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My 14" Jet started making knocking sounds coming from the wheel pulley. The aluminum pulley was out of round and had hairline cracks in it. I replaced it with a machined steel one, but the sound persists. The shaft appears to run without runout and the bearing is tight. I checked the bolt holding the wheel on the other end of the shaft. Only thing I haven't tried is replacing the v-belt. Any suggestions or ideas?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Have you tried to turn everything by hand and see if the knocking sound presist?

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Yes I did, but no knocking sound. But then I can't turn the wheel very fast by hand.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

It could be possible that something is loose or there is a worn out bearing somewhere... I don't know since I don't have a band saw. Is the knocking noise very loud or minor? Or try checking the blade making sure there isn't anything broken...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I did one thing bad with my Jet bandsaw by following directions. I don't think it is related to your problem, but I'll mention just in case and also for those who might do the same thing I did.


The little rollers that hold the blade in place above and below the table are on eccentrics, so you can rotate them against the blade. The directions said to do that, but did not say whether to rotate from above the desired position or below. I rotated from above. Then when using the saw, a chip of wood broke off and followed the blade to the roller below the table and wedged momentarily, pulling the roller with it and making it too tight against the blade, thus forcing the blade forward to cut through the little aluminum insert, which is replacable so no big loss. It took a long time for me to figure out why I could not get the blade to track back into place. So, if you always bring the rollers up into position, rather than down, this cannot happen, because a similar chip would only push the roller looser--not tighter.

I would check to see if there are any chunks missing on the v belt. If it is old or sat for very long without using it, the belt can develop "set" in it where it makes a tight radius coming around the pulley. Every time it comes around it'll thump and vibrate. Another thing to do is to take the belt all the way off and then kick the motor over. That way you'll know if the better if the noise is from the motor end or the saw end. Then hook the belt up and take the blade off. That will isolate just the drive wheel.

Darrin

My other suggestion would be to post this in the off topic area. Or even at woodworking.com in their "Tool" section. You'll likely to get more people looking for appropriate threads. We'll get it fixed one way or another.

Darrin

Darrin, good suggestions. I isolated the motor and its ok. Next I'm going to put on a Powertwist belt since I am suspicious of the old v-belt. I thought I'd get all kinds of input since virtually all luthiers use bandsaws? Thanks

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I have a bandsaw problem.......I don't have one!

Sorry I'm no help.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

One other thought....don't know if you tried replacing the blade. Possible that it might have a bend in the blade.

Yeah, it can be either a kink in the blade or the belt, going lump-lump-lump as it spins. Also, make SURE that the upper and lower wheels are coplanar - look in the owners manual for that adjustment, but that will definitely hose you up.

Also, on a bandsaw, the blade is the reference, and you adjust the table to get your 90 degrees - unlike a tablesaw where the table is the reference and you adjust the blade.

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"Everyone wants to BE something, but nobody wants to BECOME something" - William Cumpiano

Are you hearing the blade's weld going through the guides,if they are too tight? If so,the blade will eventually break. make sure the weld is FILED,not ground,smooth.

Do yourself a favor and replace the v belt with a Power-Twist Red Link Belt ( about $6 ft.). This will virtually eliminate all the vibration in your saw and it will run quieter. They are the cats meow!

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Dean

Yup, I put on a new pulley and powertwist belt and now my bandsaw just hums along.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA