Saw this today from a Woodworkers Journal eZine...Rikon now how a spring loaded retrofit upper & lower guide kit available for their 14" BS. I would assume it's the same for some of the 14" Craftsman's also since Sears sourced those from Rikon.

 

I know both @HandyDan & @It Was Al B have the Craftsman models...others may have either Rikon or Craftsman???

 

FWIW...Rikon BS Spring Loaded Guide Retrofit

Pretty nice looking guides!

Hope they make some for the 18 inchers.

Thanks for posting, I may go for that Dave.  The bearings that come with it don't last long but they are a standard skate wheel bearing so are readily available. 

1 hour ago, Texaswally said:

Hope they make some for the 18 inchers.

They're both 13" in height capacity. Is there some other reason it wouldn't work? Just curious.

Thanks Dave. I did see the ad and wondered if the retrofit might fit the Craftsman version. This definitely looks like a better set-up than the existing bearings. I'll have to check with Rikon to see if the conversion fits my saw. Sure wish my saw had the quick release that the Rikon model has.

5 hours ago, Texaswally said:

Hope they make some for the 18 inchers.

Give Rikon CS a call...worth a shot...maybe they've got something in the works.

I contacted Rikon. The retro fit won't fit the Craftsman 14". It will fit only the Rikon 14" models 10-324 and 10-325. Model 10-321 which I believe is the Craftsman equivalent  is currently being re-designed.

1 hour ago, It Was Al B said:

I contacted Rikon. The retro fit won't fit the Craftsman 14". It will fit only the Rikon 14" models 10-324 and 10-325. Model 10-321 which I believe is the Craftsman equivalent  is currently being re-designed.

That's disappointing...Glad you contacted them for verification Al. My apologies for leading anyone astray on this issue. Guess you what assume made of me? 

This would have been a great time saver when changing blades. Hopefully Rikon will make this change for all of their band saws.