Shopsmith Forums

I recently purchased a used SS bandsaw and after cleaning out the old sawdust, installing a new Olsen 70 1/2in X 1/2 in. saw blade, and making some tuning adjustments, I replaced the cover but it now binds on both wheels; on the bottom of the top wheel and the top of the bottom wheel. Saw blade turns free until I replace the cover. What am I doing wrong? Saw nothing in owners manual about this issue.
Thanks for any assistance.

With no blade mounted and the cover on, do both wheels turn freely? The keeper/retaining clip could be missing from the lower wheel and it may have moved out toward the cover.

Where is the cover hitting the wheels? Are they out to far and it is hitting the whole wheel or is it just rubbing on the wheel in one spot?

I almost have to guess the wheel or wheels are sticking out too far and the cover is rubbing on their circumference. In that case a retainer is missing.

Your blade is 1 1/2" too small. It is pulling the wheels too close together and making them hit the cover. The blades should be 72". The short blade is moving the wheels 3/4" closer together.

P.S. 'The manual' says " 72 inches plus or minus a half inch ".

JPG40504 wrote:Your blade is 1 1/2" too small. It is pulling the wheels too close together and making them hit the cover. The blades should be 72". The short blade is moving the wheels 3/4" closer together.

P.S. 'The manual' says " 72 inches plus or minus a half inch ".

I agree that the blade being used is shorter than what is specified. However, I am unable to envision how that is moving the wheels closer together.

To install the blade, the tension must be removed which doe brings the upper wheel closer to the lower wheel. Assuming the wheels were close enough together to install the smaller blade, proper tension would simpy occur at an incorrect location on the tension gauge.

Doing this may incorrectly locate the upper wheel and cause it to rub but the lower wheel is stationary. Why does it now rub?

Pictures please. They keep us from guessing.

PS: I just went to the shop for a look see. With the cover installed, I can slide my fingers between the bottom edge of the upper wheel and the cover. There is somewhere between a 1/4" - 1/2" clearance. That wheel would have to be way out of position to rub and would therefore be out of alignment with the other wheel.

Clearance for the upper wheel is less but then that wheel is permanently mounted (unless the retainer is missing as others have said). What we are discussing here should be causing a tracking problem and could be hazardous. I would advise against running the bandsaw with the cover off until you figure out what is happening.

Just measured the saw blade and it measures 70.5 inches. Woodcraft in Raleigh sold me this one for the SS and said it would work. NOT, because it will not allow the tensioner to raise the upper wheel enough to clear the housing at the bottom edge of the tire. Now what did I do with that receipt?
You guys are a real asset to SS owners. Thanks,

The upper wheel pivot arm and the tension 'arm' move simultaneously. The entire assembly rotates on a post. Thus when the wheel is 'lowered', the tension arm moves towards the rear.

With the tension adjusting screw backed out completely, the upper wheel will move up/down about 5/8". The tension is calibrated to the spring bar. The calibration will be accurate regardless of where in the range of the adjusting screw the tension is achieved.

That is less than the 3/4" mentioned above.

I do not understand how the lower wheel can be moved so as to make the top of the wheel contact the cover unless the cover is being mounted too low in an attempt to clear the upper wheel which is too low.

In any event a 70 1/2" blade is too small.

JPG40504 wrote:The upper wheel pivot arm and the tension 'arm' move simultaneously. The entire assembly rotates on a post. Thus when the wheel is 'lowered', the tension arm moves towards the rear.

With the tension adjusting screw backed out completely, the upper wheel will move up/down about 5/8". The tension is calibrated to the spring bar. The calibration will be accurate regardless of where in the range of the adjusting screw the tension is achieved.

That is less than the 3/4" mentioned above.

I do not understand how the lower wheel can be moved so as to make the top of the wheel contact the cover unless the cover is being mounted too low in an attempt to clear the upper wheel which is too low.

In any event a 70 1/2" blade is too small.

I doubt that.