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Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=32193		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Fri May 13, 2011 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
I have a Craftsman 10" bandsaw, and it has worked very well now for 4 years. No problems at all, other than balancing a wheel to stop a bit of wobble. Nothing major. Tonight, I noticed that when I started it, it didn't come up to speed as quickly as normal, and when sawing, was easily bogged down to nearly a stop, if I put pressure on the piece being sawed. It only has a 1/3 hp motor at 3.5 amps, but it has never shown any signs of being slowed down before, and I've sawed stuff up to it's limit of about 4 1/2", on many occasions. There is a Capacitor on top of the motor, would that be the cause of the problem? Is that a run cap or a start cap? Is there one inside the motor? What to do? What to do? [headinwall] [headinwall]
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Fri May 13, 2011 8:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Hey Waddy,

Since I'm not familiar with the Craftsman BS I can only speculate, but I would think that it would be a start assist cap and it could be weak but my experience with start caps is if they go bad you can't start. Thinking back a few decades when I was an industrial maintenance man, we used to change the brushes and polish the armature when this type of problem occurred. However, I doubt that the Craftsman is an industrial grade motor at 1/3 HP. If you have an owner's manual that has an exploded parts list, it should show whether or not the brushes can be changed. I would think they can since smaller tools (ie. skil saws and such) can.
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Fri May 13, 2011 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
In addition to those thoughts above, you mentioned a wobbly wheel. Remove the blade and start the saw to see if the motor starts quickly. If so, you likely have a bad bearing (a strong possibility with a wobbly wheel). If the motor still starts slow, spin it by hand with the power disconnected to see if possibly a bearing (or bushing) has gone out on the motor. This can happen especially on motors that require periodic lubrication. If all that checks out OK, if you have or can borrow an amp meter, test to see what the amperage draw is on startup, as well as normal run speed, without the blade, and with the blade.
Author:  askins [ Fri May 13, 2011 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
If you know someone with a decent multimeter, they often have a setting to check capacitors. If you happen to have a motor on another tool with a capacitor that is rated the same you can swap them and try it.
Author:  Tom West [ Fri May 13, 2011 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Waddy : Is this direct drive or is there a belt? I've seen belts slip that a bit of belt dressing fixed very nicely.
Tom
Author:  Mark Fogleman [ Fri May 13, 2011 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
I had a similar problem on mine and the tension on the belt needed adjustment. Good as new after.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Fri May 13, 2011 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
It has one of those belts that's in a bunch of strips. Looks like a timing belt on the outside but is smooth looking on the inside, but when you feel it, you can feel that it's in strips. It seems to start right up when there's no blade on it, but there's no load then either, to speak of. Good points though. The belt feels tight, but I'll try to check and see if it's slipping at all. It may not be tight enough, and it's been 4 years, so the belt may have stretched a bit. Thanks!

Any other thoughts will be appreciated.
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Fri May 13, 2011 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
These kinds of things are difficult to analyze without actually being there to evaluate. The purpose for the amp meter, is that if the brushes or a bearing/bushing on the motor are going bad, they will cause above normal amperage draw during startup even with no load, and radically so with a load. If the main wheel or upper wheel have a bad bearing, this too will cause excess amperage draw and can burn up the motor since the HP is so low. Hope you get it all worked out. This is the best I can offer from the other side of the country. ;)
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Fri May 13, 2011 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
It starts just fine with no blade on it. When the blade is on, it seems to be slow getting up to speed. Top wheel is turning freely, with no blade.
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Sat May 14, 2011 1:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Good advice so far. Check the bearing. Spins freely? Runs good under zero load, but seems to come up to speed slowly and nearly dies under any load. My Craftsman 14" Pro was doing this. Cap is good. New bearings. Smelled strongly of ozone When I took the motor apart, it was burned out. Rebuild was $800. Sears got my a new motor in a few days for $150, and it's been doing well ever since.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat May 14, 2011 8:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Thanks, guys. I'm going to have a session with it this morning and see what I can figure out. I don't need this now!
Author:  Ron M. [ Sat May 14, 2011 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Hi Waddy,
If you recall a couple of months ago I purchased the Craftman 10" bandsaw from Sears. I also brought a stand for It from Grizzly. I had to return It after 3 weeks because It would stall while in us, and at times would not work at all. At first I thought It was the outlet so I changed outlets and the same thing happened. So now I'm holding out for something bigger and better. It's a nice little saw. I guess just I got a lemon. I hope you resolve the problem.

Ron
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat May 14, 2011 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Thanks for all of your replies and suggestions. Problem is now solved. It was the belt. I held the belt in my fingers, and the wheel would turn with little effort. I cleaned the glaze off of the belt and tightened things up a bit, and it's running like a top now. Glad it wasn't the motor!
Author:  Mark Fogleman [ Sun May 15, 2011 10:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bandsaw Motor Problem, I think! Help!
Glad to hear that!
A loose belt was one of the reasons I got mine so cheap on Craigslist :D
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