I have an old '50s vintage Craftsman horizontal 4 x 6 cut off saw -
predates the H/V stuff from today but the same general configuration. I
bought it in very used but functional condition about 15 years ago. A
couple of years ago the blade would not keep from coming off of the
wheels. Specifically the blade walks off of the non-driven wheel within
2 to 3 rotations of the wheel. I put the machine aside as I did not
have time to mess with it. Now I am trying to get it working again -
not that I have any more time to mess with it now but I am getting quite
annoyed at something that occupies space but is non functional.

So far I have: made a new bushing for the non driven wheel to keep it
from wobbling - no effect other than the wheel rotates smoothly with out
wobbling. I have installed the wheel backwards so that the teeth of the
blade ride on the wheel flange - this actually works to keep the blade
from walking off of the wheel but wears out the teeth and is chewing up
the flange on the wheel. I have replaced the tire - no positive
effect. I have tried 2 other blades no improvement. Knowing that belt
sanders use crown in the drums to keep the belt aligned, I tried to put
a bit of taper on the wheel under the tire. I put a couple of narrow
strips of aluminum foil tape (total build up of 0.008 inch) on the edge
of the wheel opposite of the flange (heel of the blade) hoping that the
cross sectional taper of the wheel would drive the blade down the
incline and that the backside (heel) of the blade would ride up against
the flange of the wheel - again no luck. I am flat out of ideas.
Suggestions please. If you are replying direct, remove the "nospam" in
my address. TIA.



There should be a tracking adjustment to tilt the wheel.

Your understanding of the effect of wheel crowning is backward. The blade
climbs up the crown, not down. If you want to try crowning, build up at the
flange.

John Martin