Contractor saw setup - motor mounting

DSnail asks:

>But when I shut it off I was concerned
>that when the motor finally went to stop spinning it seemed to bounc
>quite a bit. This made me think back to how I had set it up. It
>seems like the motor is essentially hanging off the saw by the
>pully/belt. Is that really installed correctly? The manual is
>probably good for an experienced person but just isn't detailed enough
>for me. Seems like a lot of weight pulling on it.
>

It's designed thataway. It shouldn't bounce excessively, though.

>If I have installed it correctly, will the bouncing be fixed by
>better aligning the pulleys and perhaps a link belt?

The manual should have told you to align the pulleys. Use a straightedge and do
it now.

A link belt is almost always a help in smoothing out a contractor's saw.

Charlie Self
"When you appeal to force, there's one thing you must never do - lose." Dwight
D. Eisenhower

Thanks for your repsonses - everyone. I went to the local Woodcraft
last night in search of a link belt but saw that they only carried the
1/2". I then ordered the 3/8" from Grizzly. I had already read a
thread in the group about the 1/2" - 3/8" issue.

I actually do not have the saw completely setup. It took me forever
to get the second wing straight. And I found the "cosmoline" removal
to be a royal PITA. I'm not event sure it is all off - wings seem
kind of marred.

I purchased "The table Saw Book" before the table saw and am trying to
follow that as much as possible but I don't have >$100 straight edge
;-) or any of the other instruments.

I will push on with the fence/mitre track. Without additional
instruments/knowledge I doubt I'll be able to answer your question
about your problem. However, I'd like to know if mine as any
problems sooner rather than later. I purchased the General because
of the great review in FW. I was hoping that would give me the
quality tool while my knowledge was lacking. But now I've read about
the twisted table tops, your problem, etc. Has me a little worried.
Probably won't find out until it matters and it is too late :-(

Much thanks


"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I also recently purchased G.I. 50-185. The bouncing motor problem was
> completely cured by installing a link belt--in fact, the saw now passes the
> nickel test from start-up to shut-down! Be advised that the belt you need
> is 3/8 inch wide, not 1/2 that you find on many other saws. Grizzly carries
> both sizes.
>
> It's a pretty decent saw, however I am experiencing a blade alignment
> problem that you should check for. The blade progressively moves out of
> parallel (to the miter track and therefore the fence) when either
> raising/lowering or tilting the blade to the tune of about 0.030. This is
> unacceptable to me, even for a Taiwanese-produced C.S. G.I. has
> acknowledged the problem and the dealer has agreed to replace the saw,
> however, I am still waiting for one to become available. I'd be interested
> to know if you or anyone else here have experienced this problem with the
> G.I. 50-185.
>
>
> "DSnail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Pardon my lack of knowledge here, this is my first 'real' piece of
> > woodworking equipement. I spent a better part of my weekend setting
> > up my new General Int. 50-185. I'm still not 100% happy with the
> > straightness of one of the wings but I had to push on. I mounted the
> > motor and fired it up and was extremely pleased at how quiet it is.
> > I was also suprised at how little vibration I felt (maybe my
> > expectations were to low ;-). But when I shut it off I was concerned
> > that when the motor finally went to stop spinning it seemed to bounc
> > quite a bit. This made me think back to how I had set it up. It
> > seems like the motor is essentially hanging off the saw by the
> > pully/belt. Is that really installed correctly? The manual is
> > probably good for an experienced person but just isn't detailed enough
> > for me. Seems like a lot of weight pulling on it.
> >
> > If I have installed it correctly, will the bouncing be fixed by
> > better aligning the pulleys and perhaps a link belt?
> >
> > Thanks

I second your link-belt recommendation Charlie. Best thing I ever did
for my own CS...

Charlie Self wrote:
> DSnail asks:
>
>
>>But when I shut it off I was concerned
>>that when the motor finally went to stop spinning it seemed to bounc
>>quite a bit. This made me think back to how I had set it up. It
>>seems like the motor is essentially hanging off the saw by the
>>pully/belt. Is that really installed correctly? The manual is
>>probably good for an experienced person but just isn't detailed enough
>>for me. Seems like a lot of weight pulling on it.
>>
>
>
> It's designed thataway. It shouldn't bounce excessively, though.
>
>
>>If I have installed it correctly, will the bouncing be fixed by
>>better aligning the pulleys and perhaps a link belt?
>
>
> The manual should have told you to align the pulleys. Use a straightedge and do
> it now.
>
> A link belt is almost always a help in smoothing out a contractor's saw.
>
> Charlie Self
> "When you appeal to force, there's one thing you must never do - lose." Dwight
> D. Eisenhower

I also recently purchased G.I. 50-185. The bouncing motor problem was
completely cured by installing a link belt--in fact, the saw now passes the
nickel test from start-up to shut-down! Be advised that the belt you need
is 3/8 inch wide, not 1/2 that you find on many other saws. Grizzly carries
both sizes.

It's a pretty decent saw, however I am experiencing a blade alignment
problem that you should check for. The blade progressively moves out of
parallel (to the miter track and therefore the fence) when either
raising/lowering or tilting the blade to the tune of about 0.030. This is
unacceptable to me, even for a Taiwanese-produced C.S. G.I. has
acknowledged the problem and the dealer has agreed to replace the saw,
however, I am still waiting for one to become available. I'd be interested
to know if you or anyone else here have experienced this problem with the
G.I. 50-185.


"DSnail" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Pardon my lack of knowledge here, this is my first 'real' piece of
> woodworking equipement. I spent a better part of my weekend setting
> up my new General Int. 50-185. I'm still not 100% happy with the
> straightness of one of the wings but I had to push on. I mounted the
> motor and fired it up and was extremely pleased at how quiet it is.
> I was also suprised at how little vibration I felt (maybe my
> expectations were to low ;-). But when I shut it off I was concerned
> that when the motor finally went to stop spinning it seemed to bounc
> quite a bit. This made me think back to how I had set it up. It
> seems like the motor is essentially hanging off the saw by the
> pully/belt. Is that really installed correctly? The manual is
> probably good for an experienced person but just isn't detailed enough
> for me. Seems like a lot of weight pulling on it.
>
> If I have installed it correctly, will the bouncing be fixed by
> better aligning the pulleys and perhaps a link belt?
>
> Thanks