Band saw blade doesn't ride against backing bearings

randyrls · Post by **randyrls** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:33 am

Hello; I just got an upgraded band saw. When I got it the blade was under tension. I noticed that when using a narrow blade that the blade doesn't bear on any of the 3 backer bearings, but rides about 1/2" in front of the backer bearings. The bandsaw has the black rubber tires, so I expect my first task will be replacing with urethane tires. There is a noticeable dip in the rubber tires in the middle of the rim. There is about 1/8" play at the rim of the upper wheel but there doesn't appear to be any wear. I've looked at the exploded parts diagram.

I searched here and read the adjustment thread here on the forum and it cleared up several other issues I had.

SO to questions.
1. Is the 1/8" play in the upper wheel normal? I removed the upper wheel from the shaft, but didn't go any further in disassembly.

2. Is there an adjustment for the tilt of the upper wheel? I have not been able to find any references to this kind of adjustment. I have thought about the Carter upgrades to the saw, but I want to fix the blade problem first.

2. I will be getting the urethane tires for the saw and I expect that removing the old tires will be a challenge.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Randy S.
Commit of Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:09 pm

[quote="randyrls"]Hello]

I am going to refer you to this thread for information about your upper band saw wheel but at the same time I feel compelled to tell you that some people (including Bill Mayo) do not recommend that you stress the upper wheel and axle shaft as I describe doing here.

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:29 pm

dusty wrote:I am going to refer you to this thread for information about your upper band saw wheel but at the same time I feel compelled to tell you that some people (including Bill Mayo) do not recommend that you stress the upper wheel and axle shaft as I describe doing here.

And what thread would that be, Dusty?

randyrls · Post by **randyrls** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:53 pm

Dusty; I saw that thread. I may try to dissassemble the top wheel assembly. to see if there is anything I can do. I may just go ahead and order the parts if they aren't too expensive. The power here in PA is blipping so I may not be on again.

Good luck everybody in Sandy's path!

major_bob · Post by **major_bob** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 9:59 am

I am a confessed SS fan, however I must admit that I have almost given up on bandsaw adjustment. The thread Dusty refers to and others are excellent sources of information. So I'm sure 95% of the problem is with me, not the machine. If it is adjusted right with the assembly lowered, then it is off by 1/4 in when the assembly is raised or vice versa. I just can't get it right.

I would almost be willing to pay someone to set it up correctly. A bandsaw can be a useful tool, but it can also be a frustrating one.

bob

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:01 am

curiousgeorge wrote:And what thread would that be, Dusty?

Dah. Now I don't know. I'll go looking.

major_bob · Post by **major_bob** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:43 pm

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=8542

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:38 pm

Hi,

I'm a bit concerned with the "play" in the upper wheel. There should be none or next to none. You will want to identify what that issue is. Could be as simple as a missing washer.... While you have it apart grease the needle bearings.

If I were replacing the tires I'd go with the old style black ones again.

Ed

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:41 pm

major_bob wrote:https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=8542

I do not think that is the one Dusty had in mind, but tis appropriate for the help request.

As for the wheel pulling, Bill Mayo at one time touted that as a solution, but recommends not push/pulling with the wheel, but rather realigning the bearing post by slipping a pipe over the post and applying only enough upward pressure to cant the upper wheel correctly. Excessive iterations will weaken the upper wheel bearing mount.

Regardless, verify that the upper wheel is not canted properly first.

A straight edge laid against the side of the upper wheel will miss the lower wheel since the canting places the top of the upper wheel 'in'.

bcone1381 · Post by **bcone1381** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:22 pm

Randy;

When you start cutting wood, does your saw blade back up on the wheels, and then contact the bearing that is below the band saw table?

This is a 35 minute Youtube video of a Carter Products Salesman leading a Band Saw Clinic at some Woodworking Conference. It was worth my time and just about everything applies to our bandsaws. The SS Bandsaw manual goes through all this stuff, and seeing this helped me put it all together and see the big picture.

Two things I now do when setting up my band saw that helps a lot is that the SS manual does not cover is 1) remove the band saw table to be able to see everything better at the start of the process. 2) After tensioning the blade, I turn on the machine (the Cover, and band saw table are still off) and I watch the blade. If I see some harmonic resonance/vibration I adjust the tension until this is pretty much gone. This is a small and refined adjustment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGbZqWac ... ure=relmfu