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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

How to tell if your bearings are bad?

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How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#1

How to tell if your bearings are bad?

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi all,

I realize that this may fall into the category of questions like "how do you know when your gouge is dull", but I think the bearings on my Jet Mini may be going.

How can I tell for sure that they are or aren't?

Here's what I know.

When I run the lathe, I sometimes get a clicking sounds coming from the headstock.

When I remove power and take the belt off the pully, I can spin the spindle and it doesn't make any noise. Very smooth, very quiet.

When I put the belt on the pully (I've only tried this on low, 2 and 3rd selection) and let the lathe run without tightening the motor clamp, it runs fine. Very smooth, very quiet. When I put a little pressure downward on the motor and then clamp it down, I get the click click click, even when spinning it by hand.

I've noticed that there may be a very slight upward play in the spindle. Sometimes, when hand sanding, it feels like the piece "clicks" up a little as a put pressure on it to sand. I have grabbed the spindle and tried to move it up and down by hand, but I cannot replicate the "click" I sometimes get.

Should I not be applying any pressure before I tighten the lock? When I don't apply any pressure, the lathe is far too easy to stall.

Any ideas or things I can try?

If it is the bearings, do I need any special tools to replace them? I've heard mention of a press, but I don't have a "press".

Thanks,

Mike

Oh yeah, the Jet Mini is 3 years old last month. I've turned 150 plus bowls/vessels of various sizes on it. Some have really stretched the 10" swing, others have been candlesticks. I have replaced the belt about 6 months ago.

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#2

Keith Tompkins

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Mike, what you describe doesn't sound like bearings....the usual noise is a whirring, roaring noise. The noise will usually be constant, and may change in frequency with speed changes. You will also develop spiraling on spindles when the bearings wear. Sounds more like a loose set-screw for a pulley. A tighter belt will agravate the problem.

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#3

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

JamieDonaldson

>When bearings are bad you will hear them grinding- if you don't hear them they're probably OK.

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#4

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

Pete in Holland, MI

>With a piece of large dowel or a broom stick handle a couple feet long, lean one end of the stick into your ear and the other end on a bearing housing. Lean into the dowl with your ear and any mechanical noises will be directly translated into your ear. Works well in engine work too. This will allow you to listen to a bearing both under power and while turning by hand.

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#5

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

Bill Turpin in WNC mountains

>This also works with a large screwdriver in the vicinity of 12 to 18 inches long. The handle needs to touch the flap thingy of your ear that you would press to close off the ear. The flap then acts as a drum head, and it magnifies the noise. You can pin point which of multuple bearings are bad.

BE CAREFUL TO NOT TOUCH ROTATING PARTS.

Bill in WNC mountains

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#6

Thanks!

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi all,

Thanks for your comments. I'll be back in the shop on Wed and I'll try to give a better listen and to give the lathe the once over checking the setscrews and pully tightness.

Thanks again,

Mike

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#7

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

Pascal Oudet

>I agree with Keith about the pulley. I had exactly the same symptoms that you describe, and the setscrew was a bit loose.

Pascal

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#8

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

Dennis Y

>MIke , check your belt for a hairline crack or slight missalignment of the pullys allowing one belt groove to ride up and snap down. Could also be something imbedded in the belt. Dennis

Re: How to tell if your bearings are bad?

#9

Spiraling

Mike L in Trabuco Canyon, CA

>Hi Keith,

Can you elaborate a bit on the spiraling you referred to. TIA.

Regards,

Mike

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