Thanks to the suggestions of BCRider, boslab, and J Harp I found the clank, and EVICTED it !!!
The first thing I did was to wipe the ram ways off and then re-oil it with 20 ND oil. Since the temp in the shop was a balmy 45 F this allowed the ram to slide much more easily. It reduced the clank, but didn't end it.
So then I focused on the sliding block. I videotaped it getting as close as I could, and ran it under power and by hand. I did frame by frame analysis to see if I could see it shift suddenly. I couldn't convince myself that I could see it shifting. So, I used the screwdriver trick and listened as best I could to the yoke, the block, and the bull gear. It seemed loudest on the bull gear ... Chasing it backwards I listened to the gears that drive the bull gear (the little ones - 'only' 8 inches in diameter) and it was louder still... So, I video taped all the gears. I found that the clank was associated with a side-to-side movement of the first drive shaft. I had left 1/8" play in the shaft, and for some reason as the ram started to reverse the change in forces caused the shaft to slide suddenly to the other side... *clank*
Well, that was an easy fix. I loosened two set screws, moved the bushing over until it was snug but not tight, and tightened the set screws.
The CLANK is gone. Thank you everybody who helped.
Now I have to have a long talk with my bandsaw. It's feeling depressed because everybody made fun of it's pinkness.
Thanks
Dan
The first thing I did was to wipe the ram ways off and then re-oil it with 20 ND oil. Since the temp in the shop was a balmy 45 F this allowed the ram to slide much more easily. It reduced the clank, but didn't end it.
So then I focused on the sliding block. I videotaped it getting as close as I could, and ran it under power and by hand. I did frame by frame analysis to see if I could see it shift suddenly. I couldn't convince myself that I could see it shifting. So, I used the screwdriver trick and listened as best I could to the yoke, the block, and the bull gear. It seemed loudest on the bull gear ... Chasing it backwards I listened to the gears that drive the bull gear (the little ones - 'only' 8 inches in diameter) and it was louder still... So, I video taped all the gears. I found that the clank was associated with a side-to-side movement of the first drive shaft. I had left 1/8" play in the shaft, and for some reason as the ram started to reverse the change in forces caused the shaft to slide suddenly to the other side... *clank*
Well, that was an easy fix. I loosened two set screws, moved the bushing over until it was snug but not tight, and tightened the set screws.
The CLANK is gone. Thank you everybody who helped.
Now I have to have a long talk with my bandsaw. It's feeling depressed because everybody made fun of it's pinkness.
Thanks
Dan
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