SS Bandsaw Shrieker

[deanthom]

Coming to this compendium of information before doing any disassembly or troubleshooting.

Facts:
Long ago lost my bandsaw manual.
Blew a 1/2" blade.
Had NO noise with the 1/2" blade.
Installed a new Timber Wolf blade, using their low tension method.

Well, to make the story short, the bandsaw's new name is BANSHEE. Blade tracks well, no drift, tolerances are fine, running close to center of tires.

Thoughts??

[a1gutterman]

I do not know what might be causing all the noise, but a mechanics stethascope could help you track down it's exact location. They are available at your local auto parts store and are not too expensive.

Tim

[billmayo]

I switched blades on Dr Daves bandsaw and was sometime getting a really loud squealing noise. His bandsaw has the latest ballbearing upgrade but it was the auto-track bearings that was making the noise. A little oil did wonders but I was real surprised that the ball bearing could make such noise on a almost new bandsaw. I know the old auto-track and the upper and lower guide roller and bushing can make lots of noise. I always take them out and check/lubicate them when working on older bandsaws. I have several retro-kits but have not upgraded my personal bandsaws as the old rollers and bushings give me no problems.

Bill Mayo

Coming to this compendium of information before doing any disassembly or troubleshooting.

Facts:
Long ago lost my bandsaw manual.
Blew a 1/2" blade.
Had NO noise with the 1/2" blade.
Installed a new Timber Wolf blade, using their low tension method.

Well, to make the story short, the bandsaw's new name is BANSHEE. Blade tracks well, no drift, tolerances are fine, running close to center of tires.

Thoughts??

[Ed in Tampa]

I'm presently fighting that problem myself. My bandsaw is 20 years old but was never used that much. The saw always made interesting noises but lately it has turned into a shriek. At first I was convinced it was the upper tracking bearing. I isolated the bearing and it reduced the noise but shriek was still there only quieter.
I then convinced myself it was the upper bearings. So I pulled the upper wheel and greased the bearing. No sign of wear. Again the saw got quieter but the shriek is still there only softer. I have isolated the guide bearing both upper and lower and since it isn't the tracking or upper bearing it has to be the lower wheel axle bearings. I can't understand how they could be bad with minimal use and extra care I give the saw.

I going to play around a bit more before I declare it is those bearings.
The thing the frustrates me is this saw was never quiet. I only ever used an old band saw in high school which was noisy and then I used a bandsaw in a chair factory but it was nearly worn out and 20 years later when I got my SS bandsaw I assumed the noise was normal band saw noise. Now that I have been around other bandsaws I learning just how noisey my SS bandsaw really is/was. Each thing I do seems to tone down the noise but the shriek is still there and has gotten to sound almost ghostly.
Ed

[ericolson]

Is there excessive vibration along with the shriek?

[Ed in Tampa]

Is there excessive vibration along with the shriek?

In my case I can not detect any excessive vibration. If I take the blade off and run the machine both the shriek and all movement is gone. I think what movement I do have is a very slight bump of tire.
Ed

[ericolson]

In my case I can not detect any excessive vibration. If I take the blade off and run the machine both the shriek and all movement is gone. I think what movement I do have is a very slight bump of tire.
Ed
This sounds, no pun intended, like guide bearings. I had a slight squealing which stopped as soon as I replaced them. I've got a start-up squealing noise on my 30" bandsaw, but I think that one is a belt-tension issue.

[deanthom]

Eric, I have cool blocks installed on mine. I'm going to take some of my own advice and go visit my tool guy and buy some bearing loob. He brags on it for routers, so it HAS to be easier on bandsaw bearings than on router, right??

I'm also going to make sure that I have good, positive contact with my tension bearings and those back of the blade bearings, just in case...

More when I know more.