lortone LS12 problems

[hardroks]

I was wondering if I could replace the existing bearings with pillow-block type. I'm on my 3rd set of new bearings in only 4 years. The ones from Lortone don't last long so I bought a pair from fleet farm. However they do make a knocking sound when spinning{same sound as lortone bearings when old}. I've tried loosening and making slight adjustments to see if they are straight, but I continue to hear the knocking sound. I'm hoping pillow block bearings will keep the blade shaft straight and stop the noise. otherwise the blade does stay true and I get good cuts.

Also my power feed motor doesn't turn the threaded shaft for the carriage very well anymore. It spins and stops on its own. Does anyone know how much a replacement would cost, and do I have to get one from Lortone ?

[QuailRiver]

A couple of years ago I tried to find pillow block bearings to substitute on my Lortone 12" and 14" saws and never could find any with a low enough profile to match that would leave enough room for the blade not to extend deeper than the oil pan space will allow.

The problem is that there are no longer any good quality U.S.A.-made insert bearings being produced. Most are made in Asia now and are junk. The last few years Lortone has been using JIB brand bearings and when running my saws 8-10hrs a day, 5-6 days a week, I was lucky to get 4 months use out of a set before they went bad. I have searched and tried other brands and have found no new bearings that will fit these saws that I consider good quality. Even tried some expensive bearings from a French company. They were junk too (I suspect they were actually really Chinese made being sold as French). And the Mexican made bearings weren't much better. I eventually found some old stock U.S.A. bearings that I am currently using but when all the old stock is gone it's back to the Asian junk bearings.

Since good quality permanently sealed insert bearings seem impossible to find these days, IMO Lortone needs to redesign their 12" and 14" saws to accommodate better quality pillow block bearings with grease nipples. But I doubt they ever will and even if the do it won't help those of use who have the current design.

As for your problems with the power feed. Double check the coupling that joins the power feed motor shaft to the threaded power feed rod. Make sure the set screws for that coupling are very tight on both ends. And if the power feed rod turns but the vise carriage stalls when feeding then you may just need to replace the tension spring on the split nut lever.

Hope this helps.

Larry C.

[oregon]

Sept 7, 2016 19:17:24 GMT -5 hardroks said:

Also my power feed motor doesn't turn the threaded shaft for the carriage very well anymore. It spins and stops on its own. Does anyone know how much a replacement would cost, and do I have to get one from Lortone ?

Those brevel gear motors will last a long time, but the grease will harden and make them not work as well.  You can tear them completely apart, clean and repack or you can replace them with any 3-5 rpm gear motor that'll fit in the box.  ( If you do replace it before you toss the old let me know)

[hardroks]

thanks for the help. right now I'm more concerned about the feed motor. I'll just try making adjustments and swear at the saw more, hopefully i'll be cutting soon.

[70karmann]

Same issue with my saw. I buy several at a time.