Shopsmith Forums

My SS has suddenly developed a squealing noise. It is high pitched and very loud. It almost sounds like something is rubbing against a sheet metal edge somewhere. It doesn't start as soon as I turn on the power but after it runs for a few minutes the noise starts. Once it starts and I power down it starts back quickly when I power back up.

Everything is cleaned and lubed as I do this on a regular basis. The noise happens at different speeds and in different functions.

I've slid back the belt cover and removed the logo plate. I can't find anything that looks amiss. The noise still happens with the headstock open so it's not rubbing the belt cover. No bright shiny spots that indicate anything was rubbing anywhere else either. Everything seems to turn freely by hand.

I'm at a loss and looking for advice.

I am assuming that this happens with the carriage pulled away from the headstock and NO accessories attached. In other words - the headstock ONLY.

I believe you have a bearing about to seize!

Does the noise, once it has started, change with a change in speed?

dusty wrote:I am assuming that this happens with the carriage pulled away from the headstock and NO accessories attached. In other words - the headstock ONLY.

Yes

I believe you have a bearing about to seize!

I've never changed any bearings but I did upgrade to a 2 bearing quill a few years ago. My SS is about 28 years old.

Does the noise, once it has started, change with a change in speed?

No, the noise stays about the same regardless of the speed.

The drive belt is nearly new. I changed it to a link belt back in April. The Poly-V was changed when I did the quill upgrade which was probably 5 or 6 years ago.

tdubnik wrote:The drive belt is nearly new. I changed it to a link belt back in April. The Poly-V was changed when I did the quill upgrade which was probably 5 or 6 years ago.

Possible motor bearing or a pig is stuck inside.

The PolyV belt may need re-adjustment or may have a bearing that is dried out and needs replaced. If you have a stethoscope, try listening to difference parts of the headstock and see if you can isolate the sound. I doubt that it is the drive belt unless you made the belt a link too long and it is running a little loose (should be 35 links for the PowerTwist red belt). I'm guessing it's the small bearing on the idler shaft where the speed control attaches.

Hi,

I'd have to go with a belt slipping for squealing. We have all heard power steering belts on cars do that...

So check the belts to see if that might be the issue. It could be that a bearing or some other problem that is causing the belt to slip so it might be best to loosen/remove the belts to see if anything is hard to turn. (The poly v-belt can feel tight and still slip, so do not attempt to over tighten but rather use belt dressing if this is the problem.)

If the sound is more mechanical it might be the fan sheave touching the motor bracket???

Ed

I know the instructions say not too, but try running the headstock with the belt cover off. Let the sound start, if you a daring enough to let it run again, turn off the motor, remove the cover and start it again.

Watch to see if any of the sheeves or belts are sticking, stopping. Could be one of the sheeves is sticking and not moving when the speed is changed, which is making your belt slip. KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE HEADSTOCK WHILE IT IS RUNNING. One of the sheeves can also be slipping on one of the shafts, which probably means the mounting hardware just needs tightening. If a sheeve is slipping, this can make a very troubling sound.

Also, try and listen if the sound is coming from the top of the headstock or the belly. You can do this without removing the belt cover. If it's coming from the belly, could be a motor bearing going out.

Also, check and see if the quill is hard to turn by hand after the machine is warmed up and the motor is off. You can turn the quill a bit by hand if everything is okay, but won't be able too if one of the quill bearings is seizing.

If the sound starts after the machine is warmed up, it usually means one of two things, slipping belt or bad bearing, or both.

Hope you find the trouble before it gets to bad. Maybe its time for a Bill Mayo tune-up.

woodburner wrote:I know the instructions say not too, but try running the headstock with the belt cover off. Let the sound start, if you a daring enough to let it run again, turn off the motor, remove the cover and start it again.

Watch to see if any of the sheeves or belts are sticking, stopping. Could be one of the sheeves is sticking and not moving when the speed is changed, which is making your belt slip. KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE HEADSTOCK WHILE IT IS RUNNING. One of the sheeves can also be slipping on one of the shafts, which probably means the mounting hardware just needs tightening. If a sheeve is slipping, this can make a very troubling sound.

Also, try and listen if the sound is coming from the top of the headstock or the belly. You can do this without removing the belt cover. If it's coming from the belly, could be a motor bearing going out.

Also, check and see if the quill is hard to turn by hand after the machine is warmed up and the motor is off. You can turn the quill a bit by hand if everything is okay, but won't be able too if one of the quill bearings is seizing.

If the sound starts after the machine is warmed up, it usually means one of two things, slipping belt or bad bearing, or both.

Hope you find the trouble before it gets to bad. Maybe its time for a Bill Mayo tune-up.

I think Motor bearings or something directly attached to the Motor(speed changes do NOT change the sound). You might want to take a look between the fan sheave and the motor!

The motor was replaced a few years ago and I don't think that is the problem. I will need to check whether the motor sheave is rubbing the sheet metal between the sheave and the motor. It kind of sounds like the noise is coming from INSIDE the headstock somewhere.

I'll spend some time tomorrow checking the suggestions made and to see if I can isolate the sound a little better. I have been reluctant to run the machine once the noise starts. I don't want to damage my headstock further so have been careful to shut down within a few seconds of the noise.