Rapidor hacksaw - what are these levers for?

[skotl]

Been playing with my new (to me) Rapidor and have got it up and running, but was wondering whether someone could tell me what these levers do?

They seem to move out this spring loaded...clutch? But it doesn't seem to alter any of the operation.

When depressed, the machine is a little less "knocky", but the levers spring back up again.

 

[WorkshopChris]

The hand lever should manually engage/disengage the clutch to start/stop the cutting action. the other is the adjustable end of cut stop to disengage the clutch/drive when the cut is compleated.
Sound like you need some adjustment. Do you just use the motor stop-start?

 

[brightspark]

its supposed to disengage the drive pulley when finished the cut probably needs adjusting as said above

 

[decca]

The lever with the handle on should latch on the other lever and as the cut is finished the other lever is pushed down and disengages the latch.

Not good photos or easy to explain but I hope you get the idea. Let me know if you want more photos.

 

[skotl]

Thanks folks - I'll have a go at adjusting it and see how it goes

 

[skotl]

Made some progress at understanding what's going on, but still got a problem so advice sought.

So this is how it is supposed to look:

Lever up, clutch disengages. That works. Note the L-shaped bar on the bottom lever:

Now, this is how it arrived to me:

That's because the clutch lever won't stay engaged, so the previous owner has swivelled the L-bar over to keep the clutch down.

What happens when it's in the correct orientation is that I can bring the clutch lever up, and the drive disengages. So far so good.
I can then press it down and it kind of latches - you can feel it's on a hair-trigger.

Then the minute the saw starts, the clutch lever pings upwards and disengages (hence the workaround in the previous picture).

This is the clutch lever engaged into the bottom lever - it doesn't seem worn, which was my first thought:

Any thoughts?

I can't see much in the way of adjustment, other than the spring on the clutch lever - could it be too eager?

 

[skotl]

By the way, the hair-trigger on the clutch isn't influenced by whether the saw is fully down, fully up or anywhere in between.

 

[julianf]

Mine jumped out of gear constantly when I purchased it. Turns out the previous owner had wired the motor wrong and the whole thing was spinning the wrong way.

Re-wired the motor, changed the direction of the pulley, and it all works flawlessly now.

I can't recall what way the main pulley on mine spins, but I'm sure someone will be able to tell you in a moment...

 

[skotl]

Mine jumped out of gear constantly when I purchased it. Turns out the previous owner had wired the motor wrong and the whole thing was spinning the wrong way.

Re-wired the motor, changed the direction of the pulley, and it all works flawlessly now.

I can't recall what way the main pulley on mine spins, but I'm sure someone will be able to tell you in a moment...

That's interesting - I will do some youtube checks - thanks

 

[jimbo84]

Mine jumped out of gear constantly when I purchased it. Turns out the previous owner had wired the motor wrong and the whole thing was spinning the wrong way.

Re-wired the motor, changed the direction of the pulley, and it all works flawlessly now.

I can't recall what way the main pulley on mine spins, but I'm sure someone will be able to tell you in a moment...

As you look at the big pulley wheel it should turn clockwise, or at least mine does. I have had it jump out when drive lever is first engaged but put this down to being very old, there is some wear in it as the two levers wobble a bit when it's running but it stays engaged.

 

[brightspark]

clockwise looking at the end shaft .the blade cuts on the forward stroke

 

[skotl]

As you look at the big pulley wheel it should turn clockwise, or at least mine does. I have had it jump out when drive lever is first engaged but put this down to being very old, there is some wear in it as the two levers wobble a bit when it's running but it stays engaged.

clockwise looking at the end shaft .the blade cuts on the forward stroke

Boooo.... mine turns clockwise, too

That's that theory busted

 

[jimbo84]

Boooo.... mine turns clockwise, too

That's that theory busted

It might well make the problem worse but is there plenty of lubrication in that area? mine is dripping with oil and grease around where those levers connect.

 

[decca]

Is the spring on the rear of the lever with the L shaped thing strong enough to engage and hold the ratchet on the other lever?

 

[jimbo84]

@skotl I was using mine today so took a couple of pictures, they might help, they might not.

This is the back of the two levers, I assume you have both springs attached on your machine?


This how far the teeth on the levers engage with each other. It does take a decent push down to engage the lever on mine.


Failing that I fear it might be an issue with this mechanism, not had it apart so don't know what's in there but something may be worn.


If you need any measurements to compare I can measure stuff on mine, might give you an idea if levers are travelling far enough etc.

EDIT: just a further note, my levers move around a fair bit when the saw is running, I assume it's because of wear, if your's is similar it could be that the wobble is enough to throw it out if there is a weak spring on the back end.

 

[skotl]

@skotl I was using mine today so took a couple of pictures, they might help, they might not.

This is the back of the two levers, I assume you have both springs attached on your machine?
View attachment 224015

This how far the teeth on the levers engage with each other. It does take a decent push down to engage the lever on mine.
View attachment 224014

Failing that I fear it might be an issue with this mechanism, not had it apart so don't know what's in there but something may be worn.
View attachment 224016

If you need any measurements to compare I can measure stuff on mine, might give you an idea if levers are travelling far enough etc.

EDIT: just a further note, my levers move around a fair bit when the saw is running, I assume it's because of wear, if your's is similar it could be that the wobble is enough to throw it out if there is a weak spring on the back end.

Thanks very much for taking the time to investigate and post the pictures, Jimbo - very much appreciated

I'm just wondering about your pic of the engaged levers - need to check mine again to make sure I'm not missing anything in that area.

I do think both springs (there are two!) are worth a look so will have a shot at the weekend.

 

[skotl]

Fixed!

Two issues: The main one (as suggested by @decca and @jimbo84) is that the spring on the bottom lever wasn't tight enough. Angle grinder to lop 1/4 off it it's now wanting to stay up unless forced down by the saw mechanism:

(the spring on the left)

The other issue was that the lever that pushes down on that handle was wound all the way down, so the saw could never disengage. Removed, cleaned, refitted and adjusted and we're good to go!

Thanks for everyone's help

 

[skotl]

Quick vid of the saw in action

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Quick vid of the saw in action

Should there be, or are you going to fit, a guard on that belt/wheel?

 

[skotl]

Should there be, or are you going to fit, a guard on that belt/wheel?

Yes, and yes!

That lever is definitely in close proximity to the big spinny thing, innit?