Bandsaw Motor Upgrade

Sometimes, when you increase horsepower you worry about the drive train being able to handle the extra torque. However, the “drive train” of a bandsaw is a belt. I expect you will have no problems. The worst case scenario is that you need to buy a stronger belt.

Of course, the other issue is mounting the new motor. That may take some creative engineering.

If you are doing any resawing or big band saw boxes, you want all the power you can get and this motor will help a lot. If you are just working with flat wood, why bother?

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

I just up graded the motor on my 14 inch 1972 Rockwell. I found a 2 hp at a yard sale for $25, 1725 rpm and like Rich said, it takes a bit of rework to get-r-dun. Just did some resawing today as a matter of fact and it works much better than the 1/2 hp stock. And add a wood slicer blade as well.
Personally, I would not get the HF motor. You can find Baldor and Dayton motors for pennies on the dollar. The most important thing is the rpm, stay at 1725.

PLEASE don’t put a crap motor on your BS. Do you have an elec. motor shop in your area? If so, check with them for a good motor.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

Thanks for the input. Sounds like the motor upgrade is a good idea, but stay away from the Harbor Freight junk. I’ve gotten into some more resawing last summer, and I just don’t have the power with the stock motor. I think I’ll just scour through Craigslist and see if something pops up.

-- Wherever you go, there you are.

Harbor freight is not necessarily junk, I would buy a motor from HF.
With may be two exceptions I always had excellent luck with HF

-- Bert

The HF motor is made by Marathon Electric, which has been around
for a long time (if it’s the same company) and makes good motors. I’ve
had a couple Marathon motors and they worked fine.

I have a 14” Delta Bandsaw (‘42 model). For some reason my dad put a Harbor freight motor on it…..been working great for years now.

My dad usually bought good stuff, wish he were still around to ask him what he was thinking : )

-- JB

The Harbor Freight motor runs at 1800 RPM’s, you think the additional 75 RPM’s would cause a problem in compatibility?

-- Wherever you go, there you are.

Sorry I don’t have anything to contribute at this moment, but I have just started contemplating the same question since I recently added a riser block kit tomy Delta 14-inch BS. So, anyone with good information will be helping several fellow LJs at once.

Thanks for posing the question.

If I discover any helpful information,I’ll make sure to add it here

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

The Iturra Design people have an article, “Supercharging your 14” Delta”, in their 2010 Catalog that addresses blade speed. If you have a bi-metal or carbide tipped blade, good tires(like their polyurethane ones), at least 1 1/2hp and use you BS for re-sawing they have “high Speed” pulley sets to increase blade speed from 3000SFPM to 4000SFPM (surface feet per minute). That’s a 33% increase in blade speed and they refer to it as “living on the wild side”. 75rpm would only be a 4-5% increase. If you choose the HF motor, see if they have an extended warranty for it. -Jack

There is no indication as to rotation direction. Something that you need to know. For your BS you need a CCW rotation. The mounting frame is different, not a major problem. Also the shaft diameter is probablly larger than your present motor so a new pulley would be required.

check which nema mount is on your saw. you may not want that motor most tool motors are nema 56. Baldor is a good brand, grizzly sells their own. 175 or so priced.

As someone else said, that appears to be a Marathon brand motor, which is not just some random HF generic brand.