Shopsmith Forums

Hello everyone-
New to the forum and new to Shopsmith as well.

Having just fulfilled a lifelong dream of my own space for a wood shop, I took my Uncle's advice and went out and got a used Shopsmith Mark V510. The ad I saw online said "Used Shopsmith plus extras." Little did I know when I went out to look, the "extras" included two Powerstations, a bandsaw, jointer, belt sander and scroll saw. Major score!!:D

Prior to taking possession, the equipment had been sitting, unused, for two years. I've been busy cleaning, aligning and lubricating everything but came across a situation with the bandsaw I can't figure out. The upper wheel turns freely and is nice and quiet until I put some tension on the blade - then it gets noisy (metal on metal sound) and it doesn't turn nearly as freely as before.

I pulled the wheel off and had a look at the needle bearings. Everything appeared to be in order, so I applied some wheel bearing grease the best I could (my little finger isn't so little), reassembled and the noise is still there.

Any suggestions?

radster wrote:Hello everyone-
New to the forum and new to Shopsmith as well.

Having just fulfilled a lifelong dream of my own space for a wood shop, I took my Uncle's advice and went out and got a used Shopsmith Mark V510. The ad I saw online said "Used Shopsmith plus extras." Little did I know when I went out to look, the "extras" included two Powerstations, a bandsaw, jointer, belt sander and scroll saw. Major score!!:D

Prior to taking possession, the equipment had been sitting, unused, for two years. I've been busy cleaning, aligning and lubricating everything but came across a situation with the bandsaw I can't figure out. The upper wheel turns freely and is nice and quiet until I put some tension on the blade - then it gets noisy (metal on metal sound) and it doesn't turn nearly as freely as before.

I pulled the wheel off and had a look at the needle bearings. Everything appeared to be in order, so I applied some wheel bearing grease the best I could (my little finger isn't so little), reassembled and the noise is still there.

Any suggestions?

Don't apply a little grease to that needle bearing. Pack it as full of grease as you can. When you reinstall the wheel, hold that little finger on the opening and push the wheel on. In other words, pack the bearing as full of grease as you can.

Then, if it still makes noise, I don't know.

Are you certain that it is the wheel bearing that is making the noise. There are a number of other bearings (5) that could be making the noise. Also, the Power Station is not the quietest device going.

Consider mounting the bandsaw on the Mark V and see it the noise is the same.

BTW Congratulations on your acquisition.

PS

The bandsaw bearing on the left side should be touching the blade at all times. This bearing prevents the blade from tracking too far back on the wheels.

The other bearings, on the right side: I suggest that you back them off away from the blade and pull the cool blocks off of the blade. This withdraws most of the noise sources out of service. The upper and lower wheels, the blade and the tracking bearing (left side) are the only moving parts.

I would put my $ on the upper blade guide bearing. If the wheel bearing is quiet with no blade, doesn't wobble on the shaft, then the wheel bearing is not likely the culprit.

The upper blade guide bearing is actually a positioner for the back side of the blade. It positions the blade as it approaches the upper wheel. All it is is a bearing that the back of the blade rides on. Current models use two narrow bearings and the blade rides in the groove separating the rounded edge of the outside of the bearings.

I believe with no tension, the back of the blade either is not contacting the bearing, or only lightly touches it. As blade tension is increased the back of the blade exerts more force against the bearing. If the bearing is not rotating, the back of the blade is indeed metal to metal rubbing. If the bearing is turning, the blade may be skewed on the bearing(bearing positioning/alignment) again causing noise. Finally there is the possibility that the bearing itself is noisey.

If such be the case, remove the bearing for closer inspection. If the older style, upgrading to the newer version is IMHO a good choice at this point.

There be threads here describing non-SS options for all the ball bearings in the blade path..

Sorry I neglected to add my welcome!:o

Check out the top two posts in the Maintenance and Repair forum.

Make sure to checkout the simplest cause and solution. The blade guard may be rubbing on the inside edge of the wheel. Been there done that!:(

I had a lower blade bearing making lots of noise that sounded like it was comming from the upper wheel. As long as I am writting I have a question for the more experienced. How much play should there be on the upper wheel. I have a 1/16 which I think is way to much, but I replaced the upper wheel with a new one and the same thing. I did not replace the axle. I was thinking that would be my next thing. I have not packed the it with grease, I just filled it. Mine is a 79. I got it from someone who did not have a lot of experience or mechanical ability with a few years of neglect. It seems to run smooth now that I replaced the lower bearing.

Sunset22

sunset22 wrote:I had a lower blade bearing making lots of noise that sounded like it was comming from the upper wheel. As long as I am writting I have a question for the more experienced. How much play should there be on the upper wheel. I have a 1/16 which I think is way to much, but I replaced the upper wheel with a new one and the same thing. I did not replace the axle. I was thinking that would be my next thing. I have not packed the it with grease, I just filled it. Mine is a 79. I got it from someone who did not have a lot of experience or mechanical ability with a few years of neglect. It seems to run smooth now that I replaced the lower bearing.

Sunset22

I would not be concerned with 1/16" play.

Do be aware that the ss is different from most other bandsaws. The upper wheel is canted and beveled.

Thank you all for the welcome and the quick responses.

Dusty-
Great advice on packing the needle bearings! Truly the voice of experience. The bandsaw is not hooked up to the Powerstation. The noise I'm hearing happens when I turn everything by hand. All the other bearings do not touch the blade at all. I'll get those bearing packed "properly" In the mean time , I'll check the upper wheel for play to determine if the bearings are shot.

JPG-
I'll take your advice and see if I can't rule out the upper blade guide bearing as being the culprit.

More later.

radster wrote:Thank you all for the welcome and the quick responses.

Dusty-
Great advice on packing the needle bearings! Truly the voice of experience. The bandsaw is not hooked up to the Powerstation. The noise I'm hearing happens when I turn everything by hand. All the other bearings do not touch the blade at all. I'll get those bearing packed "properly" In the mean time , I'll check the upper wheel for play to determine if the bearings are shot.

JPG-
I'll take your advice and see if I can't rule out the upper blade guide bearing as being the culprit.

More later.

Do you hear the noise if turning by hand and disconnected from the Power Station?

With all bearings disengaged and the two wheels turning with the blade mounted, what metal could be making metal to metal noise? The wheels or the blade and some thing stationary.

CAUTION: With the blade guides (bearings) disengaged, I would recommend not running under power any more than is necessary.