Grease and dust on kapex arbor

[ear3]

Took the blade off my kapex to change it out and to see if I could find out whether there was an obstruction blocking the right side laser from shining (there was not) and this was what it looked like under the right hand arbor flange:

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Is that grease buildup normal?

 

[jacko9]

I don't know if it's normal but when I first used my Kapex there was a lot of grease on the laser plastic cover.

Jack

 

[BMAC]

Yikes! That's a lot of grease spun off of the arbor.

I don't have a Kapex, but if my mitre saw had that amount of grease oozing from my saw I'd be more concerned that eventually the arbor and bearing surfaces will not have enough grease to lubricate/cool the moving parts and then could suffer permanent damage or failure. Also, if the seal (if there is one) can allow that much grease to escape I would think that dirt/dust/sawdust could possibly contaminate the bearing itself.

 

[Sparky]

Yes unfortunately mine has always done that even after coming back from service.it will get better but still gets a little greasy 2 years old saw.

 

[jacko9]

Makes me wonder if this saw was designed for long term use with perhaps some grease maintenance required?

 

[Bohdan]

Grease oozing out of a bearing is usually caused by heat melting the grease. The bearing has got hot, either from heat from the blade or it runs hot. The seals will not stop liquid grease from oozing out and then resolidifying.

Years ago I had this problem on a fanbelt idler wheel bearing on a hot diesel. The bearing was loosing grease rapidly and seizing up so I had to repack it with grease often. A lubrication rep recommended that I try synthetic grease as it doesn't melt so easily. I got some, repacked the bearing and never touched it again.

If the grease oozing out bothers you repack the bearing with synthetic grease and your problem will disappear.

I really don't know why all bearings are not packed with synthetic grease or at least be available as an option (probably because less bearings would fail and need replacing).

 

[Timtool]

Wouldn't that be the grease for the blade guard rotation mechanism? I removed my blade guard a few times for cleaning, that element contains moving parts and springs that probably require some grease.

 

[ear3]

Thanks for the replies -- I'm cool with grease as long as it is the normal way of things.  I had just never seen that kind of build-up on my other miter saws, and so was wondering if this was a design feature or a sign of ill health.  I take it from most of the comments that it's the former.

 

[Brice Burrell]

If you do a search here you'll see plenty of people have expressed concern about oozing grease on new kapex saws.  It might be somewhat common but it doesn't seem right to me.  My Kapex is from the original batch in N. America at launch, and it has never leaked a drop of grease. 

Remember that TS55R tear down video a few months back, that guy commented on the "cheap" grease had already separated on a brand new saw...