I have a 1945 chraftsman 12" band saw W/O manual

Pages 12 and 13 on the link below will show you every part for that saw https://www.canadiantire.ca/content/dam/canadian-tire/manuals/0556748_EN.pdf

That should be fairly straighforward. You won't need contact cement or anything (it'd make it nearly impossible to finish the job). First, get the new tires. Now peel the old tires off the wheels after removing the blade. It's easier, perhaps, if the wheels are off the saw... but that's a lot more to disassemble and reassemble and the tires CAN be replaced with the wheels still where they belong.

Clean up the wheels where the old tires used to be. Use whatever tooling may be required to get them VERY clean.

Now you can stretch the new tires onto the wheels with your hands, rolling them on like a giant rubber band. If your wheels are grooved, work the new tire into the groove as best you can. Insert two screwdrivers under the new tire and work both screwdrivers all the way around the rim - that lifts the tire and gets it to seat a little better. It also tends to help even out the stretch of the tire. BE CAREFUL not to stretch the tire too much, or it'll never stay in place.

I can't find good supplier for 9" band saw tire. Delta makes 9" saw, you might be able to find one with them , Ebay might be selling 9" tire too. I purchase my tires on bandsawparts.com . They have 6" and 8" diameter tires but it wouldn't fit for your saw.

I have a 10" grizzly band saw and installed 10 inch tires on it. No problem with it's tightness. Most industry standard tires today are 6, 8, 10, 12 inches...so a 10 inch tire on a 10 inch metal band saw wheel should have no problem at all. The quality of the tires should be one of your top priorities. That's why I always go for a reputable supplier. Check it out: http://bandsawparts.com.

My jet bandsaw did same thing only fix was new tires .Tires are supposed to be tite on wheel .get wood dowels between tire and wheel and roll new tire onto wheel. If desperate could glue on with weather strip adhesive.put bandsaw blade on both tires spin wheels with power off till blade is running in center of wheel by adjusting top wheel in or out. When done adjust blade guides to blade and bearings to back of blade .This is top and bottom of cutting area

Hi Judy,
I am not a expert on this exact saw but I may be able to help. The good thing is that there is a ton of info. and help with older saws.
You have a 12" saw, this means that the wheels are 12" in diameter. the tires they sent you may have been the right ones ( they are smaller than the wheel and can be a real pain to put on ) the reason for them being smaller is so when the tires are on the wheels they don't slip.

Heres some places you can check.

- carter products ( www.carterproducts .com)
- bandsawtires.org

Look at these 2 sites to get you started, I would also look at "how to install a bandsaw tire" (just type that in ) this will give you a video on how to install a tire. Its alot easier to see it than having someone try and tell you.

You will need to know your width of tire i.e. 3/4"or1"

The saw you have is a Craftsman Model 103, 12" saw (they will ask you this also.

I really hope this helps in some way, The saw you have is a GREAT, I have a Model 113 and use it all the time.

If you have time to leave a comment I would be thankful.

Shop Dog

Hello'
I have the exact same saw. It sounds like the key stock came out of the pulley attached to the lower wheel. I will give you a quick rundown.
-unplug saw
-you will have to lay the saw on its side so you can remove the motor and drive belt.
-there are 2 seperate pulleys , the one connected to the motor and the one connected to the bottom wheel.
-loosen motor nuts and remove motor, pay close attention when removing motor 3 of the 4 studs have sleeve like spacers.
-once motor and belt are out of the way check the pulley on the bottom wheel,my guess is that the key stock came out and the pulley spins freely.
-loosen set screw,replace keystock and tighten.
-NOTE the keystock may have came out of the motor pully instead,check.

Now this next part is real important.
-once you get it figured out and are ready to put everything back together the 2 pulleys must be perfectly lined up, use a flat ruler, using your eye will not work.line the drive pulley up with the lower pulley. ( the pulley on the motor has a shoulder on it so when it is pushed towards motor it will be set in the right spot) .

It is either the pulley on the motor or the wheel that has lost its keystock.

It should be a easy fix,Good luck

the wheels are not flat but concave with a slight tilt. you need to get to your owners manual and see how to align the blade and wheel adjustments correctly

Sounds like you have a saw with defective castings. Either cast out-of-true or deflect under pressure.

Those tires do wear out expecially if you have a tendency to over tighten the band. At presenr, Woodworkers Emporium has replacement tires made of plastic and they are hard to replace but work great. In the meantime, you should apply contact cement to the wheel and the tire. This is usually a good fix but when you do replace the tire, the wheel must be cleaned of any cement etc.