Replies

1. 
   FrankB89 | May 23, 2003 04:14pm | #1

   Skil makes worm gear drive oil that comes in a squeeze tube....looks like 90 wt. gear oil...

   I bought a tube of the stuff about 15 years ago because my 1st WD leaked a little.

   I currently have several Skil WD's and still have the tube of oil, never change the oil in any of them, top off the leaky one occasionally. 

   Only failure of a WD I ever had was burning out the motor on one a couple of years ago...and it was a nearly new saw.

    

1. 
   Philter | May 23, 2003 06:02pm | #2

   Me too! I burned out an armature, but I was using a Prazi beam cutter and it HAD to be on the end of four extension cords...drat, then I moved up to the 8-1/4, now I've got nearly new parts and no saw to put them on! cheers,Phil.If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.

1. 
   FrankB89 | May 24, 2003 02:28am | #8

   Well, that's interesting, because the one I fried was one I had bought for, and dedicated to, the Prazi Beam Cutter!

   I have to confess that it got used pretty hard, including cutting some arches out of bone dry 6X8 Yew wood beams.  So considering the service I got out of the saw, it paid for itself several times before I murdered it.

   BTW, I've mentioned this before, but occasionally, the Skil 77's are put up as loss leaders in the bigger volume builders supplies and when I see them tagged at $129 to $139, I usually buy 2 or 3.  The 77's are a pretty nice tool to consider as a "throwaway", but as another poster mentioned, aside from brushes, handles, cords and switches, to repair a major failure is not cost effective. 

1. 
   Philter | May 24, 2003 02:51am | #9

   You would cut yew wood....couldn't resist......what kind of application was the 6x8? Getting to work with semi-exotic, and exotics in timber especially is what it's all about...

   (I was ging to say it gave me a woodie, but being PC, we're supposed to say "Pokin' oak!")Cheers,Phil(Give me more Whistler timber jobs) Eves.If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.

1. 
   FrankB89 | May 24, 2003 03:16am | #10

   Well, yew may have seen this before ( did a "brag" post awhile back). so forgive my superfluous redundancy:  This is a Hammerbeam truss I did for my dining room.  (600 year-old Pacific Yew) 

   
2. 
   FrankB89 | May 24, 2003 03:18am | #11

   Sorry about the photo quality...I'll try that again. 

3. 
   FrankB89 | May 24, 2003 03:23am | #12

   Retry.

    

   Edited 5/23/2003 8:25:15 PM ET by Notchman

   
4. 
   Philter | May 24, 2003 07:33am | #13

   Pure sex.....nice stuff!If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.

5. 
   IMERC | May 24, 2003 08:17am | #14

   Brag on.... Nice work....

   But who let the bird in the house?

6. 
   Snort | May 25, 2003 02:38am | #15

   Dang, I thought yew grew them that way<G> EliphIno!

2. 
   framerboy | May 23, 2003 09:04pm | #3

   I have a handful of Skil 77's with the oldest one clocking in at over 20 years of use and abuse. I have never changed the gear oil in any of them. Pretty typical for a west coast framer. I will admit that we scorched the gear set on one a few years ago doing some intense ripping, the cost to repair was about $10.00 less than a new saw.  In our case we will replace triggers, handles, cords and brushes and the occasional table but anything more than that and out it goes. To this day these saws are one of the best tool buys in construction.

3. 
   IMERC | May 23, 2003 09:13pm | #4

   I have an 80 vintage Milwaukee. Bought a can [qt] of oil cause the gear case leaked. Still leaks. Still have most of the oil left. Never changed it. 

4. 
   NOTRIX1 | May 23, 2003 11:40pm | #5

   Hi,

   I found a "brand new" looking 77 at a pawn shop. It had a worn masonry blade on it but was perfectly clean otherwise. Anyway it works great but had a bit of a whirr to it. I drained the oil and it was black. I then ran a whole tube of skil oil through it changing it till it came out clear and topped it off. It runs better than new now. Much quieter.

   How often would I do it? I buy a tube of the oil when ever I'm in spending mode and the store has them in fron of me. I'll change the oil on slow day, maybe once a year.

   I've never had one problem with a Skil 77 this way.

   HTH

   N

1. 
   daddoo | May 24, 2003 01:58am | #6

   My older Skill WD was bought in the late 70's. A few more since then. All are still in service. I change the oil twice a year, when the temp starts to change. Try starting that puppy up in single digit temps, when you forgot to put it in the truck to warm up. My grandmother can spin faster............

   It takes five minutes, and can save hundreds. Why tempt fate?

2. 
   MisterT | May 24, 2003 02:01am | #7

   You could save some $ by using the crankcase oil out of any Chevy truck.

   They will rust and fall apart before the oil even gets dirty!

   DOH!!Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!