Need expert help with new HF 4 sp bandsaw

[acablegypsy]

I bought one of these for my dad for Father's day and when putting it together, I noticed the 2 braces mounted to the underside (the ones that the 4 bolts holding the saw to the stand go through) don't mount flush. The pulley end sits on the lip from a crosspiece. I tried switching them but then they are WAY off, so I know they're in the right way.

I can't seem to get all the pulleys lined up exact because the pulleys aren't plumb. The middle one seems like the shaft could be slightly bent down and the motor pulley looks to be angled slightly as a result of the above problem. They're only off a tiny bit but the belts dont ride correctly and the saw shakes alot.

So, I need some guru to guide me through making this thing right. It's 65 miles to HF, so I'd rather not have to take it back.

Thanks a bunch.

[cabinetman]

Didn't the saw come with assembly instructions?

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[dbhost]

Didn't the saw come with assembly instructions?

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Have you ever seen Harbor Freight's Chinglish instruction books? You sir tell a good joke...

OP. If you can post pictures of the mess, perhaps it would be easier to understand where things are off, so we can better assist you.

ASSUMING the new model has the same assembly manual problems as the older #32206 and #32208 saws (#32206 was a single speed, #32208 is almost identical to the new one except it had a shorter tension rod, and the doors just bolted on, no hinges...) then take a look at this older thread...

[LCHIEN]

Didn't the saw come with assembly instructions?

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HF, what do you expect, really?

When you get HF products you get one of the following:
1. Brief and obvious instructions
2. Complex and unintellgiible instructions
3. Instructions for a previous version that have not been updated, usually there'll be a picture not of the current model, some extra pieces not listed in the manual, and some pieces called out in the instructions that are not in the box.

[cabinetman]

HF, what do you expect, really?

Assembly instructions.

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[Cochese]

I think I know what you're referring to. Get it lined up as best you can, then pick up a link belt from the usual sources - it will be the best thing you buy for this saw. The HF version works fine, but buying elsewhere might be more convenient.

[LCHIEN]

first things first, usually there's an adjustment on one of the wheels (top) to tilt it. That will help you align them parallel to each other. Then there should be a way to shim one of the wheels so that they are not only parallel but coplanar.

[acablegypsy]

Thanks for all the replies and the welcome.

Assembly was not an issue and the instructions, while far from perfect, were quite detailed for a HF tool.

I need advise from someone who has actually set up one of these newer saws successfully. The problems I'm having aren't addressed in the instructions and I would guess are specific to this saw.

The middle pulley issue APPEARS to be that the shaft is bent down just a tiny bit. I can shim out the bottom mounting bolt but that puts the slow end of the pulley right at where the belt barely scrapes the edge of the cutout in the top of the stand. That is with everything mounted as far left as it will slide. The pulley spins true which is why I suspect the shaft. I did not see any adjustment on this pulley. The top and motor pulleys do slide in and out so they should be set to the non-adjustable one, but I dont see any adjustment for tilt. I suppose my question to other owners of this saw is, does your middle pulley sit PERFECTLY plumb?

The other issue being the bracket that you bolt the top end of the motor mounting plate to and it smaller sister across the back. Neither of these pieces mount flush to the underside of the stand top. They both barely sit up on edge of metal from the stand basically shimming the right (pulley) side out a little bit which tilts the motor pulley down just a hair making it sit at about the same angle as the middle pulley. This is why I came here to ask someone with this saw because it seems highly unlikely but maybe they are supposed to be tilted? The top pulley don't tilt though so I couldn't get them all to line up skewed either.

Additionally, I have the link belts but I am trying to get it lined up exact before installing those as I don't want to mask any vibration at this point.


On a side note, I wonder if anyone has done any mods the that motor mounting plate? It flexes so much you cant tighten the belt enough without pulling the motor out of line with the middle pulley. Perhaps the link belt won't need to be as tight thus eliminating that problem but a stiffer mounting arrangement seems needed.

Your thoughts?

Thanks for reading all of that!

[acablegypsy]

thanks for all the help guys but I may answered my own questions. I happened by a HF today and checked out the display saw real close. middle pulley was bent down a hair and the brackets were shimmed up on that lip. just like mine. so for any future searchers on this topic, rest assured there is nothing wrong with your saw. exept that it's a cheap piece of garbage from taiwan. case closed.

[Cochese]

thanks for all the help guys but I may answered my own questions. I happened by a HF today and checked out the display saw real close. middle pulley was bent down a hair and the brackets were shimmed up on that lip. just like mine. so for any future searchers on this topic, rest assured there is nothing wrong with your saw. exept that it's a cheap piece of garbage from taiwan. case closed.

Funny, I thought I already responded to this thread. I guess I didn't.

If you don't like it, return it.

[acablegypsy]

Funny, I thought I already responded to this thread. I guess I didn't.

If you don't like it, return it.

LOL!! Looks like I struck a little Harbor Freight nerve. Sorry Cocheese, I didn't mean to put down your baby. It's a fine piece of uh.... machinery!