Shopsmith Forums

Last year I put new bearings in my bandsaw and at the same time I purchased new tires for it also. I did not install the tires at the same time as the bearings. After I installed the bearings it ran smooth and quiet so I kept using it and one of the old tires came off and wedged inside. I then put both new tires on and now it is noisey and has a slight vibiration to it and it sounds like a beaing is real noisey again. The tires I put on it are the no glue ones from Shopsmith. Can some one tell me what may have happened to cause these problems? Thanks Ivan

First, you need to remove the bandsaw cover and check the roundness of the wheels and they are not warped. I normally clamp something where I can put the end next to the tire edge of the wheel and slowly hand rotate and check each wheel. You want to check for both round and that the wheels are not wrapped (goes in and out as you turn the wheel). The aluminum wheels can be bent/warped when the tire came off.

If no problem, then not standing too close, power up the bandsaw at the slowest speed and watch for any blade vibration along its path. Watch the tires to see if they are stable on the wheels. Be sure to always keep fingers away from the open bandsaw. I listen to determine and try to see where any noise may be coming from.

I have found that some of the ball bearings seems to fail quite quickly. I have gone back to using the bronze rollers for a couple customers. I have switched to using 2 627Z "C rated" ball bearings at each of the 3 places on the bandsaw with success so far.