My Mill Started Making a Strange Noise

[warren46]

I was sawing some 2X6 pine for some rafters.  Had one last cant to finish when the mill started making a terrible racket.  I managed to finish the cut I was in and shut it down.

It seems one of the bearings on the drive axle came apart.

 



 

Monday I will need to get a replacement and reassemble and adjust.  I have not decided if I will replace the other bearing that seems to be fine.  I am leaning towards replacing both.

[JB Griffin]

I had a something like that happen to me, but I caught it before it got that bad, sure enuff it'll shut you down for the rest of the day at least.

Hope you get it going soon, and i'd replace both bearings for sure.

[Chuck White]

Me too.

I'd replace the bearings in pairs!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Keep leaning Warren.....do them both. 

[bandmiller2]

Warren, I had to do the same this year, your ears will tip you off to most bearing problems. If their a name brand pillow block you can just buy the bearing and reuse the cast base, they twist in. Its getting hard to find reliable US blocks if you use pacific rim, relube they must use Yak grease on theirs. Frank C.

[delvis]

That looks like a Timber Harvester mill.  Remember not to use too much grease on those drive shaft bearings.  Too much grease causes friction just like too little grease.  If in doubt, run the mill for awhile and then take the zerk fittings out and if there is too much grease it will come out of the hole.

[StimW]

If you just replace the bearing inside the pillow block you won't have to worry about a new block having slightly different dimensions.
I buy a lot of bearings for my business from-  http://www.baileynet.com/
I get fast shipping and great service! Been using them for about 6 years now. (I have no connection to them)

[warren46]

That looks like a Timber Harvester mill.  Remember not to use too much grease on those drive shaft bearings. 

Yes that is a Timber Harvester mill.

Delvis was right about to much grease.

The replacement bearings included a lubrication schedule.  According to the schedule it takes one shot of grease every 10 weeks if the mill is run 8 hours a day.  Since I work alone it is rare that the band turns 8 hours in any day.  I will lube the bearings every three months from here on out.