pictures to show what's going on. I could easily remove the tab on the guard, but wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Blood, sweat, and sawdust

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Dickinson, Texas
    Posts
    7,655
    Blog Entries
    1
    I can't speak about the Rikon, but when I installed Carter guides on my Jet bandsaw, I had to to drill a hole in the new guard and join it to the top half of my old guard with a bolt.

    I suspect the guards vary considerably from saw to saw.
    Last edited by lowell holmes; 09-22-2014 at 9:59 AM. Reason: sp

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Suwanee, GA
    Posts
    297
    Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I just wish they would have included that in the instructions.
    Blood, sweat, and sawdust

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Mandalay Shores, CA
    Posts
    2,690
    Blog Entries
    26
    Just curious, why did you replace the stock guides? I haven't found any problems with my stock guides on the 10-325.
    Shawn

    "no trees were harmed in the creation of this message, however some electrons were temporarily inconvenienced."

    "I resent having to use my brain to do your thinking"

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Suwanee, GA
    Posts
    297
    They were very finicky. Tightening the bolts would always change the settings. Also, I could never get the lower guides far enough forward. At some point, Rikon upgraded the guides. I'm pretty sure that mine are the earlier ones. The Carter guides are much nicer, and easier to set.
    Blood, sweat, and sawdust

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Suwanee, GA
    Posts
    297
    Has anyone out there installed these guides on the Rikon? I'd love to hear from someone who's actually done this. I've contacted Carter's support, but it may be a few days before I hear back from the engineer.
    Blood, sweat, and sawdust

  7. #7
    Patrick, I have them on mine. Just went out and looked at them. Looks just like yours. looking from the front (your right pic) the guard is just barely touching the block. I didn't notice it when I installed them. It hasn't been a problem for me.
    I think you could cut 1/2" off the bottom of the guard to clear the block.

    Edit - Before I bought the kit, I Emailed Carter to see which stabilizer would work with the 10-325 upgrade. I heard back from them the same day.
    Last edited by michael nicholson; 09-22-2014 at 1:59 PM.
    - Mike

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Suwanee, GA
    Posts
    297
    Michael, I did hear from someone right away, but they had to forward my issue to one of their engineers. It's hard to tell from the picture, due to the angle, but I can get the guide block to fit just inside the blade guard. However, if I do that, I cannot adjust the left bearing far enough to clear the blade.
    Blood, sweat, and sawdust

  9. #9
    I'll have to check how much clearance I have on mine. Let us know what Carter has to say.
    - Mike

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Encinitas, CA
    Posts
    671
    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick Harper View Post
    They were very finicky. Tightening the bolts would always change the settings. Also, I could never get the lower guides far enough forward. At some point, Rikon upgraded the guides. I'm pretty sure that mine are the earlier ones. The Carter guides are much nicer, and easier to set.
    Hi Patrick,

    I too found that tightening the guides affected the setting and went with the carter guides on my now 5+ year old saw. Unfortuantely it is apart so I can't look at it. I don't remember any problems with the installation. I do recall the the lower guides had limited travel. I either could not move the lower bearings as far forward or far enough back. Either wasy it was not a big deal and everything seemed to go together well.

    I still have the old guides and wonder if a little filing here and there would have made them work better. The basic design is good but maybe the earlier guides were not well machined. i wonder if anyone has tried to improve the existing guides.

    I also wonder if anyone has had issues with limited lower bearing guide travel.
    Gary

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Suwanee, GA
    Posts
    297
    Well, I just resolved my own problem. I never realized that you could adjust the blade guard on this saw. Apparently, mine was installed fairly far rearward. The two hex bolts in the picture show what I'm talking about. I can't remember if this was setup from the factory, or if it was something I botched. Thanks for the help!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Blood, sweat, and sawdust

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Encinitas, CA
    Posts
    671
    I'm glad that you got it resolved. I don't recall the adjustment but I do think I took the guide off for the installation. Seeng the bolts in the photo reminded me of that.

    Enjoy the saw!
    Gary

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •