Thread: Rockwell delta band saw belt?

I have a Rockwell/Delta vertical band saw that I need to replace the drive belt. 20" Series 28-3X5. It looks like a PIA to replace the belt. Does anyone know if there is an easy way to replace this belt

If you meant tires instead of belts then I just did mine recently (exact same model saw). I got the genuine Rockwell belts for about $45 each.

The trick to mounting them is to dismount the wheels from the bandsaw, use lots of clamps and warm the tire up before installing.

1. I put my belts under the shop heater for a while (warm air blast)
2. While the tires were warming up I pulled both wheels from the saw and clamped a piece of firmly in a bench vise so that I could work on the wheel horizontally.
3. Gather C-clamps, vise grips, kwik-grips whatever. Also use some old screwdrivers as tire irons if you don't have real tire irons.
4. Clean the wheel.
5. Mount the tire. Get it on one side and clamp it... work your way around clamping as you go.

If you mean the drive belt on the Reeves drive:

Easiest is to use a linked belt. Otherwise follow the directions in the manual.

-DU-

The rubber pieces on the band saw wheels are called tires not belts. The
tires can be dressed with a straight edge to help the blade ride true. The
replacement of tires is described in the Band Saw Handbook by Mike Duginske.
I suspect the thread refers to the motor drive belt.

This is a drive belt. It goes from the motor pulley over to a drive pulley. Broken belt streatched out is probably 36" long. Its a timing ( toothed ) belt.

How about one of those segmented belts that you can put together any length?

Originally Posted by TimH

This is a drive belt. It goes from the motor pulley over to a drive pulley. Broken belt streatched out is probably 36" long. Its a timing ( toothed ) belt.

Unless its different than the belt on my 20" Delta, its not a timing belt. Its a wide shallow V belt with notches on the ID to make it more flexible.

If you can find a link type belt of the proper width, that would be the way to go. The original type belts are notorious for taking a set anytime they sit unused for even a few days. Then they want to make the machine sorta "gallop" for a while until the belt works the set out.

One of these days I'm going to put about a 5hp motor on mine and add a VFD. Then I'm going to fire up the D3 and crush that cheesy VS drive into at least a million pieces

Originally Posted by metlmunchr

Unless its different than the belt on my 20" Delta, its not a timing belt. Its a wide shallow V belt with notches on the ID to make it more flexible.

If you can find a link type belt of the proper width, that would be the way to go. The original type belts are notorious for taking a set anytime they sit unused for even a few days. Then they want to make the machine sorta "gallop" for a while until the belt works the set out.

One of these days I'm going to put about a 5hp motor on mine and add a VFD. Then I'm going to fire up the D3 and crush that cheesy VS drive into at least a million pieces

I'm wondering if someone substituted a timing type belt for the one that actually belongs in there.

Originally Posted by David Utidjian

If you meant tires instead of belts then I just did mine recently (exact same model saw). I got the genuine Rockwell belts for about $45 each.

The trick to mounting them is to dismount the wheels from the bandsaw, use lots of clamps and warm the tire up before installing.

1. I put my belts under the shop heater for a while (warm air blast)
2. While the tires were warming up I pulled both wheels from the saw and clamped a piece of firmly in a bench vise so that I could work on the wheel horizontally.
3. Gather C-clamps, vise grips, kwik-grips whatever. Also use some old screwdrivers as tire irons if you don't have real tire irons.
4. Clean the wheel.
5. Mount the tire. Get it on one side and clamp it... work your way around clamping as you go.

If you mean the drive belt on the Reeves drive:

Easiest is to use a linked belt. Otherwise follow the directions in the manual.

-DU-

David, where did you get the tires for your saw?....I'm starting to refurbish a Rockwell 20" saw at the local High School and can't find a source for tires, belts, bearings etc.....Please let me know here or by PM where I may get parts, and even a manual / parts list.....

The saw is # 28-3X0, ser. 1591821, two speed unit.....

Thanks, Jim

Jim,

I got the tires direct from Rockwell/Delta/Dewalt about a year ago. They were not cheap but have worked a lot better than the aftermarket (eBay) urethane tires I had on there.

Bearings are just common bearings. Go by part number on the bearing and cross reference. There is nothing special about them that I am aware of.

My belt looks fine so I am not replacing it. Mine is the same one as TimH's, looks like a wide timing belt.

Parts manual/manuals can be found on eBay or for download. Try this place, OWWM for manuals.

This is the DeWalt-Servicenet link for that bandsaw. It shows the "old style" one but the tires are the same. The Tire part No. is 426040945002
Link to the order page. At $48.95 each they ain't cheap but they should last a long time.

On mine there is a sash window lifting device for lifting the upper blade guide. It uses a a steel tape, like a tape measure. I got a new sash lift from McMaster-Carr Part no. 1053A38. I had to flip the bracket that it mounts to over and drill another hole... other than that it bolted right in.
McMaster calls it a "Spring Counterbalance, Overhead Style, 46"tape Travel,13.5-14.5 Lb Cap." Makes adjusting the height of the guide a lot easier.

I have the complete circle cutting attachment and gravity "power feed" attachment for mine. Never used either of them. I think I will setup the gravity feed though just to try it out. In theory it should make the saw a lot safer to use.

I also have a Rockwell Delta Model 7P horizontal bandsaw that needs some serious TLC. It needs a belt and something is wrong with the gearbox. Horrendous noises that can't be good. I had to retrofit a new hydraulic cylinder and plumbing for the hydraulic feed. Came out OK except the new cylinder has some friction in it so that I have to hang about ten pounds off the frame in order for it to feed normally. I guess I will keep these old machines going for as long as I can. It cuts nice and straight and saves a lot of time so no reason to replace it.

-DU-

Thanks David;

Looks like they're on backorder till Jan 10.....I'll try the OWWM site for some more sources....Keeping these old machines going gets problematic at times, but some of the new equipment that's supposed to replace them is much lower level quality at 2-3 times the price.....

The school has old Oliver lathes, table saws and a planer with 84 carbide cutters in it.....THAT'S fun when it's time to sharpen it.....It's all old technology, but built for stout.....We do, however, have to make parts from time to time.....

Jim

Originally Posted by goldiver

I'm starting to refurbish a Rockwell 20" saw at the local High School and can't find a source for tires, belts, bearings etc.....

I am finishing rebuilding a 20" Rockwell/Delta wood/metal - old style.

Bearings,belts, and tires were the least of my problems. The tires I ordered from Delta. The bearings from Accurate bearing, and the belts came from the auto parts store.


The Delta tires are a snap to install. Takes about 3 minutes, are pre-crowned, and do not require any messy glue to deal with either.

Now if you need the 1" wide vari-speed belts because you have a Reeves-drive, then you will have to ask at www.owwm.org. My Reeves drive was worn out so I am changing to standard pulleys, standard belt, a 3 phase motor and a VFD. It wound be being cheaper than the vari-speed belts alone.

If you are looking for a manual look at www.owwm.com. Failing that, ask at www.owwm.org.

Jim,

One other thing about Rockwell; If you ask them nicely, they may scan and email you a copy of the original factory drawings for certain parts of your machine. I have had some luck in the past getting scans of original parts drawings for my Rockwell 10 X 36 metal lathe. All the revisions and particulars were on the drawings including materials and conditioning and sometimes even process. Beats the heck out of reverse engineering a part. Especially when it is a gear or something that is not an off-the-shelf part.

Though there are better quality machines for some things than old Rockwells, ss long as Rockwell can support me with information on keeping this stuff going I will continue to have a certain amount of "brand loyalty."

I also work in a school (small state college) machine shop. Most of the machines we have are Rockwell/Delta, bought back in the early 1970s. I would love to have an old Oliver wood lathe. I worked on one once and it was a very nice smooth running machine.

-DU-

I forgot to mention that there were several different drive setups for the Delta/Rockwell 20" bandsaw. A picture or a reference to a online parts list would be helpful.

In general replacing drive belts is easy. Loosen the motor mount adjustment nuts and it should just come off.

Originally Posted by Pierce Butler

I forgot to mention that there were several different drive setups for the Delta/Rockwell 20" bandsaw. A picture or a reference to a online parts list would be helpful.

In general replacing drive belts is easy. Loosen the motor mount adjustment nuts and it should just come off.

I'm going to take a picture and post it tomorrow. There are 2 struts holding the pulleys apart.

Tim,

OK I finally found the manual for mine. There is nothing in the manual on belt replacement!

There is a section on setting the belt tension:

ADJUSTING BELT TENSION
The correct belt tension is obtained when the distance between the center point of the motor pulley and the center point of the driven pulley is 18-1/4".

To adjust belt tension:

1. DISCONNECT BAND SAW FROM POWER SOURCE.

2. Loosen the four screws on the bearing housings on the end of each shaft. Loosen the nuts that hold the motor to motor plate and move motor up or down until the distance between the center points is 18-1/4".

That is it.

The four screws are the ones that hold the struts on bearing housings. I have never adjusted the belt tension on mine. Looks to be a real pain to adjust or replace the belt. Main reason being the motor would be very difficult to move where it is located inside the saw base. Tough enough just to get to all of the motor mount nuts.

If I had to replace mine I would try and use a small bottle jack or scissors jack underneath the motor once I loosened the mount nuts in order to shift it up and down.

-DU-

ETA: Just measured my pulley center distances and I get 18-1/2" and my belt doesn't seem tight at all.

to digress on the tires. I have bought tires from Jet for Deltas and they are cheaper and get shipped the same day. Delta was always the old fashioned 2 week thing and more money.

John,

I wouldn't have thought a tire made for a Jet would fit a Delta

The price I get at this link gives a price of $72.19 each. The genyooine Delta tire costs $48 (and change.)

-DU-