Broke the trunnion on my Rikon band saw.

[Mike Davis]

I have 2 spare belts and the electronic board for the motor. Can't think of other parts that wear. Maybe the top wheel pivot, but it seems to be well made and should last. I'm 70 so maybe 10-15 years...

 

[whitecrane8]

From others, my understanding is that both the pot metal upper table trunion AND the pot metal lower table trunion are easy to break. Plus, they are unique Rikon parts. No idea if they are expensive, but perhaps cheap insurance against the price of a new machine. Pot metal parts are known to deteriorate with time, vibration, pressure, and temperature swings as the alloy ages and loses ductility. All the other wear parts (motor capacitor, bearings, belts, etc) are probably commonly available

 

[Mike Davis]

Very happy for you that you found a fix rather than an installment plan at Rockler. (I'm aware that you already had the high-voltage electrician in for the Powermatic PM1500)

I don’t know who you have confused me with but wrong on both counts. If I need a new tool I will pay cash at Klingspor. When Rockler left Greensboro their manager said things to me that I will never repeat and I will never make any major purchase from them.

I do not own a PM1500, do not know what that is, and will not take the time to find out.

 

[whitecrane8]

Mike, deepest apologies! Sincerely happy that your replacement part worked. PM sent

 

[Mike Wilkins]

The use of that type of material for a high-stress part sounds like the bean counters designed it.

 

[whitecrane8]

The use of that type of material for a high-stress part sounds like the bean counters designed it.

Some higher-end makes/models still have cast iron trunions. But pot metal is cheaper than cast iron, much lighter (shipping costs), and can be injection molded to near net shape with minimal machining. Very common in sub-$1,500 saws. Unlike cast iron, which can sometimes be repaired, pot metal usually crumbles when it fails and cannot be easily repaired. Be very careful when pushing, lifting, or moving your saw if holding onto the table, as pot metal can quickly snap or crack with sharp or sudden stress

 

[Mike Davis]

https://www.acmetools.com/rikon-14-inch-deluxe-bandsaw-10-1414/S0000000106445.html?msclkid=57e5b25750801debe109d833c36bcd30&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping-National-Search+Only-Profit+Margin+Target-36-40&utm_term=4582008569613734&utm_content=Profit+Margin+36%25+-+40%25

Looks like the replacement has been improved to the tune of $1500.

 

[whitecrane8]

https://www.acmetools.com/rikon-14-inch-deluxe-bandsaw-10-1414/S0000000106445.html?msclkid=57e5b25750801debe109d833c36bcd30&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping-National-Search+Only-Profit+Margin+Target-36-40&utm_term=4582008569613734&utm_content=Profit+Margin+36%25+-+40%25

Looks like the replacement has been improved to the tune of $1500.

The good ones are not cheap. Coincidentally, there are two used bandsaws in my area for sale with broken trunions. Bandsaws should be emblazoned with a large warning not to lift or move the saw while touching the table.

Glad you were able to find parts for yours; others here were not so lucky!

 

[Mike Davis]

The good ones are not cheap. Coincidentally, there are two used bandsaws in my area for sale with broken trunions. Bandsaws should be emblazoned with a large warning not to lift or move the saw while touching the table.

Glad you were able to find parts for yours; others here were not so lucky!

What saws? Maybe a good opportunity there.

 

[ChemE75]

That design looks like an invitation to failure. Too much empty space.

I have an older 14" Jet and the trunnions seem much more robust.

View attachment 246181

Just picked up an old grizzly and trunions look similar but both are on an all cast iron assembly. Was surprised it’s so robustly built - think it’s from the Taiwan mfg era. Surprised those on a Jet look like aluminum, although some Al alloys are pretty tough.

 

[Martin Roper]

Surprised those on a Jet look like aluminum, although some Al alloys are pretty tough.

I'm 99% sure they're aluminum. I think the frame they attach to is also aluminum.

 

[Mike Davis]

Some of the Jet bandsaws have basically what I call an exoskeleton of sheet metal. You can easily flex the whole saw.

 

[ChemE75]

I'm 99% sure they're aluminum. I think the frame they attach to is also aluminum.

Fwiw, in the early ‘00s I had a project to install a new truck loading facility and needed a new pipe bridge. Rather than fight with the rust on the normally used painted steel every few years, I decided to research Al alloys that had the mechanical strength specs needed. Ended up using a square tubing, can’t recall grade for sure, 6061 maybe, designed a truss due to the distance between poles. It looked like polished stainless steel but was considerable lighter. Expensive but less than stainless. Cost saved by never painting, so by now it’s paid for the premium a few times. Still gleaming there today. Anyway, there are some aluminum alloys for industry that consumers typically don’t know about.

 

[Jack A.]

I have the Jet JWBS-14SFX and it is definitely not flimsy. The trunnion arcs are 1/4" steel. The block they mount to could be either aluminum or pot metal, but it's pretty massive; roughly 3-4" cube.

I would never think of lifting it by the table.

 

[ashley_phil]

glad this worked out well for you.

 

[Dreuxgrad]

Thank you Mike for the cautionary tale-will order one