Table Saw Clicking noise

If you get the sound when you turn the arbor by hand, without the motor and belt. then the problem is in the arbor. I assume that there is not any small piece of string, wood or other foreigh material hung up on the arbor.

If the sound is present when nothing is attached and no blade, Then I’d say that it is the bearings. Do you feel anything in the arbor when you turn it by hand (a jerking, grindind etc). if you turn the arbor back and forth with the hand at the point that it does it, does it do it both directions.

I’ve had a sound happen when the belt starts to come apart and it is frayed and the fraying is hitting something. I also replace the bearing in my blade guide when they are getting noisy.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I forgot that part, it only does it turning in the forward direction and if I do it really slow it doesn’t (like creaping slow any faster it does). It feels smooth. It also only does it with the belt on. The belt looked ok, I didn’t notice anything off, but I have had it for a year and 1/2 now and bought the saw used. Its a flat multy groved belt, Can I get that kind at an autoparts store or do I have to get an OEM belt?

-- David, www.briskibusiness.com

Hey David,

Just a wild guess, but see if the belt guards (parts 30 and 31 in the diagram) are rubbing or maybe loose…

-- John

David: It could be the belt coming apart. I would go for an automotive belt. Is it one of the flatones that are being used now on newer cars. A serpitine belt?

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

OK, nobody else has suggested this, so here goes….have you check to make sure that the pulley on the arbor is tight? Sometime they work loose and start off with a clicking sound combined with some vibration. As the pulley loosens-up it begins to wobbleresulting in more noise and vibration, eventually the “keeper key” may fall out and the pulley can actually “waller out” and then you may have to replace both the pulley and the arbor.

Just a thought…

-- Sawhorse - Sulphur Springs, TX - www.sawhorseworkshop.com

If it is a bearing going out, the belt being attached may pull enough on the shaft to cause some slight misalignment, which causes the bearing to make the clicking noise. Did you contact Ridgid and see what they thought it might be? You know Ridgid has a lifetime warranty. Could get the part(s) for free? I know they sent me a part for my lathe, no shipping or anything.

-- Jesus is Lord!

I have come across some simular problems in the past. I used to work for a company that installed lab equpment. We would get that clicking sound when a bearing assembly would start to go out in fan arbors. The tension created by the belt can cause the bearing assembly to wear out and the bearing become loose in the housing. It should be a fairly easy task to replace them. I would call Rigid to help diagnose the problem as well as a sourse for your parts and installation instructions. As for belts, I would look into replacing the factory belt with a link belt and matching pullies.

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

Its not the belt guard for sure i had it open and checked for any kind of rubbing.

The Belt is the flat kind. I’ll take it in to see if i can get a local replacment.

If I can get out to the shop tonight I will check to see if the pulley is loose. The one on the Motor Shaft has come loose on me before.

Thanks for the Ideas.

-- David, www.briskibusiness.com

Finally got out to the garage this weekend and loosened the pullies and re-tightened them and it appears that has stopped the noise for now.

Thanks all.

-- David, www.briskibusiness.com