Bandsaw Auto track alignment

[sean]

I recently acquired a second bandsaw with some other parts and took the opportunity tune up both bandsaws for the first time. I had to adjust the auto track bearing alignment on both but had some trouble with one of the bandsaws. For one bandsaw, I just had to loosen the nut and slide the bearing over and retighten. I was only able to align the auto track bearing on my other bandsaw by first moving the nut on the bearing side of the bracket to the other side of the bracket. Both blades were tensioned during alignment and neither bracket appeared to be bent relative to the other.

I ran the bandsaw briefly and nothing exploded or made a terrible noise. I'm still worried that I have some other problem or misalignment that may need to be addressed. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

[JPG]

Are you using the mounting bolt to position the entire assembly?

Orrrr positioning the bearing pair on the bolt?

Try the first method.

The purpose of the nut you moved is to secure the bearings to the bolt.

The purpose of the other nut is to secure the bolt to the mounting bracket.

The slotted hole in the bracket allows positioning the bracket/bolt/nuts/bearings relative to the blade.

Make sure the bolt is perpendicular to the blade(not cocked).

[chapmanruss]

sean,

First welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

In looking at your pictures (and thanks for adding them, they help a lot) I notice that the Mounting Bracket of the Auto-Track Blade Guide is "pushed' to the right on the first picture with the nuts on either side. The Mounting Bracket is "pushed" to the left with both nuts on the same side for the Bandsaw in the second picture. The Mounting Bracket should have enough adjustment "play" to center the Auto-Track Roller Bearing behind the blade. From the pictures it doesn't look like there is enough adjustment difference for the nuts to be on either side of the Mounting Bracket for the second Bandsaw. I am at a loss to explain why. I have owned 6 Shopsmith/Magna Bandsaws ranging from 1956 to 2006 and none of them have had that problem. Do both Mounting Brackets have a 90-degree bend? Another possible cause for that problem is that the Mounting Bracket for the Bandsaw having both nuts on the same side doesn't have a large enough mounting hole to attach it to the Bandsaw's Main Frame to allow proper adjustment. To check those possibilities, you would have to remove both Auto-Track Blade Guides and compare them. It would be interesting to know if switching the Auto-Track Blade Guides between the two Bandsaws end in the same result. The only other possibility I can think of would be the mounting hole in the Bandsaw's Main Frame is drilled and tapped offset from where it should be. That is the least likely possibility I can think of.

[sean]

Thanks for the helpful insight and advice.

The problem bearings did not look perpendicular, so I took both brackets out. Both were out of square, but the problem bracket was much more so. I tried to bring it more into square by compressing it in my vise and tried to flatten any bow on the little integrated anvil.

Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures comparing the brackets before or after, but I did take some of the reinstalled bearings.

Everything lines up much better now. I changed the nuts back to the intended configuration, the bearings seem square to the blade, and I have enough room in the slot to align everything. I haven't cut anything yet, but it appears to move smoothly by hand and both bearings spin evenly.

[chapmanruss]

sean,

Glad to hear you were able to find the problem and at least correct it enough to make it work. If you are happy with the result, then use your Bandsaw as is. If you think it would be better to replace the Bracket with a new one, it is reference number 57 when looking at the parts list under the heading PRODUCTS/Service Parts/ Band Saw here on the website. It is part number 502682 BRACKET and costs $4.95 plus shipping.