Jet Bandsaw

[sjfoster85]

Hi everyone, I need some advise.
I bought a Jet 18in bandsaw second hand, the model is JWBS-18Q.
I'm trying to change the blade but I can't get the bottom wheel to spin freely to adjust the blade. Do I need to remove the tension off the drive motor?? The manual makes no mention of it!!
Thanks!!
Sarah

[Optimark]

Sara, welcome to the forum.

If you look at page 10 on this online manual, you will see what you need to loosen to change your blade.

Jet JWBS-16X Operating Instructions Manual (Page 10 of 44) | ManualsLib (https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1583386/Jet-Jwbs-16x.html?page=10#manual)

Mick.

[verawood]

Welcome to the forum Sarah.

[Treecycle]

There is no mention of any brake on this machine so the lower wheel should be able to be spun easily at any time. If you can't spin it freely you might need to look for something that is jamming it or the motor. From the manual on page 12 it shows that the motor has a quick release locking lever. If you can't find anything jamming the machine you could release the motor and lift it up and then lock it in place. That way you will be taking the tension off the belt and the wheel should be able to be turned if the motor is the problem.

[sjfoster85]

Thanks guys! I pulled the motor off and the bottom wheel spins fine so it looks like I have a seized motor bearing :C Dang!

[hurcorh]

Does the saw run fine? My jet 15" was very hard to turn the bottom wheel on but ran fine i think they motor had a brake of some sort. Even though it isn't mentioned in the manual.

[Treecycle]

Yes I was going to mention the same thing. Rather than having a foot brake there may be a braked motor to slow it down considering the size of the saw.

[sjfoster85]

Yes it runs fine, if the motor has a brake do I need to take the belt tension off every time I need to change the blade??! Gross!

[Treecycle]

Reading through the manual it appears that there is a brake on the motor but I'm not sure if it brakes electrically or mechanically. It could apply a braking force or a brake to the motor when the stop button is pressed and continue braking for a predetermined time and then release. This is what it appears to say in the manual on page 13 as shown below. It states that it shouldn't stay on for longer than 10 seconds so maybe yours is defective or stuck.
Have you tried pushing the start button and immediately press the stop button to see if the motor will spin at all? Is this the first time you have gone to use the machine?

512022

[hurcorh]

I tension the blade, turn it on and turn it off quickly, adjust the tracking to a point where the blade isn't going to come off of the wheel, turn the saw on and adjust the tracking on the fly with the saw on. Have to make sure the top and bottom thrust bearings aren't in the way if changing the blade tracking.

[sjfoster85]

Reading through the manual it appears that there is a brake on the motor but I'm not sure if it brakes electrically or mechanically. It could apply a braking force or a brake to the motor when the stop button is pressed and continue braking for a predetermined time and then release. This is what it appears to say in the manual on page 13 as shown below. It states that it shouldn't stay on for longer than 10 seconds so maybe yours is defective or stuck.
Have you tried pushing the start button and immediately press the stop button to see if the motor will spin at all? Is this the first time you have gone to use the machine?

512022

Interesting....🤔 I'll try fiddle with the stop and start button. Ice been using it for months and then decided to give it a spring clean and now here we are!

[sjfoster85]

Do you have a Jet as well?? Ill be using your technique in future!

[Treecycle]

No I don't have a Jet. Did something work out for you?

[hurcorh]

I used to have the 15" version of your saw it has the same braked motor setup. Sold it not long ago, was a great saw I used to resaw a lot of veneer on it, no problem with the right blade.

[Stadleroux]

Hello, I've been looking to get myself a larger bandsaw for some time now and now this very same model has become available 2nd hand, but apparently in very good condition. It's quite a lot more than I was thinking of paying, but it seems like a very good deal. Only problem is, I can't find any examples of new ones with which to compare the price of this one. Is it perhaps a discontinued model? I've seen others online that seem to be the same size, going by the '18,' but then they're either '18M' or '18QT,' not '18Q,' so what are the major differences between them, if any, and how do their prices compare? Frankly, I don't know why I'm bothering, because it might not even be available anymore by the time I get there - the seller is in another town - but I've told myself if it's still there I'll consider it, if not, it wasn't meant to be… :C