Shopsmith Forums

This is my first post...(really enjoy this forum greatly) - I have a 1956 era Mark V with a circa 1983 bandsaw. I read all the posts regarding the bandsaw's infamous "squealing" bearing (one near the lower blade guide) that many user's report and have attempted to correct. Here's my question:

I have recently retired and plan to use the bandsaw more in the future. Does this bearing need to be replaced when it starts to make this squealing sound to prevent damage, or just to stop a "noise" annoyance? I ask because it seems in the posts that installing a new bearing quiets the saw for a few months and then the squeal normally returns.

I don't care about the noise; I just don't want to hurt either myself or the saw. Thanks for your opinions in advance.

This sorta like Pandora's box! I am sure there are varying opinions on this.

To me the main concern would be WHAT is causing the squeal. If it is a bearing going(gone) bad, then replacement is a no-brainer.

However if the noise is caused by the bearing not rotating the same speed as the passing blade, then if the bearing face is still smooth I do not think replacement is needed. But if that has caused the surface of the bearing to wear to the point of the irregular surface causing the blade to not run straight then replacing is also indicated.

Bottom line - as long as the bearing does not cause the blade to wander, and the noise does not bother you, then don't bother replacing them. However laying in a spare would be a good idea just to have 'incase'.

I just switched the two bearings (near the upper and lower blade guides) and the saw sounds exactly the same. Both bearing seem tight and rotate freely, so from your post it seems that perhaps the lower bearing "squeals" because it is not rotating at the absolute full speed of the running blade. Thanks for your opinion.