The shaft protectors (or bushings) are the white colored pieces near the end of the shafts in the tenderizers, jerky slicers, and high volume meat cutters. They are made of Teflon, and they prevent metal rubbing against metal when the unit is in use. These shaft protectors are considered wear items, and are not normally covered under warranty.

To prevent pre-mature wear of these shaft protectors and damage to your attachment, please inspect all parts closely before using your machine. Make sure the protectors are able to spin easily by hand on the shaft. Make sure that the snap rings are not caught when you spin the protectors. After inserting the knife assemblies into the housing, make sure to to spin the shafts on the housing by hand and ensure that the shafts are spinning freely inside the protectors. If you see the protectors themselves getting caught and spinning against the housing or perhaps getting completely stuck in the housing and stopped on the shaft or snap ring, this will cause premature wear. Please check out the below video for some quick tips on inspecting a tenderizer, the same instructions apply to the other attachments:

If the shaft protectors are getting caught, this may be because they are slightly thicker than normal, and the easiest way to fix the issue is to take some sandpaper and sand down the Teflon material slightly until the protectors can spin freely. You will need to remove the snap ring first with c-clip pliers to access the short shaft protectors. Once they are sanded down, please remember to replace the snap ring back on the shaft. If the snap ring is missing, it may result in possible damage to the blades and combs, and premature wear on the shaft protectors. Due to the production method and variations in temperature and humidity, some shaft protectors may vary slightly in thickness. Though it is not common, in some causes, you may receive a shaft protector that may be slightly too thick and will need to be sanded down. 

The second place to check may be that the large nut that holds the blade assembly together is too loose, causing the nut to rub directly against the shaft protector and get the protector stuck. Make sure that the large nut is tightened fully. This is important to make sure that the blade assembly is not loose, and that the shaft protector can spin freely. Inspect the large nut regularly to make sure the assembly is properly tightened.

If your shaft protectors have too much wear, you will need to replace them.