How to grease my grizzly?

[angboy]

I've been having trouble turning my tension knob bolt on my grizzly bandsaw. I know that I have pretty weak arms, but it seems to be getting harder and harder, so I think it needs some type of lubricant or grease applied to it. What would the experts here recommend? Thanks so much!

 

[CaptG]

I would just spray the long threaded rod that the knob is connected to with good ole wd40. Then run the tension up and down a couple times to get it distributed and worked into the threads.

 

[gketell]

Hi Angela,

Sorry, I don't know about the Grizzly. But if it is like the jets you would want to lube the long threaded rod and the slides where the upper-wheel mechanism slides. You don't want to use a paste or liquid lube. You want something that dries "non-sticky" or it will fill up with sawdust and be glued in place very quickly.

Also, Is the saw one of the 14" jet-clones? If so you might want to invest in one of the quick-tension levers that they have. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Carter-Products-QR1000-Release-Tension/dp/B0000AMK7M
Then you just pull a lever to tighten/loosen your blade.

If you want help working on it just call. I'd be happy to come down for a visit.

GK

 

[robutacion]

Hi angboy,

The adjustment blade rod gets a lot of saw dust and after a little while it gets tight to turn as you described.

The best way to resolve that problem is to use a air compressor and blow all the sawdust on the rod and wheel, making sure all the contact parts on that rod get clean, then using dry graphite dust (found in any hardware store and is cheap) pour all over the rod and contact parts of it, use a small brush if you find difficult to pours with the bottle long nozzle they come with!

This is very much part of the machine's general maintenance and should be done every so often, depending on the amount of use you have on the bandsaw!:biggrin:

Cheers
George

 

[KD5NRH]

How to grease my grizzly?

Is that what they're calling it these days?

 

[KenV]

Good Morning Angie --

There is a ongoing lively debate amonst users of bandsaws about how important changing tension on bandsaws is. There are those who read and follow instructions, and a large body of those who set the tension for a type/size of blade and never change change the tension except to replace blades.

I went for 10 years with the second group, and recently installed the Carter device. The accumulation that I had to clean was just above the point where the threaded rod inters the back of the saw. A small brass cleaning brush removed the accumulated sawdust and crud.

I still never change the tension setting between blade changes, but now use the long leverarm on the carter to drop the tension (when I remember).

Installation of the Carter device was pretty easy - but having some help by a second person for lifting the top wheel on and off would help. The installaiton allowed me to use the transer punchs for what the were designed for -- marking the center of an existing hole onto metal underneath -- for drilling a couple of holes for mounting a metal block.

 

[Rifleman1776]

My Grizzly G0555 has been in daily use for over six years. I have never lubed the tension adjustment rod. And, it is not particularly dirty. My guess is your locking nut is tight. Try loosening that and moving up a little. There really isn't much back there to create a problem. Just track everything and observe what is happening. I'm sure you will find the culprit. I'll admit, a little lube can't hurt anything, wet or dry.

 

[Gary Max]

Same responce as Frank---our Grizzly is a low tension saw---we have never reset it.
Check the lock nut.

 

[wdcav1952]

I've been having trouble turning my tension knob bolt on my grizzly bandsaw. I know that I have pretty weak arms, but it seems to be getting harder and harder, so I think it needs some type of lubricant or grease applied to it. What would the experts here recommend? Thanks so much!

Shoot, Angela, I thought that you were dating again!!:rotfl:

 

[angboy]

Shoot, Angela, I thought that you were dating again!!:rotfl:

Is that what they're calling it these days?

Well Cav and KD5NRH, if I'd posted this question in the casual conversation arena, then these questions may have rightfully applied! :banana:

But alas, since I posted it under the shop thread, it was, unfortunately, a genuine problem I was having. Thanks for all the feedback everyone, I really like the idea of that lever, so I'm going to see if they make one for my grizzly bandsaw, which looks very similar to the Jet in the link Greg posted.

But I'm also going to check out the nut situation, per Frank's suggestion! The LOCK nut, people! :biggrin:

And then to be on the safe side, also per Frank's adage about a little lube never hurting anything, I'll experiment with that as well... :redface: (Yep, this ALL still pertains to shop work, in case minds have drifted!)

 

[Wildman]

Could the upper and lower spacer on blade tension be out of adjustment? New manual shows how to adjust on page 42.

I have never had to oil tension threads, procedure not in my old manual..