I'm managing a makerspace and recently discovered a major issue with one of our Powermatic PM1500 bandsaws. The lower wheel wobbles significantly during operation, and despite adjusting the tension, tracking, and guides multiple times, the problem continues. Upon inspecting the machine, I found that the bearing for the lower wheel feels loose and can move even when under tension. I tried swapping bearings from other PM1500s, but they're all loose too. This makes me think the bearing recess in the wheel is oversized or somehow worn. Considering the machine is less than a year old, why would this happen? Could it be a manufacturing error? It seems unlikely they'd miss an oversized milling job. If this indeed means I need to replace the wheel, has anyone else faced this issue? Am I overlooking something?
3 Answers
It's definitely possible that it was manufactured oversized. Quality Assurance doesn’t catch everything, and if the bearing fits loosely, it can cause issues like spinning inside the wheel, especially if it gets sawdust in it. That kind of wear can really mess up the fit over time. I'd say replace the wheel since there shouldn't be any play in that area.
It could be a result of it being used by lots of different people, especially if it was run while it was already wobbling. That can wear out the fit over time. If that’s the case, it might be tough to pin down who's responsible for the damage. But yeah, definitely sounds like the bearing is too loose for the wheel; that shouldn’t happen in a new machine. Time for a new wheel!
If the gap isn’t too bad, you might be able to use some green Loctite to secure the bearing in place. That could give you a temporary fix. If that doesn't hold, you'll likely need to either replace the wheel or take it to a machine shop to get a sleeve fitted inside.