Table Top Bandsaw - bottom right wheel not turning.

[CareySue]

Hello - I really hope someone can help. I have been using my table top bandsaw to cut corks in half and all was working perfectly. Then suddenly the blade stopped working. I have cleaned the inside of dust and replaced the blade (even though there seemed to be nothing wrong with the other one. The motor works perfectly but on closer inspection I can see that the bottom right wheel is not turning even thought the motor is and the rubber band connected from the motor to the bottom right wheel is all Ok. If I hand turn the blade all three wheels rotate. Anyone have any ideas ? With thanks, Carey

 

[wizard]

Check the wheel is running free then check the belt tension

 

[CareySue]

Hi - thanks for this. The wheel is definitely turning by hand .. I don't know how to check the belt tension - it is just like a very large thick rubber band !

 

[powertools]

Is this a Burgess saw?
If so there seems to be a common problem with the teeth wearing out on the plastic drive wheel on the motor where the belt sits.

 

[Steve Maskery]

It's possible that the drive wheel is no longer held properly on the motor shaft. When you open it up and turn the wheels by hand, does the motor shaft turn with them?

 

[CareySue]

Hello - thank you. Yes when I open the front and move the blade, all the wheels go round as does the motor shaft and the belt. When I turn it on, the motor shaft goes round but the belt and wheels are stationary.

 

[wizard]

Is the wheel on the motor going around

 

[CareySue]

Yes, the wheel that comes out from the motor with the band on it goes round.

 

[Steve Maskery]

The motor shaft goes round, but does the pulley attached to it go round as well or does that remain stationary with the wheels themselves? Or is there no pulley at all and the back wheel (I take it this is a 3-wheeler?) itself is mounted on the motor shaft?
Can you turn it on with the door open? If there are micro-switches can you fool them for a moment with some tape?
There is obviously some breakdown in the transmission, but we need to find where that break is before we can fix it.
We need to know which wheels, if any, go round when the motor is switched on with no load.
S

 

[Steve Maskery]

Can you take some photos? It might make it easier for us to see what's happening.

 

[CareySue]

Hello - yes thank you, here are a couple of photos. First shows insides. Second shows close up of motor, band and wheel. When turning by hand, all three wheels go round as does the motor and the band. When I turn it on, the motor goes round, but the band doesn't and therefore none of the wheels. It was working perfectly yesterday afternoon. This only happened when I turned it on today ! Thank you again.

 

[CareySue]

Attached pics as per previous email.

 

[Steve Maskery]

So am I right in assuming that the motor shaft goes round but that little pulley on it does not? If so, that is the cause of the problem.
You need to find out how the pulley is supposed to be attached to the shaft. There may well be a keyway, a small groove along the length of the shaft. If there is, there will be a corresponding keyway in the pulley. a square or rectangular key (or possible a half-moon-shaped key) then fits half-and-half in the shaft and the pulley. If that key has broken or just fallen out, then that would explain things.
Another, less high-quality option is that there is a flat on the shaft and a grub-screw in the V of the pulley, or on a flange on the pulley, tightens onto it. Again, if the screw is not tight, it would explain your problem.
Investigate the shaft/pulley interface.
S

 

[CareySue]

Thanks Steve ... wish you were here ! I'll post the outcome if I can make it work ever again ! With kind regards, Carey

 

[powertools]

This thread will give you all the info you need.
burgess-bk3-keeps-jamming-stopping-t70166-30.html

 

[CareySue]

Thank you so much for the link ... I think I need to replace mine but your help has been invaluable. Kind regards, Carey