Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Aug 08, 2005 10:51pm | #1

   Brian,

   Take the belt off and make sure that there isn't something like a wood chip rubbing against the side of the head or the pulley that would confuse results.

   With the belt off, if you spin the head, the motion should be very smooth with only a slight rolling noise.  If there is more noise than that, or any ticking, or catching, or grittiness as the head spins, then one or both of the bearings are worn or dirty. 

   If you try to lift up on the pulley, there should be no motion of the head at all as you lift.  I would be surprised if the bearings are so badly worn that lifting on the pulley turned up free play, ball bearings that have worn to that point are usually very noisy.  While you are at it, make sure the pulley isn't loose which can imitate a bad bearing.

   If you turn up nothing, or possibly just a little extra noise, without any grittiness as you spin the head, then I wouldn't worry about the bearings for now.  Even if they are starting to go, you won't damage anything by running the machine until the symptoms become more acute.

   The fact that squirting in the WD-40 changes the sound isn't a good sign, if the oil can get in that easily then the bearings weren't sealed well and have probably got dirt in them.  The penetrating oil would also wash out or degrade the grease in the bearings, so again that suggests a bearing problem.

   The bearings are almost certain to be permanently assembled, so they can't be cleaned and repacked.  If you replace the bearings, get sealed bearings rather than the slightly less expensive shielded ones.  Sealed bearings are much more resistant to dirt, but many manufacturers use shielded just to save a buck or two.

   Replacing the bearings will require a tool called a bearing puller and a little finesse.  If you don't want to tackle the job yourself, remove the head and bearing assembly from the machine, usually a simple job, and take it to an electric motor repair shop, which should have no problem installing a new set of bearings.

   Hope this helps, John W.

   P.S.  I wasn't at the AWFS Show, not that I really wanted to go all that badly.  Don't like flying commercial and don't especially care for Vegas.  

   
   

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   Edited 8/8/2005 3:58 pm ET by JohnW

1. 
   brianmexico | Aug 09, 2005 06:11am | #2

   John,

   Thanks for the great tips, I'll follow them and see what results I get. You're an invaluable resource to all of us who need a helping hand with these sorts of details. If you're ever in the Cabo San Lusac area let me know and I'll show you around to all the great spots. Of course that would mean getting on a plane, which I also despise, but ya never know.

   Thanks a million,

   Brian

   P.S. I usually drive the fifteen hundred miles to get to the USA when I have to make the trip just so I don't have to fly. Maybe your reasons are different but 100 tonnes of steel flying through the air at 400 mph freaks me out.

1. 
   dondownunder | Aug 10, 2005 06:52am | #3

   Brian

   You may have inadvertantly reduced the potential life of the bearings by squirting WD40 into them.

   I'm not sure of the reason but my late father (a mechanical engineer who designed bearings for SKF) told me years ago that WD40 & its relatives are fatal in bearings. The cost of bearings is relatively low - it's usually a time & patience thing to change them.

   Don

1. 
   philip | Aug 10, 2005 11:22am | #5

   Just chiming in to tell you that the solvent(s) in wd40 evaporate , leaving a gummy substance which helps with rust prevention, smells nice to some and is not good for bearings.
   Some regard this stuff as magical. In the North Sea, on the drill rigs there, it was regarded as a cure-all of heroic proportions-I remember seeing 20gallon drums of the stuff, in addition to the spray cans.
   If yawll were clever yawll produced yer can of rocket fuel at the drop of yer (hard) hat....

2. 
   Glaucon | Aug 10, 2005 08:27pm | #6

   It depends.  If the bearings were really high quality sealed bearings, WD40 probably wouldn't do much to them.  If they were shielded or just poorly made, then WD40 or any other solvent is likely to dissolve the packed lubricants.  Of course, if WD40 can get in, so can lots of other things... Bottom line is that if you have to replace them, buy good quality sealed bearings and leave them alone- they should outlast most other things on the machine.Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   brianmexico | Aug 10, 2005 10:00pm | #7

   After carefully going over the machine I've found that partially the noise was being produced by the fence rattling on the table, I'm still going to get the new bearings on my next trip up north.

   Thanks everybody for all the great tips,

   Brian

2. 
   KeithNewton | Aug 14, 2005 05:55pm | #9

   Brian, If the noise was from your fence, this sounds like there may be a bit more vibration than normal. When I read your first post to John W, My first thought was loose set-screw in the pulley. John had some great advice. I would only like to add that while you have the belt off, you should turn the motor on to see if your motor bearings are the culprit. Also make sure that the motor pulley is tight.If all of that is good, the vibration could come from belt memory from sitting idle for a long time. Or if the knives are out of balance due to uneven grinding.Beyond that, if the knives were set higher than before, they will be louder by fanning more air, and if the infeed is brought up closer to the head, the wind generated by the blade will become louder as well, although I doubt that you have that kind of adjustment on this size jointer.

3. 
   brianmexico | Aug 14, 2005 07:37pm | #11

   Keith,

   The noises I hear are definitely not wind from the blades or the balance of the cutterhead, but I'll have another look at the pulley and belt. It may do well to buy myself one of those link belts everyone raves about.

   Thanks,

   Brian

2. 
   philip | Aug 10, 2005 11:08am | #4

   ......so I don't have to fly....steel flying through the air at 400mph freaks me out".
   Come on Brian, you are probably safer in the air- look what happened to Will George-he up and lost a nut and destroyed his planer!

2. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 14, 2005 05:27pm | #8

   WD40..
   Has it's place but NOT in bearings..

   Sorry.. Just a old Tank meghanic here... Please no WD40!

   Usually (but not always) a bad bearing will make a metalic noise if you spin the outer race..

   Unplug!!!! your machine.. Take the drive belt off ...
   !!!!!Protect your fingers!!! and try to spin the cutting head..

   Bearings are pretty hardy and if hardly ever used.. I'd say probably something else..

   You said it was in storage for awhile... Could be just some old stuff in there someplace... Maybe mouse bones?

   
   

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   Edited 8/14/2005 10:28 am ET by WillGeorge

1. 
   brianmexico | Aug 14, 2005 07:34pm | #10

   Will,

   Thanks for the tip, today's Sunday so I get to bugger around in the shop all day for fun. I'll take the belt off and listen to the bearings. I think that I'll get a set regardless on my next trip up.

   Thanks,

   Brian

1. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 14, 2005 08:13pm | #12

   By the way.. I have a good planer and a 'EL' Cheap O' 13 inch.. My 'EL' Cheap O' 13 inch is about as good but a bit noiser...