Drive Belt Help Needed " Desperately "
I broke the drive belts on my BT3100-1. I have not had the saw too long and so haven't used it too much when I started it up while crosscutting a piece of 1/4 inch plywood. I must have nudged the wood into contact with the blade when I reached under it to start the saw. In a split second the belts broke before I even knew that the blade was stalled.
So I go on line to see about ordering two new belts and am referred to " Gardner " in Columbus, Ohio. They charged me $50 with shipping for the 2 belts. "WOW", I will be a lot more careful in the future at that price.
Does anybody know of a source for parts that are not so expensive?????
But that is not the whole story. I read the articles on belt replacement and printed them out. When I went to dis-assemble the saw in order to install the new belts I ran into A Major snag. It seems that I cannot remove the slider housing ( under the dust cover ). I have of course removed the 6 screws that attach it to the other half, the motor side. I have tapped it with a mallet, pried it, gently, with a screwdriver pulled on it etc. etc. It won't budge. The retainer behind the cover with 2 screw holes is loose and I can spin it around. With out removing that aluminum cover ther is no way that I can see to put those belts on. This whole episode is causing me to have second thoughts about having bought this saw although I have liked using it the little that I did up until now. My other option was the Bosch 4000 but it cost $200 more and did not have the SMT which tipped me to the BT3001.
Sooo, how's about some help from some of you that have changed your belts successfully ? By the way I took the motor off and that was of no help as there seems to no way it is attached from that side. Incidently I am able to grasp the tops of the shims when the sliding carriege is all the way down and wiggle them around but not remove them. With the seemingly fragilety of these belts I am sure some of you have run into this problem. If you have;
Please Help the frustated Newbie!!! Thanks Geno
So I go on line to see about ordering two new belts and am referred to " Gardner " in Columbus, Ohio. They charged me $50 with shipping for the 2 belts. "WOW", I will be a lot more careful in the future at that price.
Does anybody know of a source for parts that are not so expensive?????
But that is not the whole story. I read the articles on belt replacement and printed them out. When I went to dis-assemble the saw in order to install the new belts I ran into A Major snag. It seems that I cannot remove the slider housing ( under the dust cover ). I have of course removed the 6 screws that attach it to the other half, the motor side. I have tapped it with a mallet, pried it, gently, with a screwdriver pulled on it etc. etc. It won't budge. The retainer behind the cover with 2 screw holes is loose and I can spin it around. With out removing that aluminum cover ther is no way that I can see to put those belts on. This whole episode is causing me to have second thoughts about having bought this saw although I have liked using it the little that I did up until now. My other option was the Bosch 4000 but it cost $200 more and did not have the SMT which tipped me to the BT3001.
Sooo, how's about some help from some of you that have changed your belts successfully ? By the way I took the motor off and that was of no help as there seems to no way it is attached from that side. Incidently I am able to grasp the tops of the shims when the sliding carriege is all the way down and wiggle them around but not remove them. With the seemingly fragilety of these belts I am sure some of you have run into this problem. If you have;
Please Help the frustated Newbie!!! Thanks Geno
LCHIEN
Loring in Katy, TX USA
I would like to thank you all that have replied to my post regarding belt replacement. BlackWallnut , you hit the nail on the head. When I tapped the housing from the rear with a piece of dowel and a hammer it came off. I can now put on my new belts and get back to work. I want to stress that it was necessary to tap FROM THE REAR, that is the MOTOR side, to effect the removal. I will try to locate a spare set of belts at a more reasonable price to keep as a backup to have on hand in the event that I break them again.
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