Shopsmith Forums

I have a 11” bandsaw. All of the bearings run freely and it seems to be in good order except that the upper wheel arm is really stiff on its pivot and doesn’t move freely making it almost impossible to tension the blade properly. I’ve used penetrating oil to try to loosen it up. Ideally would like to take the arm off completely in order to clean it up and lubricate it but it won’t budge. Any suggestions on how to free it up and get it off?
Many thanks
George

gwjo wrote:I have a 11” bandsaw. All of the bearings run freely and it seems to be in good order except that the upper wheel arm is really stiff on its pivot and doesn’t move freely making it almost impossible to tension the blade properly. I’ve used penetrating oil to try to loosen it up. Ideally would like to take the arm off completely in order to clean it up and lubricate it but it won’t budge. Any suggestions on how to free it up and get it off?
Many thanks
George

Have you removed both the retaining clip AND the flat bar spring?

Yes. Done that.

gwjo wrote:Yes. Done that.

We need to see pictures.

Here is the photo. I’m thinking about using a gear puller to see if that will work.'

gwjo wrote:Here is the photo. I’m thinking about using a gear puller to see if that will work.'

Posting pictures can be a bit tricky. This thread will walk you through the process.
https://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/comm ... 19246.html

Are you trying to remove the wheel from the arm? Or are you trying to remove the arm from the casting? The wheel arm is held in place by a snap ring and a washer located above the tension scale. The wheel arm pivots on a stud that is permanently pressed into the main casting. Try to remove the snap ring and washer and put some PB Blaster into the pivot point. As long as things are moving now, putting the PB Blaster in and working the wheel arm back and forth until you get enough movement to work it off. Then clean everything and put a SMALL amount of grease on the pivot pin and re-assemble. DO NOT try to remove the pivot pin from the casting.
Bill V

Many thanks for the comments. I wasn’t able to get the arm fully off but was able to free it up sufficiently for it to work properly.
Lots of blaster spray, heat to the joint and tapping with a rubber mallet eventually worked. It has taken about a month to go from frozen solid to fully free! Happily, the tool looks good to go- all bearings are running free and I hope to be using it as soon as the new blades arrive.
Best wishes,
George