How to Replace the Front Blade Guide on a Milwaukee Band Saw

Is your blade wandering through your cuts? You might need a new front blade guide assembly. The front blade guide assembly is one of two guide assemblies on your band saw. The guides support the blade (side-to-side) to limit the blade's ability to twist. The guides also support the rear of the blade so it doesn't push off the tire when you apply pressure to it during a cut. The guide assembly consists of the front guide block and three bearing guides. Over time, the bearings will wear out (and eventually seize). The block itself can become damaged from the blade, metal fatigue, or accidental damage (such as dropping the saw).

Let's get started.

REMOVING THE FRONT BLADE GUIDE   1. Remove the front blade guide.

a. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws securing the front blade guide to the housing. (One screw is positioned directly above the pair of guide rollers. The second screw can be accessed from the backside of the saw.)

b. Remove the front blade guide.

INSTALLING THE NEW FRONT BLADE GUIDE

  2. Installing the new front blade guide.

a. Install the new front blade guide onto the saw. (The two rollers on the new blade guide should face the center of the saw, and the single roller should face the blade pulley.)

b. Secure the front blade guide with the two screws.