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I don't think there is an answer to this problem.

3K views 42 replies 19 participants last post by  Finn 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a Delta contractors saw that I have had for a few years now and it does what I want it to do. But the motor vibrates like crazy. So much so that it has even fallen off. I know that these saws are made to take the motor off for easy transport. I have taken the motor off and reinstalled it a dozen times aligned the pulleys per the manual but it still vibrates like crazy. I now have to put a stick under the motor to stabilize it while not making the belt too lose. Does anyone have one of these saws and if so did you have the same problem and did you fix it?
Thanks
 
#28 ·
Good advice but, I bought this saw from Lowe's 5 years ago during close out and paid $450 with the fence. Replacing the arbor and bearing will cost ??? …..plus my time and labor. Is it worth it? I can just keep supporting the motor with a piece of scrape wood and continue on as I have been. I was hoping that this wasn't the case (bent arbor) but since it is I'm not sure I want to put any more time or money into this saw. I'm the only one that can make that decision. At least with the help of all of you we have gotten to the bottom of the problem.
Thanks again,
Don
 
#29 ·
Guaranteed it's a bent arbor. There's nothing wrong with 20 blades, maybe 1, but you states it vibrates with any blade.
What's happening is the arbor/shaft is bent/eccentric etc. and vibrates a "little bit" without a blade.
Let's, as an example, say the shaft is out. .005
Then you put a blade on it and that .005 carries out to the teeth of the blade (O.D) and is compounded to maybe .025 wobble/concentricity.
If it's been doing this for years and has gotten worse, this condition affected the bearings over time.
Replace the arbor and bearings and it will probably run better than when it was new.
 
#30 ·
I think I would order the parts and set aside a day to make the repair. You can use the stick until you get ready then stop everything and do it. Bearings should be available at any store that sells bearings. The arbor will have to be ordered from the supplier.
 
#31 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'd look at this way. The original money spent is really irrelevant to your path forward…regardless, the saw's not right. You can spend $25-$40 and an hour or two of your time to can make it right, or you can shell out a lot more to get another saw that's "might" be right. A new arbor looks pretty attractive to me. Now if you hate the saw, and want an excuse to get a new one, that's a different matter!
 
#33 ·
Don, I thought about changing the 2 piece (split) arbor pulley on my 36-979 when I tuned it up. I had heard of of it giving trouble (vibration) due to it not seating correctly. I can only find one reference now. I had a balanced steel motor pulley and my saw doesn't vibrate so I didn't bother changing the arbor pulley. If you can't put a dial indicator on it to see what is off, I'd swap that arbor pulley or at least remove it for a look. Might be the cheapest fix(gamble). Good luck. -Jack
 
#35 ·
OK, at ereplacement parts it would cost $76 bucks for the arbor shaft and the 2 bearings plus shipping plus an hour of my time. That's not bad IF that fixes the problem, which it should. I'm starting to save for a new saw so do I put this 80 bucks into this saw or put it towards the new one? I plan on getting a good hybrid saw because my shop is so small I need the smaller footprint. I have lived with this vibration problem for a long time and was hoping there would be a quick and easy fix that I was overlooking. If I save for the new saw I could then sell this one on CL and get some of my money back and of course I would give full disclosure to it's problem. Now I have to decide what route I want to go.
 
#38 ·
If you saw has a problem similar to the one refered to by IrreverentJack in #40, that might explain why it disapear with the piece of scrap wood supporting the motor.

However I don't understand how this scrap wood support could cure a bent shaft problem.

So it might be advisable to check every adjustment articulation.

Otherwise for wobble you might be interested by http://woodgears.ca/saw_arbor/index.html
 
#41 ·
I thought I had it. When I checked the slop in the raising mech I could wiggle it a good 1/16 of an inch. I figured that was causing the vibration. Followed the directions and got all the slop out. Put the saw back together and fired that mother up. %#@* the motor still jumps. I guess I'm back to the bent arbor. Not sure what I'm going to do. Call me lazy but it would be a good bit of work to change it without disassembling the thing and turning it upside down. I'll probably get a wild hair one day and do it but until then I'll keep using the support. I have already lost a weekend and a half messing around. I need to cut some wood.
Thank s everyone for your advise.
 
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