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I Got home tonight with full intent on cutting up some 1/2" acrylic for the Woolson Neck Jig on my Rikon 18-345. Went to fire up my bandsaw and the motor starts to hum and the blade either barely moves or doesn't move at all. Opened the door and spun it manually and it started to take off, but then tripped the breaker. Checked belt tension and there's about a 1/4" deflection as the manual says and also verified blade tension. I can spin the wheels freely by hand so it's not some type of obstruction. Tried calling Tech Support, but closed for the day. I did notice when I used it on Monday night a smell in the shop like burnt rubber. I'd had the saw running continuously for about 20 minutes or so as I cut and fitted some small strips between my kerfing. I just thought it was my shop vac or someone burning trash. Any one have similar experiences or point me in the direction of what else to check?

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Bobby Masten

Take the belt off between the motor and the bandsaw pully and see if the motor runs with no load on it. It could be that circuit breaker is starting to get week or a few hundred other possiblities but that is where I would start first, then you know you have no issue with the motor (or you do) or the saw.

Shane

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Canada

Sounds like a start capacitor has failed, not expensive or difficult to replace, a place like Grainger may have one for your saw. T.

Just a thought...when my Powermatic was quite new many years ago, the thing just wouldn't start one morning and I think I remember a hum. I whacked the start cap with a mallet a couple of times and it started right up. Has run ever since.

SEE...the hammer DOES work! I love it!

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Thanks all. I was figuring since it's so new it's either a defective start capacitor as Todd suggested or *gasp* a bad motor. I'll try the belt trick first as per Shane's recommendation and then call tech support in the a.m.

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Bobby Masten

Oops! Too many things bouncing round my head tonight. Took the belt off and the motor started and ran fine. Under load it won't run.

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Bobby Masten

OK, next step is to take the saw bade off, put the pulley belt back on and then turn the machine on and if it still won't start spin the bottom wheel to assist it to start **KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAR WHEN DOING THIS** . If it then runs then it is likely your start capacitor (which it really sounds like anyway). My 5hp 220V resaw developed the same problem, the manufacturer sent me a new motor, same issue. I replaced the circuit breaker and the saw ran fine. But start capacitor sure sounds like the culprit here.

Shane

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Canada

A little more work and you'll be just like the Fonz.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Shane, took the blade off and it still wouldn't start, but once I gave the bottom wheel a little spin nudge it rolled right up to speed just fine. I think you're on the right track with the start capacitor. My table saw was giving me fits exactly like this a couple months ago. I pulled the capacitor and replaced it and it has run great ever since. I'll see if I can get them to send me a new one after talking with them and probably go ahead and see about getting one locally as well for a spare.

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Bobby Masten

We used a tool in the Army when mechanical things didn't work we called The BFH. (Big F...... Hammer) Worked real well on Jeep starters, Deuce and 1/2's, Tracks, Lance Missiles, etc.

Bobby,
Other things to check before you get too deep into it:
Pull the breaker the saw is attached to and check that the contacts are clean and not burned.
The saw's on/off switch is located in a "clean" location but may be a source of the problem. If you can remove it and check the contactor there it may have some crud in it.
Have you added anything to the circuit? Added an extension cord to the saw?

Your lucky if it is an easy fix like a start capacitor, imagine trying to fix a flux capacitor.

Probably could have saved myself an hour of troubleshooting had I pulled the capacitor right away. Talked to tech support and they are sending me a new one today, I'm paying the UPS overnight charge to get it tomorrow. Here's why i'm pretty sure this is the problem:

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Bobby Masten

Don't think a BFH would fix that.

My motor started failing on my 18" Rikon. I called them and they shipped me a new motor within a couple of days. No fuss, no muss. Good customer service for a relatively good saw (for the money).

Tom

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(alias: gasawdust)