While using the beast today noticed a strange creaking noise emanating from down below underneath the cutting table? Stopped the saw and removed the lower blade guard box to have a look and noticed that the front bearing was separating itself from it’s wooden flange which has cracked/split on one side.But wait…the front bearing can’t move forward because it’s secured with a hose clamp on the 25mm bearing shaft? Had a look around the back of the wheel and no hose clamp to secure the rear bearing – my bad. So…except for the front bearing everything else (wheel and rear bearing flange) has been slowly working it’s way along the shaft to the rear exposing the front bearing – good thing I stopped to investigate!

The bearing should be flush with the flange – which has split!