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Rikon Bandsaw Drive Belt Problem

1/28/23       
Leslie M. Ohmart III  Member

I have a Rikon 10-325 bandsaw I've had for some time.  The original drive belt was replaced some time ago with an HASMX 4-rib drive belt and itt worked fine until recently. Now the drive belt keeps slipping off the tensioning wheel. Has anyone else experienced this and what was the solution?

1/28/23       #2: Rikon Bandsaw Drive Belt Problem ...
Leslie M. Ohmart III  Member

It seems the belt is unusually sensitive and prone to coming loose regardless of how loose or tight to which it was adjusted, although I can occasionally adjust the tension so it will only run for a couple of minutes before failure. I did wonder if the belt needed to be replaced again. The belt that came with the unit ran until it shredded. The grooves in the HASMX 4-rib belt I have on it now measure the same depth as a spare, so it seems unlikely that a new belt with solve the problem. So I watched what videos there were on replacing the belt and noticed they all did something I had not done, that being removal of the lower wheel. After removal I ran an awl through all the grooves (there was little or nothing to remove) and then touched it up for good measure with a wire brush with the motor going. I then reassembled everything and turned it on. Lo and behold that did the trick. What I actually did I'll never know. Maybe it was the shop gremlins playing tricks on me.

1/30/23       #3: Rikon Bandsaw Drive Belt Problem ...
Bill

Makes sense to replace the belt. I'll bet the manufacturer recommends replacing it once per year.

2/22/23       #4: Rikon Bandsaw Drive Belt Problem ...
Chippy1987 Member

I had the same issues with my bandsaw too!

Have you considered a worn pulley, perhaps an alignment issue, or checked the tension?

I've read that raw edge notched belts are less durable than wrapped ones, which may eliminate this. Alternatively, read the specs sheet about the belt. Perhaps Rikon recommends specific belts to use.

There isn't a specific reason this happens; unfortunately, it's trial of elimination.

Hoping the problem resolves itself! - Let us know what it was in the end.

2/24/23       #5: Rikon Bandsaw Drive Belt Problem ...
Leslie M. Ohmart III

I had a great conversation with a member of the support team at Rikon after seeing several posts about an upgrade kit for the blade guide. I needed a new thrust bearing and found out about it when looking for parts. We talked about all aspects of the saw and in the end, I ended up purchasing and installing the upgrade kit. I think the issue was sawdust getting in the grooves of the wheels on which the belt was installed because I never hooked up a vacuum to the saw. A review of the saw stated that dust collection designed into the saw was poor and to just vacuum it out after use. I'm here to say that the review was wrong. When I started attaching my Jet dust collection machine, the interior of the bandsaw was almost completely clean after use. Live and Learn.


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