Bandsaw blues...

jtevans · Post by **jtevans** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:08 pm

I am attempting to do maintenance, and adjustments, on newly acquired bandsaw that seems to have been sorely taken care of...

What I think I need:

The saw has a 1/4" blade on it, it should be the blade that comes with original purchase. And what I'm trying to do is adjust the roller bearings to give the blade backup, in accordance with the printed instructions, and therefore minimum clearances, against the back of the blade. I have instructions, printed from Shopsmith website, but I 'm just not able to get these things adjusted. No matter how much I look at this thing in my shop, I can't understand how I am to get these bearings to ride behide the the blade, at the bottom and at the back, and ride just behind the blade at the guard...

Could some one please enlighten me on this particular adjustment...

Maybe I'm making it harder than it is, but I stayed up late last night and worked at this for several hours, with no success...they are still 1/2"-to- 3/4" away from back of blade, no matter how I adjust...

algale · Post by **algale** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:39 pm

jtevans wrote:I am attempting to do maintenance, and adjustments, on newly acquired bandsaw that seems to have been sorely taken care of...

What I think I need:

The saw has a 1/4" blade on it, it should be the blade that comes with original purchase. And what I'm trying to do is adjust the roller bearings to give the blade backup, in accordance with the printed instructions, and therefore minimum clearances, against the back of the blade. I have instructions, printed from Shopsmith website, but I 'm just not able to get these things adjusted. No matter how much I look at this thing in my shop, I can't understand how I am to get these bearings to ride behide the the blade, at the bottom and at the back, and ride just behind the blade at the guard...

Could some one please enlighten me on this particular adjustment...

Maybe I'm making it harder than it is, but I stayed up late last night and worked at this for several hours, with no success...they are still 1/2"-to- 3/4" away from back of blade, no matter how I adjust...

1. Which bearings are 1/2 to 3/4 from the back of the blade all of them?
2. Pictures would help diagnosis.
3. Is back of blade riding against auto track bearing (upper left near tension gauge)?
4. If it were me, with a newly acquired old, abused band saw, I'd take it fully apart, clean, lube and reassemble it.

Al

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:48 pm

You are going to get several replies I think.

For starters place a long straight edge across the top wheel as near to the center as you can. (The center bearing will prevent you to reach the center.)
The straight edge should be about 1/4" to 3/8" in front of the top of the lower wheel. When this setting is reached, the blade will track near the rear of the wheels and against the "Auto Track Roller Bearing" (Part #56 in the exploded diagram).

Once that is done the rest should come fairly easily. The lower bearing is adjusted with the "Guide Block Bracket".

oldc6 · Post by **oldc6** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:42 pm

Will attach some pictures to show what my machine looks like..
Bought off craigs a few years back. replaced the three roller bearings, and installed urethane tires otherwise have not touched it. What you see in the poor pictures is where the blade runs, and it seems to work just fine. I usually run the blade tighter than the indicator shows. otherwise the blade seems to loose......[ATTACH]22096[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22097[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22098[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]22099[/ATTACH]

jtevans · Post by **jtevans** » Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:54 pm

I appreciate the come back so quickly. I was thinking that my next move would be to check the "tracking" of the top tire, and your pictures seem to confirm this.

I think it is also wise to tear everything down, check for wear, attempt readjusting alignment of upper tire, then move on from there. At least this could be my starting point. I'm not in a hurry to use this thing, just now, but want to get it "right" so I can use it...if the bearings need replaced in my wheels, then that is something else also. This machine wasn't abused, but I believe it was just neglected...

I will make an effort to tear everything down again, soon, and take pictures as I move along, just in case I have a glitch, then I can revisit here and get ready to do some adjusting...

jtevans · Post by **jtevans** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:25 am

If the upper tire is sagging, out of line, would I take the sag out of it by readjusting the tension from the flat spring???

Or is there something else there that would cause it to sag...maybe the bottom wheel could be out of line, dragging the top down???...any opinions???

I haven't been able to get back to working on it just now, but my brain won't quit working on it...

jtevans · Post by **jtevans** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:32 am

In answering the question about the 1/2"-3/4" distance from blade to roller bearing...when the blade is mounted, and tensioned, the roller bearings are still sitting that distance behind the blade and I cannot get them any closer with adjustment...as if the whole assembly is sitting too far forward...I'll get pictures later to help explain.

Then the blade wants to "walk" to the front of each tire when they are rotated by hand. It will walk all of the way to the front edge of the tires...and still the bearings are just behind the blade by at least 1/2", not tracking onto them at all...

algale · Post by **algale** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:42 am

jtevans wrote:If the upper tire is sagging, out of line, would I take the sag out of it by readjusting the tension from the flat spring???

Or is there something else there that would cause it to sag...maybe the bottom wheel could be out of line, dragging the top down???...any opinions???

I haven't been able to get back to working on it just now, but my brain won't quit working on it...

Upper wheel should have a backwards tilt. Unlike all other bandsaws in this regard.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:23 pm

jtevans wrote:Then the blade wants to "walk" to the front of each tire when they are rotated by hand. It will walk all of the way to the front edge of the tires...and still the bearings are just behind the blade by at least 1/2", not tracking onto them at all...

Did you ever CHECK this?

"charlese

You are going to get several replies I think.

For starters place a long straight edge across the top wheel as near to the center as you can. (The center bearing will prevent you to reach the center.)
The straight edge should be about 1/4" to 3/8" in front of the top of the lower wheel. When this setting is reached, the blade will track near the rear of the wheels and against the "Auto Track Roller Bearing" (Part #56 in the exploded diagram).
"

jtevans · Post by **jtevans** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:15 pm

Haven't had a chance to do "the-straightedge-thing" yet, I have to work for a living, imagine that. And on top of that I'm working nightshifts right now. I will try to get a chance to straightedge it in the morning, just after I'm home from work...I believe that is where some of my problem lies...

Thanks again, and I'll keep everyone posted on the latest developments...I'll try most anything once !!!

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