I have a contractor's table saw. Just recently, I've noticed that while the
blade is spinning down, I'm hearing some clicking and knocking. I take the
blade and belt off, spin the arbor by hand, nothing. I put the belt on and
spin it and sure enough, with the lateral pressure on the arbor, it starts
knocking. I've had the saw for about 6 years, only the last two of which
have been what I consider slightly more than hobbyist use.

Is it unreasonable to think that arbor bearings should last longer than
this? Or am I being picky?

By the way, I've always had it hooked up to dust collection and vacuum out
the cabinet once a week.

Joe



p.s. It's a craftsman

noonenparticular wrote:

I have a contractor's table saw. Just recently, I've noticed that while the
blade is spinning down, I'm hearing some clicking and knocking. I take the
blade and belt off, spin the arbor by hand, nothing. I put the belt on and
spin it and sure enough, with the lateral pressure on the arbor, it starts
knocking. I've had the saw for about 6 years, only the last two of which
have been what I consider slightly more than hobbyist use.

Is it unreasonable to think that arbor bearings should last longer than
this? Or am I being picky?

By the way, I've always had it hooked up to dust collection and vacuum out
the cabinet once a week.

Joe

p.s. It's a craftsman

Not too surprising...I suspect they'll be a standard bearing you can
replace relatively easily and inexpensively.

Is the belt too tight, perhaps? That'll do more to ruin a bearing than
most anything else.

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
noonenparticular wrote:

I have a contractor's table saw. Just recently, I've noticed that while
the
blade is spinning down, I'm hearing some clicking and knocking. I take
the
blade and belt off, spin the arbor by hand, nothing. I put the belt on
and
spin it and sure enough, with the lateral pressure on the arbor, it
starts
knocking. I've had the saw for about 6 years, only the last two of which
have been what I consider slightly more than hobbyist use.

Is it unreasonable to think that arbor bearings should last longer than
this? Or am I being picky?

By the way, I've always had it hooked up to dust collection and vacuum
out
the cabinet once a week.

Joe

p.s. It's a craftsman

Not too surprising...I suspect they'll be a standard bearing you can
replace relatively easily and inexpensively.

Is the belt too tight, perhaps? That'll do more to ruin a bearing than
most anything else.

Thanks Duane,

The belt is tightened via the standard motor on a sprung hinged plate I
don't know how I'd adjust the tension if I was even of a mind to.

Following the "buy a new car when you need a windshield wiper" philosophy, I
wonder if this is a good enough reason to chuck the contractor saw and get a
good cabinet saw???? (rhetorical).

Joe

noonenparticular wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
noonenparticular wrote:

I have a contractor's table saw. Just recently, I've noticed that while
the
blade is spinning down, I'm hearing some clicking and knocking. I take
the
blade and belt off, spin the arbor by hand, nothing. I put the belt on
and
spin it and sure enough, with the lateral pressure on the arbor, it
starts
knocking. I've had the saw for about 6 years, only the last two of which
have been what I consider slightly more than hobbyist use.

Is it unreasonable to think that arbor bearings should last longer than
this? Or am I being picky?

By the way, I've always had it hooked up to dust collection and vacuum
out
the cabinet once a week.

Joe

p.s. It's a craftsman

Not too surprising...I suspect they'll be a standard bearing you can
replace relatively easily and inexpensively.

Is the belt too tight, perhaps? That'll do more to ruin a bearing than
most anything else.

Thanks Duane,

The belt is tightened via the standard motor on a sprung hinged plate I
don't know how I'd adjust the tension if I was even of a mind to.

OK, some were designed w/ a fixed mount so it was possible to really
crank 'em tight. That can cause flat spots on bearing races when it
sits which can get noisy w/ time.

Following the "buy a new car when you need a windshield wiper" philosophy, I
wonder if this is a good enough reason to chuck the contractor saw and get a
good cabinet saw???? (rhetorical).

Took far less than that for me...

"noonenparticular" wrote in message
Following the "buy a new car when you need a windshield wiper" philosophy,
I wonder if this is a good enough reason to chuck the contractor saw and
get a good cabinet saw???? (rhetorical).

Joe

Once you take off the belt, it never goes back on right and you will have
nothing but problems. Save that grief and get a Unisaw today.

In article ,
noonenparticular wrote:
I have a contractor's table saw. Just recently, I've noticed that while the
blade is spinning down, I'm hearing some clicking and knocking. I take the
blade and belt off, spin the arbor by hand, nothing. I put the belt on and
spin it and sure enough, with the lateral pressure on the arbor, it starts
knocking. I've had the saw for about 6 years, only the last two of which
have been what I consider slightly more than hobbyist use.

Is it unreasonable to think that arbor bearings should last longer than
this? Or am I being picky?

By the way, I've always had it hooked up to dust collection and vacuum out
the cabinet once a week.

Joe



p.s. It's a craftsman



Have you ruled out noise from the motor or belt itself?


--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

Lawrence Wasserman wrote:

....

Have you ruled out noise from the motor or belt itself?

....

Shhh, Larry! Read his followup...

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
news:9yDYe.16457$Zg5.14348@trndny05...

"noonenparticular" wrote in message
Following the "buy a new car when you need a windshield wiper"
philosophy, I wonder if this is a good enough reason to chuck the
contractor saw and get a good cabinet saw???? (rhetorical).

Joe

Once you take off the belt, it never goes back on right and you will have
nothing but problems. Save that grief and get a Unisaw today.

Is THAT why the Unisaw's have 3 belts? in case the first one doesn't go
back on right? Dat's good engi-ma-neering

I'm a little suprised it didn't last longer I've got a Craftsman and not
seen any bearing problems only fence issues. It has been used a lot in
commercial setting and was purchased sometime in the late 50's. I've
replaced the fence and pullies as well as a few belts. Now running link-
belt but thus far no bearing problems.

What you cutting ? I do some dado but mainly 2 x 4 and 3/4 plywood is the
feed for it.

- Guess you could have go a lemon too.

woodcollector wrote:

I'm a little suprised it didn't last longer I've got a Craftsman and not
seen any bearing problems only fence issues. It has been used a lot in
commercial setting and was purchased sometime in the late 50's. I've
replaced the fence and pullies as well as a few belts. Now running link-
belt but thus far no bearing problems.

What you cutting ? I do some dado but mainly 2 x 4 and 3/4 plywood is the
feed for it.

- Guess you could have go a lemon too.


Just a bearing going doesn't surprise me a lick...

noonenparticular wrote:
I have a contractor's table saw. Just recently, I've noticed that while the
blade is spinning down, I'm hearing some clicking and knocking. I take the
blade and belt off, spin the arbor by hand, nothing. I put the belt on and
spin it and sure enough, with the lateral pressure on the arbor, it starts
knocking. I've had the saw for about 6 years, only the last two of which
have been what I consider slightly more than hobbyist use.

Is it unreasonable to think that arbor bearings should last longer than
this? Or am I being picky?

By the way, I've always had it hooked up to dust collection and vacuum out
the cabinet once a week.

Joe



p.s. It's a craftsman



Maybe the arbor pulley is loose or does not fit snugly on the arbor
(hole is worn out of round)? Had this happen to me once. With a new
pulley the saw runs nice and quiet.

J

I had the same problem on a rockwell contractor saw. It was a loose
tightening set-screw on the pulley.

I had the same problem on a rockwell contractor saw. It was a loose
tightening set-screw on the pulley.

I had the same problem on a rockwell contractor saw. It was a loose
set-screw on the pulley.
After tightening no more noise.