Randy Klein
03-04-2008, 9:08 PM
I have had the Rikon 14" Deluxe Bandsaw for a little over a year now. I was switching out blades this week and noticed something strange.
The upper wheel has a noticeable wobble to it. I was grabbing the wheel at the 9 and 3 position and gently tugged back and forth. It was there with and without a blade installed, with and without tension, and both high and low tension on the blade. Almost like there wasn't something tight enough, but I checked and all bolts are tight. It seems to be there when its running too, by noticing a little blurring to the blade. The bottom wheel has no wobble.
I think this is leading to my next problem, which is tracking. I've noticed that when I'm adjusting the tracking, so that blade is moving to the back of wheel, I have pretty fine control over the adjustments. However, when I'm adjusting the other way, I adjust the tracking nut and nothing happens until a loud pop and the blade lurches to the front of the wheel. There's no in between control.
This is making tracking a difficult set up, plus when I de-tension with the lever arm, and then re-tension it back almost immediately, it no longer tracks in the same spot.
I could only imagine all this is related to the wobble.
So, is this wobble normal or something I need to address? And if so, how?
The upper wheel has a noticeable wobble to it. I was grabbing the wheel at the 9 and 3 position and gently tugged back and forth. It was there with and without a blade installed, with and without tension, and both high and low tension on the blade. Almost like there wasn't something tight enough, but I checked and all bolts are tight. It seems to be there when its running too, by noticing a little blurring to the blade. The bottom wheel has no wobble.
I think this is leading to my next problem, which is tracking. I've noticed that when I'm adjusting the tracking, so that blade is moving to the back of wheel, I have pretty fine control over the adjustments. However, when I'm adjusting the other way, I adjust the tracking nut and nothing happens until a loud pop and the blade lurches to the front of the wheel. There's no in between control.
This is making tracking a difficult set up, plus when I de-tension with the lever arm, and then re-tension it back almost immediately, it no longer tracks in the same spot.
I could only imagine all this is related to the wobble.
So, is this wobble normal or something I need to address? And if so, how?