Ridgid TS3650/3660 loose belt tip

[J. Clarke]

Started up the saw today and there was a distinct sound of belt squealing. I checked for something obstructing the blade, found some narrow cutoffs down inside that I pulled out, started it up, still squeal.

Checked the belt--it was horribly loose. It's tensioned by the weight of the motor and a small spring, and the motor was at the limit of its travel, so my first reaction was "holy crap, I need a new belt". Looked closer and found a couple of rods held in place by set screws that rough-positioned the motor. Pulled on the motor and it slid right out--the set screws weren't tight. Slid it until the motor was at about the center of its travel and tightened the set screws and fired it up, and not only was there no squeal, but it spun up a lot faster and cut a bit cleaner--I guess I missed a step in the setup when I originally put it together.

I figured I ought to mention it just in case somebody else with one missed the same step.

[Joe]

On some old (really old) table saws the belts are so long that vibration is a problem. On mine, I replaced a set of bearings because it sounded so bad on shut down. Solved the problem with a Power Twist belt that calmed everything down. Should have saved the used bearings since they weren't all that old. Oh well...

Joe

[Sonny]

When we learn our tools well enough, we can tell when someting isn't quite right, just by a small unusual sound emanating from it, somewhat similarly as knowing a saw blade is getting dull, because it makes more noise than previously.... more noise than a sharp one.

Yep, always check out the source of an unusual sound, no matter how slight. Though I don't recall a personal incident, this practice probably applies to unusual/unfamiliar vibrations, also.

And, if I may add, when using a (box, other) fan, to cool yourself as you work: first, check the breeze direction so that your shirt tail doesn't blow/flap near the jointer blades/head, as recently happened to me (no accident, however), before engaging in the work... or blow/ flap near your saw blades, etc.

Sonny

[Puckdropper]

"J. Clarke" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Have you noticed how the belt tightens and loosens as you raise and lower the blade? I've got mine set to a balance between squealing when the blade is low to being able to raise the blade the whole way.

Puckdropper

[J. Clarke]

Did not notice that--need to check it out. Thank you.