Rockwell bandsaw – replace bearings
I got a 40-year-old Rockwell Delta 14″ model 28-200 wood-cutting bandsaw for $100 bucks. I’ve bought new urethane tires and a tensioning spring, but the drive wheel bearings sound noisy.
Can anyone tell me how to get them out? The wheel seems unwilling to come off, much less getting the shaft to slide out.
Do you know where to get replacement bearings? The part number (SP-5338)is no longer supported in Delta’s parts system and “The Saw Center” website (http://www.sawcenter.com/bandsaw_parts.htm) shows only upper bearings.
Also, I noticed that the upper guide post is not aligned with the blade, so raising the guide causes the upper thrust bearing to move back about 5/64″ from the blade. I think I can fix this by shimming the bottom wheel out, if I ever find out how to get the wheel off the shaft.
Replies
Have you talked to Ittura Design yet? They specialize in Delta/Rockwell 14" bandsaws.
Iturra Design
4636 Fulton RD
Jacksonville, FL 32225-1332
1-888-722-7078
Congratulations! That's going to be a nice machine. Check out the Old Woodworking Machines site at http://www.owwm.org. If you search the forum archives, you should find a lot of discussion of that machine. The forum will have lots of people who can answer questions from experience. An exploded view (and parts if you need them) can be found on Ace Tool Repair's site: http://acetoolrepair.com/DeltaHtml/BS/BS2B.htm
A machine of this vintage may have the older style bearings with the extended inner race. These are no problem to come by at a good bearing shop. Once you have the old bearings out, write down the number (will likely look like 87xxx or 6xxx) and the manufacturer (if original, it's New Departure). I recommend you call Accurate Bearing http://www.accuratebearing.com. They will match them up and send you what you need.
I'd be surprised if you have to shim the bottom wheel to adjust the top guide. This is a very common saw so I'm sure the OWWMers can help you out.
If anyone tries to interest you in the many "improved" or "supercharge" products offered for this machine, I recommend you wait until you get experience with the machine working well as it came from the factory, then decide if you need any of that.
Pete
Edited 3/4/2007 10:14 pm ET by PeteBradley
Thank you, pete, you were right on target about the type of bearings."A machine of this vintage may have the older style bearings with the extended inner race. "It is a 1969 machine, and the bearings are indeed New Departure with extended inner race. Thanks for the links. Ace tool has replacement bearings at $31 each and accurate bearing came up with an immediate cross reference, but no online quote. The lower wheel was on so tight I needed help to pull it. I was afraid that a gear puller might break the thin web at the base of the spokes, so I opted to drive the shaft through. Not elegant, but successful.BruceT
31 bucks per sounds pretty steep. I'd give Accurate a call."not pretty but successful" - boy that describes a lot of machine rebuild tasks! :-)Good luck!!Pete
Accurate called me today in response to my inquiry. Two bearings @ $7.95 each are on the way.BruceT
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