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I think that the balls were at least partially sliding in the bearing, instead of rolling, and the resulting rubbing/scrubbing excited a resonance in the outer races. Much like rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a wine glass.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIBO8adqLRI[/youtube]

But being smaller than a wine glass, the bearing makes a higher-pitched squeal.

The shim applies just enough bearing preload to make the balls roll properly. And being packing tape, it probably also helps dampen resonances.

Just mentioning Bill Mayo is a wonderful person! I have contacted him numerous times and is helpful in every respect. As a shop smith guru (my title for him) he is tops. I am very thankful he represents shop smith and does it well.
Thank you Bill!!

BuckeyeDennis wrote:A new thread on bandsaw bearing squeal reminded me of this one. Time for an update.

Over two years have passed since I placed a 0.004" packing-tape ring shim between the outer races of my SS-issue auto-track bearings. The squeal has never recurred.

It would be great to find that a very thin Teflon washer located between those bearings would quiet the band saw.

After trying the upgraded bearings I returned to using the old type brass bearings because the blade kept popping out of the groove in the new backup bearing setup. I have yet to get any squealing /crosses fingers

It is good that you no longer have squealing bearings. However, you say that the blade "kept popping out" of the groove. Is that just a figure of speech. When mine is misaligned, the blade sort of "slides in and out" of the groove but it never "pops".

gatheringsplinters wrote:After trying the upgraded bearings I returned to using the old type brass bearings because the blade kept popping out of the groove in the new backup bearing setup. I have yet to get any squealing /crosses fingers

This is likely an alignment issue or worse. Having the blade moving around is not a good sign and means you need to find out why and attempt to fix it.

The blade should move in a straight line from the bottom to top wheel. Either the bearing is not located correctly or the wheel(s) have issues. If the blade is moving about on the old bearing then the wheels are likely at fault. If the blade is not moving then it was an alignment issue. In the later case your saw can be used as is with the old bearing until it wears out or you decide to give it another try.

Ed

reible wrote:

gatheringsplinters wrote:After trying the upgraded bearings I returned to using the old type brass bearings because the blade kept popping out of the groove in the new backup bearing setup. I have yet to get any squealing /crosses fingers

This is likely an alignment issue or worse. Having the blade moving around is not a good sign and means you need to find out why and attempt to fix it.

Ed

Ed,

Thanks for the reply. I've been working on it and I'm to the point where I need to actually use the machine I bought the retro fit which came with new wheels and tires. The quality was bad and shopsmith replaced them. The newest bottom tire has a wobble to it (about 1mm or so), which I'm assuming is why the blade moves back and forth. I'll do more trouble shooting but it's getting a bit frustrating.

gatheringsplinters wrote:

reible wrote:

gatheringsplinters wrote:After trying the upgraded bearings I returned to using the old type brass bearings because the blade kept popping out of the groove in the new backup bearing setup. I have yet to get any squealing /crosses fingers

This is likely an alignment issue or worse. Having the blade moving around is not a good sign and means you need to find out why and attempt to fix it.

Ed

Ed,

Thanks for the reply. I've been working on it and I'm to the point where I need to actually use the machine I bought the retro fit which came with new wheels and tires. The quality was bad and shopsmith replaced them. The newest bottom tire has a wobble to it (about 1mm or so), which I'm assuming is why the blade moves back and forth. I'll do more trouble shooting but it's getting a bit frustrating.

Wobble or bump? Wobble likely ok.* Not so a bump(od variation).

* beveled wheel may make that untrue if excessive.

JPG wrote: Wobble or bump? Wobble likely ok.* Not so a bump(od variation).

* beveled wheel may make that untrue if excessive.

JPG and Ed,

I've started my own thread regarding my issues as not to hijack this one... anymore than I have been :P

I have spent most of the morning reading and rereading this thread and contemplating all that is being reported here. Why? Because I experience the intermittent squealing. It is not happening right now but I have been there before. It will return.

But, I gave a bit more thought to the solution proposed by LDH. I had made up my mind that I had done this but I did at best "a version". I used different bearings and no bronze sleeve. In my application, I have the bearing and the 1/4"x20 bolt in direct contact. The bearing inner race is not suppose to rotate but if it does, could the movement of the inner race against the bolt be the cause of the squeal.

Those users who report using the old bearing configuration (with the brass bushing) report NO SQUEAL.

Just a thought but it is provoking enough that I may generate a McMaster-Carr purchase order soon. Am I in left field with this line of thinking?