Subject: Got my JET Bandsaw, Wheel Alingment ?????

From: damian drewek <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 11:02:01 -0600

I got my 14" Jet bandsaw last might.  I did not purchase the book on
bandsaws because I found I have an article in an old WOOD magazine on
alignment, so I am following that.

To my suprise I found the wheels were not coplaner.  In tilting the
upper wheel, the top of the bottom wheel would not touch the straight
edge.  Per the article I placed a washer behind the rear wheel to bring
it out a bit and then I was able to align everything.

Is this normal to have to do this to a new saw?  The article leads me to
believe as long as it needs < 1/4" shim it's ok??  Any experiences with
this?? 

It runs fine though!
Damian

---

From: [email-masked] (Phil Rose)
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 16:06:44 -0400

> believe as long as it needs < 1/4" shim it's ok??  Any experiences with

Damian,
It's not entirely clear from your post what you did to test for wheel
coplanarity. 

You said "In tilting the upper wheel, the top of the bottom wheel would not
touch the straight edge."

When I do the test, I hold a straight edge across the lower wheel and
adjust (if needed) the upper wheel's tilt so that the SE also hits the
upper wheel's bottom (face) edge. Then, I leave the upper wheel at that
tilt setting and slide the SE up to determine if it simultaneously contacts
the top/bottom (face) of the upper wheel as well as the top of the lower
wheel. If so, the wheels are coplanar. [Naturally, this situation will only
hold true at a single, unique position of the tilt adjustment.]

Anyway, my Jet 14" bandsaw had coplanar wheels right out of the box. I
don't recall anyone recently reporting a need to shim the wheel on new Jet
bandsaws. But it's bound to happen sometime.

As an aside, when I did my initial check on wheel planarity a couple of
years ago, I determined that a 1/8" washer was needed. I did the
installation, and then found out the shim had to be removed because I had
done the check incorrectly. :-(

-- 
Phil Rose

---

From: damian drewek <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 16:15:37 -0600

> done the check incorrectly. :-(

Very interesting feedback.  What I did was lay the SE across both wheels
at the same time, tilted the upper so both t/b made contact.  the lower
wheel only had bottom contact.  Thats why I shimmed.  If I read your
post right, I did not come close.  To review what you said:

Lay the SE on bottom wheel and make both t/b contact and then move it to
the upper wheel and adjust tilt.  I will do this tonight and see if 
works and let you know.  

Thanks
Damian

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 08:31:20 -0600

In article <[email-masked]>,
> the upper wheel and adjust tilt.  I will do this tonight and see if

I tried the technique outlines by Phil and still had the same problem.
Had to shim the lower wheel.  Is this of concern?  It's just a washer
that rides against the bearing.

Thanks
Damian

-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
      http://www.dejanews.com/     Search, Read, Post to Usenet

---

From: [email-masked] (Explodey2)
Date: 14 Feb 1997 18:56:29 GMT

Just a note: I have the Delta 14" BS and also have made this check and
adjustment. While the saw is close to beong co-planer, I have found that
the blade used and the corresponding tension setting will also affect this
adjustment.