[Woodcarver] Bandsaw blade jumping off

[TWWOODWORK at aol.com]

This is in reply to Bill Smith's question about his bandsaw.
"Anyone have an idea what could be wrong with my band
saw its a sears  12". I do not have the book for it and
the blades keep coming off the wheels  when I start it
up even with a new blade. The top wheel will wobble
when  touched what does one need to do to fix this
problem so that I can use the  band saw?"
 
Answer:
If the top wheel  wobbles when you touch it, or has any wobble at all,  I 
think you have a bad bearing in your upper wheel. The wheel will  have to be 
removed, the old bearing pressed out and a new one pressed in. There  is a 
possibility that the wheel is loose and only needs to be tighten up, but I  would bet 
on a bad bearing.
    If you don't know how to press bearings, take  the wheel(s) to an 
automotive machine shop and they should be able to do it for  you. Bearings are 
rather standard and there is usually a number on all  bearing so the machine shop 
can get a replacement and press it in. 
    Machine shops have presses and "know how"for  removing and pressing in 
all kinds of bearings.
    When you remount the wheels, be sure that the upper  and lower wheel are 
in alignment. A straight edge can be used for this,  although you might have 
to remove the table to get a straight edge across both  wheels. I don't know if 
the Sears has an adjustment for changing the angle  on the upper wheel or 
not. It is a knob on the back of where the upper  wheel mounts. If it does, move 
it in  and out till  the blade rides on the center of the wheel. This will 
help it cut in a straight  line and also must be adjusted to keep the blade from 
jumping off.
    While you have the wheels off, check  the rubber tires on the wheels. 
They may need replacing too. When you say  the wheel wobbles, either the bearing 
is worn out or  defective. If worn  out, you must have a lot of miles on it 
and I would bet the tires on the wheels  also need replacement, and I would have 
new bearings put into the upper and  lower wheels.
    I would highly recommend getting one of the  standard bandsaw books. 
_Amazon.com:  Books: The Bandsaw Book_ 
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561582891/qid=1106258816/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-2608459-1623117)  It is by 
Lonnie Bird and sells for about $13.50. No  one should be without a bandsaw 
book. It will answer practically any question  you may have regarding the bandsaw.
     Fine Woodworking Magazine has an excellent  article in on of their fall 
issues re. setting up your band saw to cut straight.  It is excellent.
    Hope the above helps. If you have other questions,  would prefer you 
write to me off line. 
    Sincerely,
    Tom
    Thomas W. Horton
    Glen Mills, PA 
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