Generic 3 wheel Chinese bandsaw problem

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I have one of these lightweight bandsaws, the rubber tyre has come unstuck from one of the wheels. I was thinking of using some form of superglue to glue it back on, or is there any better adhesive?

While I am here, I always thought that the top blade tensioner was pretty pathetic, allowing very little tension to be applied to the blade. It is so pathetic, that i think I must be missing something, or are they all like this.

Thanks, Andrew.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Andrew,

I think Evostik or some other name of contact adhesive should do a good job in securing the tyre. Remove all the old adhesive first to give it a chance.

It is not at all clear what your description “pathetic” means. I have a old 3 wheel bandsaw, the top wheel tensioner works well by pulling up the wheel spindle on a guided track and has have never given other than proper functional performance in that job

Regards   Brian

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Brian your word old says it all thats whjy its works ok

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Thanks for the suggestion of Evostick. If my adhesive fails, then I will give it a try.

With the top tension fully applied (with no saw blade), I can easily install a new blade without slackening the tensioner! If that doesn’t mean the tensioner is pretty ineffective, I rest my case! I have had the tensioner system off the machine and there appears to be nothing wrong with it, unless the manufacturer has installed weak springs.

Thanks again,

Andrew..

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

is there also a tensioning lever?

On my 2 wheel you set the tension for the blade width with a handwheel and then can apply or take off the tension with a lever that operates a cam. Idea is you can quickly take the tension off when not in use and put it back on equally as quickly.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

No the only tensioning device is a spring loaded system that can be increased or reduced with a large allen key.

Well my adhesive failed and cleaning it off the tyre and wheel, the tyre broke. So tomorrow i will try the evostick and just hope that will cure the break as well.

Interestingly enough, although there are plenty of replacement tires,, none are the correct size for the generic 3 wheel bandsaw (180 mm). I think mine is a Draper, but the label has long gone.

Thanks all,

Andrew.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

I’ve 3 bandsaws in total, a little Burgess, an Emco, and a hand held 2 wheel portable, who’s name I don’t recall.
All of the tyres have now been replaced with the granulated cork rubber sheet, often used for car sump gaskets.
I just cut a long strip, scarf the joint rather than a butt one, and glue down with a good contact adhesive.
At least one, the Burgess, was done over 10 years ago, and is still holding up though it doesn’t get much use.

Bill

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Andrew,

I am now wondering if the tensioning system has been rebuilt in the past and reassembled badly. I get at least an inch or more of travel on the unit fitted to my 3 wheel Axminster unit, now getting on for 20 years old.

Have you actually observed what happens when you operate the hex key? It may simply be down to a missing spacer or washers and the action is it out of effective range because of absent parts.

Brian

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Brian,

I have had the saw from new about 20 years ago. If there is an assembly fault in the tensioner, it was done at the factory. I don’t get anything like an inch movement in total, more like 0.5″, so you may well be correct, I will take a closer look, once I have sorted out the tyre problem.

Bill,

I am a touch confused about the material being granulated cork rubber sheet. I have never come across it, granulated cork or rubber gasket material, being the things I am familiar with. I will have a Google around to see if I can identify it.

Thanks both for your help,

Andrew.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I took off the wheel with the tyre problem. easier to clean it and get the Evostick on to it. I was somewhat dumbfounded to find that the bearing at the wheel centre was a Japanese NGK bearing, instead of the expected cheap Chinese version! Maybe the bandsaw was made in Taiwan?

Just as a matter of interest Solent Tools do rubber tyres for the Draper BS355A bandsaw (the identical saw to mine, which may indeed be a Draper!). Not exactly cheap, but not too bad (about £11 for one up to about £27 for 3). So for anyone not wanting to fiddle with DIY versions, then they can get tyres to fit.

I Googled granulated cork rubber sheet and indeed it is quite common. Seemed quite expensive for pieces long enough to produce a tyre (needs to be about 570 mm long).

Andrew.

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