Bandsaw (G01514X2) vibration help

[Marc Burt]

I need help trying to rid my bandsaw of vibration. Really vibration is too kind of a term, my saw has what I would call a severe shuddering! If you'll entertain me I will attempt to link to a few videos of the saw running. They're less than a minute total. This is running with a brand new 3/4" wood slicer blade. As you can see I'm so far from even attempting a nickel test it's crazy!

https://youtu.be/nnyKpIPoRec

https://youtu.be/TSxZjJpyWmg

Video 3 (https://youtu.be/SUCLFDxDgdI)

Here's what I've done so far:
-Replaced both tires. No difference at all.
-Replaced original belt with new "link belt". This helped a fair amount with the vibration and the saw is much quieter.
-Took saw off mobile base and set on concrete and leveled. This helped as well.

However the videos show how much vibration I'm getting now. I think the problem must be with the upper wheel but I don't know what to do about it or how to diagnose it. Without a blade on the saw runs fine. Just motor, minimal vibration. Motor and lower wheel, minimal vibration. Put any blade on and all hell break lose!

I've waited so long to deal with this there isn't any warranty left on the saw. I wold appreciate any help you can give. I'm about out of aces and I'd really like to get this thing running so i can use it to it's potential.

Thanks!
Marc

[Frank Martin]

Not an expert but I think you diagnosis about the upper wheel is correct. Did you get this new or used? Has it always been like this or did this develop over time?

[Prashun Patel]

Dumb question #1:

Have you tested the vibration with 2-3 different blades?

[Marc Burt]

I haven't actually measured with different blades, but by eye and feel different blades make no difference. That's actually why I ordered the wood slicer, all my other blades were bought from the same supplier so I thought they all may have shared a common defect. That seems not to be the case.

@Frank, I am the original owner. It has always had a vibration but it seems worse now. I figured all along it was just because I had it on a mobile base that didn't provide enough support. I wish (obviously) I had dealt with this sooner while the saw still had a warranty but between work, a new kid, and life in general that didn't happen.

[Erik Loza]

...Have you tested the vibration with 2-3 different blades?

DING-DING-DING-DING!!!

Erik

[Marvin Button]

I'm no machinist but the first thing I would check is to see if the top wheel is bent or the top wheel shaft is bent. If the bottom half is running correctly it sounds like the top wheel is the issue.

[Marc Burt]

I've tried to check it for balance and it doesn't seem to be stopping in the same place all the time. I'll check the shaft when I get home tonight.

This should be a video of it running with a blade.
https://youtu.be/FYHujpnRMvs

[Kevin McCluney]

Check if the pulleys and wheels have the shaft holes centered and are correctly sized. My old Delta's original upper pulley shaft hole was slightly oversized. That made it wobble and vibrate so that the set screw would loosen, the woodruff key fall out, then the pulley would spin on the shaft. I replaced it, but still have some vibration. I've wondered if the wheels and their shaft holes aren't concentric.

[Bill Orbine]

Am I to assume you have all this vibration before setting the upper/lower guides into place? By the way...... that thing is noisy without the blade.... too much for me.

[glenn bradley]

It looks like your blade is fluttering. I set my tension using the flutter method and if I am too tight or too loose, it look pretty much like that. Have you loosened the blade tension and walked it back up through a higher tension? My G0513X is so smooth I sometimes leave it running without realizing it.

[Andrew Hughes]

One more thing to check is how the saw stits on the floor.If it twisting the base that not good.
Or maybe the base has a twist and doesn't sit flat.
Bandsaws are a pain.

[brian zawatsky]

Have you verified that the wheels are coplanar? If they are not it could cause the blade to dance a bit and I suppose it could cause vibration too.
Do you have a jointer? Joint a 2x4 perfectly straight, remove the table and the blade, and hold the 2x4 flat against the lower wheel. Then adjust the attitude of the upper wheel shaft until the 2x4 lays flat against both wheels.

I have an 0513x2 and it is smooth as silk, so I'm sure your saw could be tuned to run smooth and vibration free.

[Nick Stokes]

My grizzly did that. I tried everything I could think...

I fixed it when someone suggested I needed to tighten up the bolt that holds the wheel on to the motor shaft... Sure enough, that sucker was loose. Mine ran fine without the blade on also... THe tension from the blade was pulling the lower wheel loose...

I never would have thought it shipped from factory with a loose wheel on the motor shaft (Whatever its called)... But it did.

[John Donhowe]

Please forgive me if these are obvious, or already done:
1) Do you get less vibration if running with no blade installed? If so, either bad blade or top wheel issue. If still vibration, top wheel and blade are okay.
2) Are the motor shaft and pulley running true (no bent shaft, pulley not off center)?
3) Are the motor and lower wheel pulleys aligned (coplanar?)
4) Have you checked the lower wheel for balance (without blade or belt attached, duh!)?
5) Are the lower wheel shaft adjustment screws tight?

[Marc Burt]

I took the wheel off and the bearings feel smooth, no grinding or crunching. I took a video of the top shaft. Should this be as loose as it is? I realize the wheel needs to tilt to adjust tracking but should it move side to side like that?

https://youtu.be/s4BkQKJYkCQ

Again, I appreciate all the suggestions y'all are giving me.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I think that movement is normal. It won't matter once a blade is on there.

Have you called Grizzly tech support?

[Marc Burt]

I called them this morning and emailed them my videos. So far they've just told me to check things I've already done. Hopefully they will be able to help me. They said it will probably take a day before they get back to me though.

This is getting frustrating!

[Marc Burt]

Just to update this. I heard from Grizzly on Friday and they agreed that most likely the problem isn't that mounting block. They suggested that I replace the wheel bearings. I did that today and there is still no difference in the machine. My local place only had 2 bearings in stock so I was only able to replace the top bearings today. I have a set coming tomorrow and I'll do the bottom wheel then just for kicks...although at this point I'm not very hopeful.

[Andrew Hughes]

Hi Marc did you try lifting one of the corners on the base.Use a pry bar and out some pressure one the corner see if it helps.
I was going to suggest balancing the wheels your self but if it's a new saw....

[Marc Burt]

It's not a new saw according to the calendar. Sadly, I've had it for almost 5 years. I just never put much use on it and alway chalked it's vibration up to being on a mobile base.

I have leveled the base so the saw is stable. I haven't tried doing it while it is running though. That may make a difference and I'll try that. I appreciate the suggestion.

[Frank Martin]

Does your drive belt have a lot of set? When I got my new to me and nearly unused Agazzani there was some vibration that completely went away once I changed the belt. Yours appears have a lot more vibration but perhaps this is a contributing factor.