How Do You Remove the Blade on a Berkel Meat Slicer
Have you noticed that the blade on your Berkel meat slicer is getting a little dull? Maybe you’ve noticed a lack of precision and quality that you normally associate with your deli slices. Signs like uneven cutting, tearing or that the blade retains nicks and chips means it’s time to exchange the blade.
Of course, sharpening the knife is always an option, but did you know there’s a limit to how many times you can sharpen your blade before you need to replace it entirely? That's because every time you take the sharpening stone to its edge, you whittle the material away a little more with each pass.
For this reason, blades should be replaced if they measure less than 12-¾” in diameter. Got out the measuring tape and realized you might be in trouble? Parts Town is a worry-free zone. In this guide, we’ll answer your question, “How do you remove the blade on a Berkel meat slicer?”
Berkel Meat Slicer Blade Removal
How do you remove the blade on a Berkel meat slicer? Very carefully. Joking aside, it’s actually a very simple and straightforward process, requiring only a #2 Phillips screwdriver and a couple minutes of your time. Without further ado, follow the steps below to remove and replace the knife:
- Step 1. Set the product table and turn the index knob to 0 – Slide the product table to its starting position. Locate the index knob underneath the table. Dial this to 0.
- Warning: Before you remove the blade on a Berkel meat slicer, make sure you turn off and unplug the unit.
- Step 2. Unscrew the product table knob – Find the knob located underneath the product table. Turn it counterclockwise to loosen.
- Step 3. Remove the product table – With both knobs loosened, this frees the product table so you can remove it by sliding it off the arm.
- Step 4. Pull the slide bar toward the arm – Underneath the slicer, you should find a slide bar. Pull this toward the arm assembly.
- Step 5. Open the gauge plate – Turn the thickness control knob to the left to fully open the gauge plate.
- Step 6. Tape the knife’s edge – Now that the blade is fully exposed, it’s a good idea to tape the knife edge to prevent injury during its removal.
- Step 7. Uninstall the bolt and washer – The bolt and washer fasten the center of the blade assembly together, holding it in place. To remove them, you’ll need to insert a #2 Phillips screwdriver into the knife hole located near the lower ring guard mount. Be sure to protect the ring guard mount and slicer body with a rag while doing so.
- Step 8. Remove the blade – From there, all you need to do is remove the blade from the Berkel meat slicer.
- Step 9. Install the new blade – Replace the blade by reserving these steps. That is, installing the new blade, inserting the bolt and washer, closing the gauge plate, pushing the slide bar away from the arm, sliding the product table back onto the arm, and, finally, tightening the product table and index knobs.
Now that you know how to remove the blade on a Berkel meat slicer, it’s time to perform other maintenance and repairs. Check out our guides on blade sharpening instructions, as well as cleaning your Berkel meat slicer.