table saw question

[Duane Brown]

I have an old craftsman table saw, model 113. 298030. It has served well and has never really given me any problems, until today. Turned on the saw and got a buzzing noise, immediately turned it off. turned it back on, same, turned it back off. turned the blade by hand and it turned freely as it always has. Raised and lowered the blade and tried again, it runs but has a pretty bad vibration just as it takes off and when the speed is coming down and is about to stop. When it is at speed it seems to be smooth like it always has been. The pulley on the motor side looks a little wobbley. I cycled it on and off several times after that and it ran each time after that. I've done no upgrades on it so it still, and always, has had, the junk pulleys on it. plain belt which is due for a replacement for sure. But that pulley just doesn't look quite right. Is there something there that could have come loose or something? Any suggestions? Thanks

[Canoeyawl]

Those old Craftsman motors had lube oil holes for the bearings - maybe that's it

[k4lmy]

Have a look at the pully under the table. I have had trouble with the set screw coming loose and the pulley sliding outbound and hitting the frame. Difficult to get it back in position and get the key back in place.. Finaly turned the saw upside down and got it in place.. added some glip tite to the set screw and tightened down.. Back up running smooth and quiet.

[Canoez]

Motor start capacitor, perhaps?

[Tom Robb]

You say the motor pully wobbles? Perhaps that's the problem?

[the_gr8t_waldo]

it might be saw dust packing the start/run switch(part of the motor) and not allowing it to return to the "start" position. take a look and vacume out that assembly

[Duane Brown]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have always "tried" to keep the saw healthy, i.e. clean and in good mechanical order but I guess things just get old. It's wierd, yes the pulley under the table does wobble but the set screw is tight, very tight. The shaft is not bent. I took the pulley off and rotated the blade and from what I can see it is straight. Now, the pulley doesn't look like "it's about to fall off" wobbley, but it does have a little wobble to it, something I had not saw before( ;) ). I replaced the belt yesterday with one of those anti-vibration belt things and it helped somewhat with the vibration. As for the "buzz-start" noise, I did not experience that yesterday, it started right up just like it always has so I just don't know what the #^$@ was going on there but (fingers crossed) it's good for now.

[Bill R]

The pulleys that came stock on those Craftsman saws are not the highest quality. I have refurbished several saws and have found the pulleys to be warped or out of true from wear. If you are keeping the saw, it is well worth replacing the stock pulleys with replacements of higher quality.

[Duane Brown]

Bill, I have heard this as well. I have been looking at some machined pulleys here:
http://www.in-lineindustries.com/performance_pack.html

[Mrleft8]

The start problem is probably a bad spot on the windings. The wobble sounds like worn out (dangerous) arbor bearings, or a loose pulley which may have scored the arbor shaft allowing it to stay more or less in place, but not snug.

[Bill R]

With what Mrleft8 said above- definitely pull the pulley off the arbor shaft and inspect for damage, If the arbor shaft and pulley are not damaged, check for slop in the arbor shaft. If there is any slop, your arbor bearings are shot.