Can the Shopsmith Bandsaw Be Quieted

[dusty]

My old boss would fire me for this but I can not tell you which bearings squeal and which ones do not. I have not kept good enough notes and I certainly can not rely on my memory.

I believe that the main squealer is the lower back up bearing. I say that because I had the squeal even when I was not cutting. That would eliminate the upper backup bearing because it is idle when not cutting.

The auto-track bearings make a lot of noise but I do not believe them squeal.

[dusty]

FWIW, the wheel bevels are not reversed from the upper wheel cant, but are half it.

I am inclined to think Dusty's saw has near perfect cant for the blade to properly track on the lower wheel with no lower bearing. The upper wheel cant should affect that. Then again, maybe cant is too much reducing the need for the lower bearing.

I be curious if the blade position on the lower wheel is affected by that lower bearing. I am guessing it tracks more towards the rear of the wheel with the lower bearing 'missing'.

If the blade applies minimal pressure to the lower bearing, perhaps that is a recipe for squeal????

I am unable to tell you if the blade tracks properly without the upper and lower backup bearings. As I get ready to install the new bearings I will check that out.

I have said this before. I believe that the backup bearings have very little to do with maintaining the blade track. I think that is done by the auto-track bearing.

I'll check in just a few minutes to see if by removing the lower backup bearing I can change the blade track.

[dusty]

Yes, the lower backup bearing does effect the tracking position. When I removed it the blade moved back so that it contacted the upper backup bearing.

This conflicts somewhat with statements I have made regarding the backup bearings role in maintaining track. The auto-track bearing does NOT do it all.

[jsburger]

Ahh, but eliminating those 'non-show-stoppers' was a design goal at the time.

If that is the case then I guess it is a successful design.

[JPG]

LDH

[BuckeyeDennis]

LDH

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 510#p15510

[jsburger]

LDH

A member of this forum who provide all the information for double bearing modifications to the auto track assembly and both backup bearings. He did the drawings in 2008 and I have been using them ever since. That combined with the Carter blade guides make a wonderful quiet setup.

[JPG]

LDH

A member of this forum who provide all the information for double bearing modifications to the auto track assembly and both backup bearings. He did the drawings in 2008 and I have been using them ever since. That combined with the Carter blade guides make a wonderful quiet setup.

Ah so! I was aware of the drawings etc. but since 'LDH' posted them before 'my time', I did not recognize 'him'.

Thank You for clearing that up!!!!! We owe him!!!

[dusty]

For the backup bearings, if you eliminate the bushings and use 627ZZ bearings, you can accomplish the same task as depicted in the referenced drawings by LDH.

I am a bit confused on the purpose of the .0625" shim though. Installing that will move the bearing set to the left and I need to move that bearing set to the right to make the bearings align with the blade.

The .125" shim, I believe, is there just to consume space on the shoulder of the 1/4"x 20 bolt.

[dusty]

Replacing either of the 7x22x10 backup bearings with a 7x22x7 set does only one thing that I can see. It provides a groove between the two bearings in which the blade can ride. If I am wrong on this point, some one please set me straight.

My question, however is "Exactly what does that groove do that is not accomplished by the cool blocks"?