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Porter cable quick change-How??

LIVEONSAWDUST | Posted in Tools for Home Building on August 23, 2008 05:08am

am I being stupid or is it broken?

bought a cheap porter cable 324MAG off ebay, this has the quick change blade system, but I cant get the blade clamp off !

The instructions say to lock the arbor, then extend the little lever and turn it counter clockwise. doesnt say how far to turn it. When I turn the lever it just spins.

What am I overlooking ?

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Replies

  1. Henley | Aug 23, 2008 08:18am | #1

    It's just a fancy nut.
    Lock the arbor and unscrew the weird looking nut.

    No trick to it really.

    1. LIVEONSAWDUST | Aug 23, 2008 02:12pm | #2

      This one just spins when I turn it (with the lever exteded) , but doesn't unscrew.

      Is the lever not engaging maybe, or what, I dont know

      1. Henley | Aug 23, 2008 03:02pm | #5

        Yeah, what Shep said.

        1. LIVEONSAWDUST | Aug 23, 2008 03:06pm | #6

          This one just spins , so far , I cant figure out how to remove it

          1. User avater
            MarkH | Aug 23, 2008 03:29pm | #7

            It's broken. That quick release works very easy. There is a locking washer with teeth next to the blade. The whole quick release rotates to screw down to the washer and lock. Then the quick release continues to tighten internally without rotating the bolt that goes into the arbor. I don't know how to remove it but there are two tiny roll pins that you may be able to knock out of the quick change to get inside.

            Edited 8/23/2008 1:12 pm ET by MarkH

          2. mikerooney | Aug 23, 2008 04:14pm | #8

            Sounds like the arbor lock is broken.''Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.'' Plato

             

  2. Shep | Aug 23, 2008 02:43pm | #3

    I've got that saw.

    Slide the lever out as far as it will go. It'll stick out about 3/4" or so. Then you keep turning the nut until it comes off.

    There is a bit of wiggle before the nut actually starts turning. But if it just spins, there's something wrong.

    BTW, I'm not real impressed with this system. I prefer a wrench.

    1. LIVEONSAWDUST | Aug 23, 2008 03:01pm | #4

      Hoping that if I can ever get it off, i can replace it with a regular screw

      This one does just spin

      Edited 8/23/2008 8:04 am ET by LIVEONSAWDUST

    2. LIVEONSAWDUST | Aug 24, 2008 06:19am | #9

      Yes, It was broken, ended up sawing down the housing that has the two little roll pins in it, then was able to break it with a punch.

      What was left of the quick release parts went in the trash, the origonal bolt still works to hold the blade, but not a hex head so had to tighten it with vise grips.

      I'll probably just get a proper hex head bolt, the heck with the tool-less change

      1. Shep | Aug 25, 2008 02:24am | #10

        I'll probably do the same for mine eventually.

        The P-C is a nice saw, despite that one quirk.

        1. Craig530 | Aug 25, 2008 07:57am | #11

          Hey guys,  I broke my PC quick change a few months back.  Went  back to the dealer for $28 I got a retro kit that changed the saw back to the old familiar locking bolt.  Mine broke because I had a diamond blade in it trying to cut an opening in brick.  The dealer said that 90% of broken quick locks have an abrasive or diamond blades in them.  The blades grab the material to strongly ,over torque that spinner and break the pins inside.  To get mine out I used a drill to drill out the pins.  Never mind trying to save the quick release

  3. user-7028178 | Jul 13, 2019 06:14pm | #12

    I have the 423Mag. Same problem. Nut spun but wouldn't come off (after using a abrasive wheel blade in concrete). I slid the lever out, peeled off the ribbon spring. Then I took my grinder and ran it parallel to the track the lever is in. I was able to pry off the lever. A bit more.grinding and I was able to split the top piece and everything came out. Then I was able to take the pliers to the nut and take it off. 5 min work max. See pics

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