Which bearings to check - Intermittent rough sound

[epodietz]

I have owned a late 80's 510 for about 10 years. Relatively light hobbiest usage but have been doing woodturning for the last year or so. Today after doing several cuts w/bandsaw, I turned off the SS. It slowed down most of the way as usual, but then it suddenly stopped. I turned SS back on but it just hummed. Detached bandsaw and tried again - just humming. Tried to turn quill by hand in the usual direction - wouldn't turn, but turning in the opposite direction freed it up. Turned switch on and SS started up. Heard some rough sounds and occasional sound as if a small piece of metal were being thrown around. Also a rough, uneven (grinding?) sound. Then noise went away altogether. Tried several more times, sometimes noise returns, sometimes not. Seems like a bearing is going bad somewhere.

I opened sheave cover, nothing obviously wrong. Belts are in good shape, tension is good.

Some background: SS is pretty clean, has been lubricated. But no bearings have been replaced. Motor is an Emerson. Owing to the age of the machine I suspect it is time to replace some bearings, but I am not sure where to start. Would like to avoid an entire tear-down. I have reviewed Jacob Anderson videos (which are terrific). Any suggestions on where to start inspections??

Thanks, Eric

[JPG]

Sorry to be the bearer of undesirable news. but if you are anticipating replacing bearings, a complete tear down is of necessity required. If something is 'broke' it needs to be identified

Determining the source of the seizure is of utmost importance to preclude further damage.

The good news is that tear down is relatively simple.

[epodietz]

This is a link to a 10 second video with the noise which is most audible at the end during shut down. Sounds like a few 5" rocks rattling around inside a metal bucket.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/406961597

[epodietz]

Thanks for the quick reply. I guess I had to learn how do a tear-down sooner or later...I hope it goes smoothly.

[jsburger]

Thanks for the quick reply. I guess I had to learn how do a tear-down sooner or later...I hope it goes smoothly.

Given the age of the machine and you have to tare it down any way I would replace all the bearings. That way when the next one fails you don't have to determine which one again and tear it down again. Do it once and it will last you for as long as you own it.

[JPG]

This is a link to a 10 second video with the noise which is most audible at the end during shut down. Sounds like a few 5" rocks rattling around inside a metal bucket.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/406961597

Change the privacy settings so "we" can view it.

[rogersk]

This is a link to a 10 second video with the noise which is most audible at the end during shut down. Sounds like a few 5" rocks rattling around inside a metal bucket.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/406961597

Change the privacy settings so "we" can view it.

The "watch on Vimeo" button worked for me, even though the window stated it wouldn't.

[epodietz]

Ok .. try it now, should work. In case the "Sorry..." message comes up, click "play on vimeo.".

[DLB]

While there's nothing wrong with the ideas of a complete tear down and/or replacement of all bearings you might be able to isolate this if you prefer. You can put a sanding disc on the upper aux drive and see if you hear of feel the bad bearing turning the machine by hand using the disc. If you can hear it then you can remove the quill, motor belt, and control sheave one at a time and see if one of those is the culprit. This method is not substantially different than starting the tear down but stopping when you find the bad part.

Personal opinion, but even if I was going through the whole headstock I would not replace the idler bearings unless definitely bad. Not only is it expensive, but I think that there is reason to doubt the robustness of the newer style compared to the old ones. (Sometimes Jacob Anderson has old-style idler shafts, but not the last few times I've looked.)

- David

[epodietz]

David,

Thanks for your detailed reply. Makes a lot of sense and might keeping me from getting in way over my head. While I like the idea and challenge of a complete tear down and bearing replacement, I'll be happy with a milder dosage of that coupled with less downtime and more wood turning. Hopefully I can identify the faulty bearing(s) sooner rather than later and the next failure will be long in the future.

Eric