My father left me a Rockwell 14 band saw. It's pretty old. The blade is having
trouble staying in alignment. I was told that the drive wheel or some other part
involved in the movement of the blade has probably dried up and is not
replaceable because of the age of the saw.

Can anyone shed any light on this poorly described problem? Are parts available,
or do I just junk the saw?

On 10/19/2011 8:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
My father left me a Rockwell 14 band saw. It's pretty old. The blade is having
trouble staying in alignment. I was told that the drive wheel or some other part
involved in the movement of the blade has probably dried up and is not
replaceable because of the age of the saw.

Can anyone shed any light on this poorly described problem? Are parts available,
or do I just junk the saw?

There are rubber "tires" on the wheels. They _may_ (or may not) be the
problem; it may simply be out of alignment.

After-market tires are available as well as from Delta if they do turn
out to be the problem. One first step to check is to use a straightedge
and ensure the two wheels are coplanar--if they're not for some reason,
it's very difficult to get a blade to track even if the tires are still ok.

Definitely it is not at all likely there's anything fundamentally wrong
w/ the saw; I'd wonder if the person who told you it was likely
irrepairable wasn't fishing to "take it off your hands for you".

I'd suggest you go to the

rec.woodworking

group instead of a.h.r for more specifics...

Actually, I'll post this followup there as well.

--

dpb wrote:
On 10/19/2011 8:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
My father left me a Rockwell 14 band saw. It's pretty old. The blade
is having
trouble staying in alignment. I was told that the drive wheel or some
other part
involved in the movement of the blade has probably dried up and is not
replaceable because of the age of the saw.

Can anyone shed any light on this poorly described problem? Are parts
available,
or do I just junk the saw?

There are rubber "tires" on the wheels. They _may_ (or may not) be the
problem; it may simply be out of alignment.

After-market tires are available as well as from Delta if they do turn
out to be the problem. One first step to check is to use a straightedge
and ensure the two wheels are coplanar--if they're not for some reason,
it's very difficult to get a blade to track even if the tires are still ok.

Definitely it is not at all likely there's anything fundamentally wrong
w/ the saw; I'd wonder if the person who told you it was likely
irrepairable wasn't fishing to "take it off your hands for you".

I'd suggest you go to the

rec.woodworking

group instead of a.h.r for more specifics...

Actually, I'll post this followup there as well.

--

you may want to take a look here and see if there is any information
that will help you out:
http://vintagemachinery.org/
or
http://oldtoolheaven.com/links/links.htm

mcp6453 wrote:
My father left me a Rockwell 14 band saw. It's pretty old. The blade is having
trouble staying in alignment. I was told that the drive wheel or some other part
involved in the movement of the blade has probably dried up and is not
replaceable because of the age of the saw.

Can anyone shed any light on this poorly described problem? Are parts available,
or do I just junk the saw?

Plenty of parts are available. Remove the blade. Make sure the upper wheel
bearing and the lower are not sloppy. Replace the bearings if so. If not
replace tires. They'll be tight. Heat them in very hot water before you try
to install them.

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:01:02 -0400, mcp6453 wrote:

My father left me a Rockwell 14 band saw. It's pretty old. The blade is having
trouble staying in alignment. I was told that the drive wheel or some other part

"Or some other part". So he hasn't seen the saw, yet he knows the
part is not available!!! Not new and not scavenged off another
machine. And can't be made. even ;by you! I wouldn't trust
anyone's disgnosis of Terry Schiavo without seeing her, or of,
distinction noted, your saw.


involved in the movement of the blade has probably dried up and is not
replaceable because of the age of the saw.

Can anyone shed any light on this poorly described problem? Are parts available,
or do I just junk the saw?

Not until you know if it needs a part and what part it needs.


Open the cover and turn the wheels by hand, watching what happens.

Also, what Fred said. And everyone else for that matter.

On 10/19/2011 8:01 AM, mcp6453 wrote:
My father left me a Rockwell 14 band saw. It's pretty old. The blade is having
trouble staying in alignment. I was told that the drive wheel or some other part
involved in the movement of the blade has probably dried up and is not
replaceable because of the age of the saw.

Can anyone shed any light on this poorly described problem? Are parts available,
or do I just junk the saw?

The saws are eminently rebuildable. Parts are readily available from
Delta or from many other sources.

Move the bearings behind the blade back out of the way both above and
below the table. Move the guide blocks out away from each side of the
blade both above and below the table. Clean the pitch and lumps off the
rubber tires. They would need to be in awful condition to need to
change them, but that is possible. Let's assume they are not all the
way to awful. Install a blade on the tires and tighten to a sound about
Middle C on a piano. Turn the top wheel by hand and adjust the tip of
the top wheel until the blade runs in the center of the top wheel. If
this is working out you can check that the wheels are coplanar with a
long straightedge. The only wheel that can be adjusted is the top wheel
by installing a washer behind the wheel to move it out or removing a
washer to move it in. Here, again, they would have to be out of plane
more than an 1/8 to worry abut them. Once you have the blade tracking,
turn the unit on to see how you're doing. Assuming the blade runs true,
move the bearings up to about a 1/32 behind the blade, both above and
below. Turn the machine off. Don't squeeze the blade guides together,
but bring them up to touch each side of the blade and make sure they are
lightly touching each side of the blade, but far enough back to NOT get
into the teeth. Enjoy!

Of course, I could have said it's just not worth fixing, but I would
take it off your hands for spare parts. I'll send my address if you
want to head that way.