Issues with Delta table saw 36-670 bearing replacement

Are you sure of the model number? All the parts diagrams I find for a 36-670 show it as a pseudo direct drive machine and does not have anything like what you show in your diagram above.

But beyond that – are you sure you got the right bearings? You may have needed bearings with an extended inner race. If you let a parts guy pick them for you, there is a good chance that they wouldn’t have even noticed the difference and just gone on bore, O.D. and width at the outer race. Seen it happen way more than once.

Cheers,
Brad

PS: Measure the dimensions in metric. The bore may/may not be in metric (it may actually be 5/8” as indicated), but the rest should all be metric.

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Are you sure of the model number? All the parts diagrams I find for a 36-670 show it as a pseudo direct drive machine and does not have anything like what you show in your diagram above.

Yep – clearly marked on the saw. But this is the base saw model; it was typically sold in a configuration that gave it another model number, like 36-649, 36-675, 36-678, or 36-679.

But beyond that – are you sure you got the right bearings? You may have needed bearings with an extended inner race. If you let a parts guy pick them for you, there is a good chance that they wouldn t have even noticed the difference and just gone on bore, O.D. and width at the outer race. Seen it happen way more than once.

Original bearing are clearly marked with part number 6203 RS – very standard bearing.

I chamfered the inner diameter of the shorter spacer just enough for it to clear the small projection of the shaft bearing seat, and now it all tightens up correctly. I believe that this is how it was supposed to be built; otherwise there would be no lateral support for the shaft. Now, the pulley-side bearing – which is captured using a bearing nut that holds the outer race – provides lateral thrust support. The bearing shaft could move on the pulley-side bearing inner race a few millimeters without the adjustment I made to the short spacer. Note that the long spacer has a larger inside diameter to avoid this problem.

I’ll finish assembling the saw tonight and test, but I am confident that this is how it was meant to be built. I think that the short spacer was incorrectly spec’d for this particular lot. However, it is equally plausible that the long spacer was simply made just a bit too short. There is sufficient lateral clearance available in the positioning of the saw blade side bearing to allow a slightly longer “long” spacer to correct the problem, too.

Steve

Additional note: The pulley did not always sit perpendicular to the shaft before this modification to the short spacer. When the assembly was tightened the pulley would randomly be slightly out of square. I attribute this to the random position taken by the spacer depending on how it contacted the extended bearing seat on the shaft. By chamfering the inside of the short spacer I avoid this and the pulley is now square each time the assembly is tightened.

If you have one of these saws, check to see if the long spacer is “loose”; if it is you might want to investigate.

Steve (aka Beuford)