Replies

1. 
   BG | Sep 02, 2002 10:41pm | #1

   Schwap,

   I'll be listening hard to the responses because my  three wheel craftsman does the same thing..also inherited, also new like condition.  I finally tightened as hard as I could...now it will not cut straight, blade slopes about 10 degrees.  If I force a straight cut the blade stops.  Very frustrated !

   However, the table is nice for the coffee cup and ash tray....lol

2. 
   forestgirl | Sep 02, 2002 10:56pm | #2

   Have you done the usual band-saw-tune-up things?  Checked the wheels for alignment etc. 

   The tension gauge on the saw is most likely way off -- the built-in gauges aren't usually accurate. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   schwap23 | Sep 03, 2002 02:45am | #3

   Thanks for the tips! I have indeed done the usual checking, and things to be in good shape. Not great, but good. (I'm used to a slightly fancier model, but the price sure was right on this one!) From the basic checking I know that the tires are in very good shape, still springy without even having much in the way of wear tracks. The wheels seem to be in alignment (hard to check all three at once!), and there doesn't seem to be any additional friction coming from any of the bearings/blade guides (I pulled almost everything off to clean and check them). I can't help but think that this all has something to do with it being a three wheel model, but I could be barking up the wrong tree here, so to speak...

   -mikep

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 03, 2002 04:33am | #4

   Welllll, since you're not getting any other responses (where is everybody?) I'll suggest a couple things:

   Try increasing the tension above that indicated by the built-in gauge.

   Call Iturra Design (1-888-722-7078), talk to a tech person there, asking what they think.  They happen to make a replacement tensioning spring that's got a good rep.  Tell 'em you had heard about the spring and were wondering if the stock spring in your saw might be part of the problem.  Milk 'em for info, see where you get.  Good luck! 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

   Edited 9/2/2002 9:35:29 PM ET by forest_girl

1. 
   barrysumrall | Sep 03, 2002 04:45am | #5

   while I'm not familiar with the saw check thrust bearings and the blade guides. Is the blade coming off when you're making the cut (pushing in) or when you're withdrawing the wood?

1. 
   riverr1 | Sep 03, 2002 04:57am | #6

   Since you said this was an older saw, any chance the tires on the wheels have gone bad??? Dry rotting or something. Also, since it's not being made anymore, did you do any web searches for any info on this saw? Maybe the nature of this saw was the it is a fussy one with inherent problems which may be why the saw was dropped from the lineup. Just some thoughts.

   Don

   Sorry Barry, couldn't edit to the proper addy.

   Edited 9/2/2002 10:11:03 PM ET by Don C.

2. 
   schwap23 | Sep 04, 2002 09:33pm | #7

   Again, thanks for the suggestions.

   It's definetly *not* the tires.  When I say that the saw is old, I'm talking in the five to ten year range, and maybe not even that old.  It's not the current Delta catalog, but that doesn't say too much.  In any case, the tires are fresh and springy, and barely marked.

   It's *possible* that the wheels are out of alignment; it's hard to tell with a three wheel machine.  I'm also not sure how I would go about adjusting this, if this was indeed the problem.

   To answer another question, the blade jumps off when I'm feeding the wood in, regardless of speed.  It seems to be more time based than anything else, because it will be fine for a (very short) time, and *bang* it jumps off.  This has always happened when the blade is cutting something, and never when I was withdrawing something.  I'm making a small box with finger joints, so the cuts aren't particulary deep either (5/8")

   Still mystified-

   mikep

3. 
   JeffKurtz | Sep 06, 2002 01:48am | #8

   You must find a way to check the alignment of those wheels.  If they're off, you're never going to get that thing to track and cut.  Remember, you're dealing with high speed so even small misalignment will produce a great effect.

   Back in my sawyer days we had a huge "line bar resaw" with 40" dia. wheels and 12" blades.  That piece of junk was so bad that you couldn't track a blade on it to save your life.  The blades would usually move back on the wheel and when the teeth started running on the steel it made a scream that made the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard sound pleasant.  The poor guy who ran the edger would jump right up on the roll case and run out of the mill!

   Jeff

3. 
   user-492363 | Sep 06, 2002 06:07am | #9

   I have one of these saws. I bought it used eight years ago. The tires looked new then but the blade would jump off. I replaced the tires & it corrected the problem. I don't know if this will cure your problem but it solved mine. Also make sure the guide roller is not too far back from the back of the blade. Good luck, Jim

4. 
   Bob Schilling | Dec 09, 2014 03:07pm | #10

   Delta 28-560

   I have the same saw.   I bought it in 1992, so yes it is old.    I just recently reset my shop and brought this in.  Needed a thorough cleaning, table polishing etc.   I reset the blade and adjusted the tracking.   It tracks manually and then with the cover on, with the motor running.   Have not tested it unde load yet.   

   I did notice while cleaning it that the tires and belt are old and seem a bit brittle.    I have ordered new ones.   Perhaps the belt and tires are the issue.   TIres and belt can be bought from the Delta site.   The belt for metal cutting is no longer available, but the wood one is.    TIres are reasonable at about $7, the belt is pricey at a bit over $40