Bandsaw bearing question?

Re: Bandsaw bearing question?

Walter Ahlgrim

The grease in sealed bearing dries out in about 20 years and turns into waxy rocks. Any sealed bearing has reached the end of its useful life after 20 years is due for replacement.

Walt

Re: Bandsaw bearing question?

John K Jordan

Remove the bearing. Try spinning it by hand. If it doesn't spin well or makes a sound the usual thing to do is replace it. The number of the bearing is imprinted on the side somewhere. Order an exact replacement. I usually get enough to replace all of them since they are cheap. You can get them from any bearing shop or from Amazon.

If you are cheap, you can to an unusual thing and try to revive the bad bearing. Simply put a bit of PB-Blaster or WD-40 or other thin penetrant on each side of the bearing where the to moving parts are in contact. Spin a few times by hand. This will often make the bearing work again nicely, at least for a while. I have done this several times with success. If the bearings corroded or worn internally you'll know it.

JKJ

Re: Bandsaw bearing question?

Buckaroo

Have wondered many year, if ya put some wheel bearing grease in bottom of qt. metal can ,place bearing on top of grease, heat bottom of can till grease is liquified, bearing is well covered, maintain it this way for several minutes hoping the thin liquid grease will penetrate the seals. Let it cool, will take longer for metal to completely cool, maybe drawing IN SOME GREASE!!!!!!!s!!!! Whata ya thoughts. U smart arsses dont git in to THIS.

grease in the bearing

John K Jordan

>>>Have wondered many year, if ya put some wheel bearing grease in bottom of qt. metal can ,place bearing on top of grease, heat bottom of can till grease is liquified, ... Let it cool, will take longer for metal to completely cool, maybe drawing IN SOME GREASE

Grease in the bearing would slow down a bearing, perhaps a problem for bandsaw bearings which should never touch the blade when idling, but should spin up quickly when they do touch during a cut.. People who made fidget spinners often carefully cleaned out any grease in the bearings.

My observation is that fine sawdust and sap/resin from green wood can create friction in the narrow contact ring between the bearing hub and seal. A very thin viscosity lubricating fluid appears to clean this up and make a clogged bearing run freely again, at least for a while. I haven't tried it buy perhaps cleaning in alcohol or some other light solvent would also work, perhaps in an ultrasonic cleaner.

BTW, when cleaning up bearings I also carefully clean all outer surfaces.

JKJ

Check the tires

paul in AZ

My Jet 18" made thumping noises that turned out to be a tire that was breaking down. I also had a bearing go bad once. Different noise.

If it is a bad bearing these are readily available and inexpensive at any ball bearing store. If they can't look up the exact size bring the old one in and they'll match it.

To be Clear,

Barry Irby

I am thinking the problem is in the main wheel bearing in the upper wheel. The intermittent noise happens when the machine is running, cutting or not cutting.

I had not considered the guide bearings, Carter, much newer than the machine, but because the noise is consistent, I doubt it's them. Now that I have been prompted, I will check them closely.

The sad part of this is I just realized the machine is about 20+ years old. In my mind, it's my new bandsaw and I just got it.

Re: To be Clear,

John K Jordan

Take off the blade and rotate the wheel by hand. If you hear or feel anything, that bearing can be replaced too.

JKJ