Shopsmith Forums

A small 'point' of clarification.

The 'autotrack'(upper left) bearings control the positioning of the blade as it approaches the upper wheel.

The 'lower' guide bearing controls the positioning of the blade as it approaches the lower wheel. It also has an indirect effect on the position of the blade as it exits the upper wheel, but that is not its primary purpose.

Neither of these two 'guide' bearings are adjustable towards or away from the back of the blade. i.e. they are 'fixed'. The blade 'should' always bear against them both.

Only the upper 'backup bearing' is adjustable towards/away from the back of the blade. It should be adjusted to be quite close to touching the back of the blade, and will do so as cutting pressure moves the blade into it. The 'close' clearance should be the same at all vertical positions of the blade guide post.

JPG40504 wrote:A small 'point' of clarification.

The 'autotrack'(upper left) bearings control the positioning of the blade as it approaches the upper wheel.

The 'lower' guide bearing controls the positioning of the blade as it approaches the lower wheel. It also has an indirect effect on the position of the blade as it exits the upper wheel, but that is not its primary purpose.

Neither of these two 'guide' bearings are adjustable towards or away from the back of the blade. i.e. they are 'fixed'. The blade 'should' always bear against them both.

Only the upper 'backup bearing' is adjustable towards/away from the back of the blade. It should be adjusted to be quite close to touching the back of the blade, and will do so as cutting pressure moves the blade into it. The 'close' clearance should be the same at all vertical positions of the blade guide post.

I worked on my bandsaw some more earlier today and found that the lower bearing assembly had moved (I didn't tighten it well enough when I put it back on). I moved it back in position re-tightened and the saw purrs like a kitten. The back of the 1/4" blade rides against the tracking bearing and the lower bearings.

Thanks guys!!!!

claimdude wrote:I worked on my bandsaw some more earlier today and found that the lower bearing assembly had moved (I didn't tighten it well enough when I put it back on). I moved it back in position re-tightened and the saw purrs like a kitten. The back of the 1/4" blade rides against the tracking bearing and the lower bearings.

Thanks guys!!!!

Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!:):):):):):):):):):)

is anyone please willing to part the set of bearings if it was purchased as a bulk?

I have also done the Carter bearings on the bandsaw and saw a vast improvement in the cutting. I will look into the backup bearings as well. Thanks

Bump - any one selling sets of these?

Well, decided to buy all the parts to make the double-bearing assembly, seemed easy enough - bearings from amazon all other parts in 18-8 stainless from mcmaster.

I've also noticed the case cover on the top right is frighteningly close to the top wheel. It doesnt appear bent or damaged and everything lines up but it's probably 1/8" away from the wheel. Is this normal?

r33tc0w wrote:Well, decided to buy all the parts to make the double-bearing assembly, seemed easy enough - bearings from amazon all other parts in 18-8 stainless from mcmaster.

I've also noticed the case cover on the top right is frighteningly close to the top wheel. It doesnt appear bent or damaged and everything lines up but it's probably 1/8" away from the wheel. Is this normal?

I replaced the guides in mine with the Carter guides recently, but I didn't replace the back bearing behind the blade. I would be curious to know which parts numbers you went with and how your installation goes. Were you able to get the quantity that you needed, or did you have to buy extras?

Bearings: Pack of 10 for $8
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H8 ... UTF8&psc=1

Got one extra of the items that didn't come in a pack. I think I got the right stuff, the nuts shown in that .pdf posted somewhere in this thread show only 1/8" - 3/16" thick and i believe the ones i got are 7/32" thick so hopefully this isn't a hindrance.

The cost was about the same as buying shopsmiths version and but piecing it together gives me backups. I'll give an update when i get all the pieces in and installed

r33tc0w wrote:Bearings: Pack of 10 for $8
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H8 ... UTF8&psc=1

Got one extra of the items that didn't come in a pack. I think I got the right stuff, the nuts shown in that .pdf posted somewhere in this thread show only 1/8" - 3/16" thick and i believe the ones i got are 7/32" thick so hopefully this isn't a hindrance.

The cost was about the same as buying shopsmiths version and but piecing it together gives me backups. I'll give an update when i get all the pieces in and installed

Sounds like you might have extra on most of the pieces then. If so and you won't to defray some costs, let me know if you want to send me a set and I can pay you. Just send me a private message and we can coordinate. Thanks.