Shopsmith Forums

I do not know what might be causing all the noise, but a mechanics stethascope could help you track down it's exact location. They are available at your local auto parts store and are not too expensive.

Tim

I switched blades on Dr Daves bandsaw and was sometime getting a really loud squealing noise. His bandsaw has the latest ballbearing upgrade but it was the auto-track bearings that was making the noise. A little oil did wonders but I was real surprised that the ball bearing could make such noise on a almost new bandsaw. I know the old auto-track and the upper and lower guide roller and bushing can make lots of noise. I always take them out and check/lubicate them when working on older bandsaws. I have several retro-kits but have not upgraded my personal bandsaws as the old rollers and bushings give me no problems.

Bill Mayo

deanthom wrote:Coming to this compendium of information before doing any disassembly or troubleshooting.

Facts:
[list=1][*] Long ago lost my bandsaw manual.
[*] Blew a 1/2" blade.
[*] Had NO noise with the 1/2" blade.
[*] Installed a new Timber Wolf blade, using their low tension method.[/list]
Well, to make the story short, the bandsaw's new name is BANSHEE. Blade tracks well, no drift, tolerances are fine, running close to center of tires.

Thoughts??[/color]

I'm presently fighting that problem myself. My bandsaw is 20 years old but was never used that much. The saw always made interesting noises but lately it has turned into a shriek. At first I was convinced it was the upper tracking bearing. I isolated the bearing and it reduced the noise but shriek was still there only quieter.
I then convinced myself it was the upper bearings. So I pulled the upper wheel and greased the bearing. No sign of wear. Again the saw got quieter but the shriek is still there only softer. I have isolated the guide bearing both upper and lower and since it isn't the tracking or upper bearing it has to be the lower wheel axle bearings. I can't understand how they could be bad with minimal use and extra care I give the saw.

I going to play around a bit more before I declare it is those bearings.
The thing the frustrates me is this saw was never quiet. I only ever used an old band saw in high school which was noisy and then I used a bandsaw in a chair factory but it was nearly worn out and 20 years later when I got my SS bandsaw I assumed the noise was normal band saw noise. Now that I have been around other bandsaws I learning just how noisey my SS bandsaw really is/was. Each thing I do seems to tone down the noise but the shriek is still there and has gotten to sound almost ghostly.
Ed

Is there excessive vibration along with the shriek?

ericolson wrote:Is there excessive vibration along with the shriek?

In my case I can not detect any excessive vibration. If I take the blade off and run the machine both the shriek and all movement is gone. I think what movement I do have is a very slight bump of tire.
Ed

Ed in Tampa wrote:In my case I can not detect any excessive vibration. If I take the blade off and run the machine both the shriek and all movement is gone. I think what movement I do have is a very slight bump of tire.
Ed

This sounds, no pun intended, like guide bearings. I had a slight squealing which stopped as soon as I replaced them. I've got a start-up squealing noise on my 30" bandsaw, but I think that one is a belt-tension issue.

deanthom wrote:Eric, I have cool blocks installed on mine. I'm going to take some of my own advice and go visit my tool guy and buy some bearing loob. He brags on it for routers, so it HAS to be easier on bandsaw bearings than on router, right??

I'm also going to make sure that I have good, positive contact with my tension bearings and those back of the blade bearings, just in case...

More when I know more.

I have isolated the guide bearings and I also have cool blocks installed. It seems to be the lower bearings and only with tension. Like I said I want to play around a little bit before I begin tearing into them. I had myself totally convinced it was the upper guide but after lubing it I don't see how it is possible.

Last thing I did was laid the bandsaw on it side with the drive shaft pointing up and ran miracle oil around the bearing. For those not familar with miracle oil let me just say I used one drop in our wall clock and 6 months later I realized the sewing machine sitting under it had been totally lubed. Seriously it is a very thin oil that migrates like pentrating oil only it is an excellent lubricant.
I will try the saw in a few days and see if the oil migrating into the bearing changed anything.
Ed

Dean;

I ordered the cool blocks a couple of days ago, along with the bandsaw offset tubes. My power is back on, so I want to get busy in the shop. However, my yard is still trashed and that needs to get cleaned up first. Mind you, my yard is about 1 acre in front and 2 acres in back. Doesn't include the 10 acres behind the yard. Uh-uh, no way.

Ed;

Let us know how it goes. I second your opinion on the Miracle Oil (Marvel Mystery Oil). Great lubricant! But I learned the hard way to be reeeaaalllll careful how much I applied to various moving parts.