Upgrade pillow blocks?

Angleblade11 · March 23, 2015, 08:24:25 PM

Ok so I finally made it down to the mill after work and managed to get the shaft out. In the process my inner pillow block cast busted bc the bearing I guess was stuck fast. This pillow block is not the one that the bearing went in. So now I have 1 good pillow block without a bearing and a bearing without a pillow block. And it looks like the shaft is scared up from the bearings. So guys what are my options now. Do I just go with the WM upgrade that comes with pillow block, bearings, and a new shaft for $408 or get 1 pillow block and 2 bearings. Or just go get 2 pillow block units with the bearings from a local bearing place. A local mill told me he gets all his bearings at thebigbearing store.com online? He said they are good quality and cheaper priced?

bandmiller2 · March 23, 2015, 09:06:35 PM

Angle, I would dress up the shaft and get two new pillow block assemblies so there will be a close match. Frank C.

Angleblade11 · March 24, 2015, 05:52:58 AM

That shaft has some pretty good groves in it. Can it still be cleaned up and not ruin a bearing quick.

fishfighter · March 24, 2015, 06:29:40 AM

You could have the shaft machine at a shop to cut/dress it up. Now that depends how bad it is. Or, talk to the shop and see how much it would cost to build a new shaft.

If you go the first way, just match the new bearing to it. Oh, are the bearing are split bearing? If not, then you are looking at a new shaft.

Peter Drouin · March 24, 2015, 06:38:11 AM

I know it's a lot of money, But if you had got the WM up grade you would be sawing now. For me spending money will save you money and have a set up that you will not have to look at again.

terrifictimbersllc · March 24, 2015, 08:35:41 AM

X2 on not seeing huge markups from WM. They don't mark up the replaceables on my Kubota sawmill engine, they're better priced than from the Kubota dealer. Sometimes their prices approach list price and you can save a bit by searching around, but then you have to make absolutely sure its the right part and to be honest for me such time is often not very well spent. There can be some exceptions maybe like the hydraulic microswitch but the equation breaks down if the part isn't on hand when needed and days of sawing will be lost waiting for it to come.

X2 on getting back up to keep sawing and making money. If my truck's in the driveway with a bad bearing or leaky brake line yes the Ford dealer seems a lot more expensive than fixing it myself but not after considering that I can have it fixed that afternoon and be sawing the next day instead of rescheduling customers and spending a couple days or worse borrowing the wife's car, driving around and lying under the truck.

Magicman · March 24, 2015, 08:43:16 AM

I am still in the $408 corner. WM recognized a weakness and has done the R&D to upgrade and offer a retrofit. It was done for a reason.

pineywoods · March 24, 2015, 09:45:21 AM

Look at it this way. The old style is 2 ball bearing pillow blocks with iffy lubrication after the internal grease gets hard. The upgrade is 2 heavy duty roller bearings inside an enclosure, running in an oil bath. Keep the lube level up and they should run forever.Those roller bearings can be changed out, but wm recommends replaceing the entire assembly. I have replaced them twice when the owner let them run dry.

Dave Shepard · March 24, 2015, 09:59:00 AM

I worry that you will fix this to as original condition, and then how long before you have to do it again? It sounds like you need a new shaft. Unless you have a buddy that can cut one for you, it sounds like two new bearings, plus having a shaft made will probably eat up most of that $408. I know it's easy for us to spend your money, so it's all just food for thought. Sometimes you have to do the absolute cheapest fix. I've done that a few times.

Peter Drouin · March 24, 2015, 12:27:28 PM

Dave, can I spend some of your money? :D :D :D

Dave Shepard · March 24, 2015, 12:55:46 PM

You'd have to loan me some first. Then I'd have some to spend. :D Just go look under the ice near your sawmill. Maybe a new crop has sprung up over night. ;)

terrifictimbersllc · March 24, 2015, 01:35:00 PM

Yup, got that right. :D :D :D

Magicman · March 24, 2015, 06:07:57 PM

Now I like that !!! :D

Peter Drouin · March 24, 2015, 07:53:34 PM

Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on March 24, 2015, 01:35:00 PM
Yup, got that right. :D :D :D

Yeah, But I think yours has been there longer with more 00 :D :D

redprospector · March 24, 2015, 09:39:58 PM

From the sounds of it the set screws had backed off on the bearing where the shaft was scored. I've never been able to reuse a scored shaft and have it last any time at all on my mill. If the shaft is scored very bad, then the bearing is probably wallowed out enough that you can't reuse it either.
I'm sure that you could fix it for less than $408...but are you going to be any better off in the long run? I built my mill, and the pillow blocks are one of the week points that I have to fight all the time.

Angleblade11 · March 25, 2015, 07:29:56 AM

Alright I think I'm going the WM upgrade. By the time I search for all this stuff and have time to go pick it up and the cost of everything I will probably be in the ball park range. WM will ship it right to my door. I'll let ya know how it goes. Thanks for all the help.