Bandsaw eclip fails, wears out?

[tprowood]

I have a bandsaw on my old model 500. Periodically, the upper wheel eclip either comes off, or 'wears' out. I'll be sawing away, and I'll see some travel in the blade. I turn it off, and the clip is gone, and the fiber washer is usually in the bottom of the saw case, or sometimes it flies out. I have a dust port on it, so I'm lucky the washer hasn't gotten sucked in. I honestly don't know which it is, as I can never find the eclip.

Any ideas?

[JPG]

Go get a new clip. Common hardware item. It should be a tight fit on the groove near the end of the shaft.

[edma194]

If memory serves the clip is placed against a fiber washer. That washer can be somewhat swollen, or just too thick for some other reason and it can be difficult to get the clip fully seated in the groove. You should need a spreader to get the clip off, if you can pry it off with a screw driver (without bending it out of shape) it's not fully on. Possibly you may need a new fiber washer and a fresh clip won't hurt.

[chapmanruss]

Newer Bandsaws use an "E" Clip to hold the Upper Wheel on the Shaft. Older Bandsaws used a retainer somewhat like the rings that hold the Drive Sleeve Assembly in the Headstock. When in place the E Clip should hold tight on the Shaft in the groove. I suggest checking to see if the E Clip fits tightly in the groove on the Axle without the Wheel and Fiber Washer in place. If it is not tight it should be replaced. It can be difficult to get the E Clip into the groove against the fiber washer. As suggested if the fiber washer is "swollen" it may need to be replaced. The Fiber Washer is part number 502704 and can be ordered from Shopsmith. The E Clip is a common hardware part and is listed as Not Available from Shopsmith.

With the Wheel off while checking the fit of the E Clip it may be a good time to grease the bearings in the Wheel if it hasn't been done in a while.

I own or have owned many Magna/Shopsmith Bandsaws ranging from 1956 to 2006 and have not had a retaining clip of either type come off during use. When putting the Upper Wheel on the Axle of the Upper Wheel Arm it should be the Upper Wheel, the Fiber Washer and the Clip only in that order. If an extra washer or shim washer is there that would cause the Clip to sit out of the groove.

[chapmanruss]

Below are examples of the types of clips and differences between older Bandsaws and newer ones.

The first picture is a 1956 Bandsaw using the original type of clip that holds the Upper Wheel in the Axle. The use of this type of Clip can easily be determined by the flat side on the end of the Axle.

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1956 Upper Wheel Axle.jpg (122.26 KiB) Viewed 11257 times

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Below is a later Bandsaw from 1998 using the E Clip and notice the Axle does not have a flat side.

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1998 Upper Wheel Axle.jpg (85.27 KiB) Viewed 11257 times

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A plus for having the E Clip is easier removal and installing. The E Clip provides a wider surface area over the end of the Fiber Washer and Wheel than the original Clip does.

[tprowood]

Mine has the shaft with the flat spot on it. Do you know what type of clip should it have? Can I use an e-clip?

[chapmanruss]

Try finding the correct size E Clip to replace the original. I do not know of a source for the original Clip type that came on the earlier Bandsaws. One possible problem if using an E Clip on a Bandsaw that has the flat on the Axle is the E Clip rotating and one end or the center of the clip getting to the flat spot and popping off. An External Snap Ring may be the answer for the older Bandsaws.

I have only worked/restored one Bandsaw at a time and the Clip, in all cases, did not need replacing. I have not compared the two Axle grooves to see if they are the same size in width and depth. I have restored or refurbished 6 Bandsaws. All Bandsaws need to have the Upper Wheel off the Axle from time to time to grease the bearing.

When I have time, possibly next week, I may have to compare the two types of Axles to see if the E Clip can replace the original Clip type without the possibility of popping off. I'll check on the External Snap Ring as a possible replacement too. I have both the early and a later Bandsaws awaiting restoration to check it out on. I'll have to take some pictures at the same time to post for reference.

[DLB]

Speaking generally; External Snap Rings, E-Clips, and I assume External Spirolox, are sold based on nominal shaft size and specified groove dimensions. For example a 5/8" E-Clip for a 5/8" shaft specifies a groove diameter of 0.485" to 0.488", groove width 0.046" to 0.049". An external 5/8" Snap Ring requires completely different groove machining, diameter 0.585" to 0.591" and width 0.039" to 0.042".

My suggestion for the OP is to measure the shaft and groove dimensions. Those dimensions should lead to the proper retaining ring that originally fit it. Or at least eliminate those that do not fit.

- David

[JPG]

https://www.huyett.com/rst-062

[chapmanruss]

I got out to the shops today and checked to see if an External Snap Ring can replace the original retainer on the earlier Bandsaw's Upper Wheel. I used a 1/2" External Snap Ring as shown below and it fits in the Axle's groove. I haven't tried it in actual use on a running Bandsaw yet.

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Snap Ring on Axle.jpg (110.76 KiB) Viewed 4111 times