-12- G1011 7" x 12'' Bandsaw
Figure 6. Guide Bearing Adjustments.
Guide
Bearings
Eccentric
Bushing
Blade Guides
Whenever changing a blade or adjusting tension
and tracking, the left and right hand blade support
bearings and guide bearings must be re-adjust-
ed. Always adjust the guide bearings away from
the blade before installing a new blade or making
blade tracking adjustments. After blade tension
and tracking are set correctly, re-adjust the left
and right support bearings and guide bearings
into position.
Adjustment of the guides is a three step pro-
cedure, consisting of adjustments to both the
support bearings and guide bearings. The adjust-
ments are as follows:
1. Support Bearings - The support bearings
guide the back edge of the blade during
the sawing operation. There is one bearing
each on the left and right hand guides. See
Figure 5. To adjust the support bearings,
loosen the two cap screws until the blade
guide block can be moved. Move the block
so the bearing just touches the back of the
blade. Tighten the cap screw closest to
the blade, leave the other loose for now.
Use the two fine adjustment set screws to
back the bearing away from the blade until
it is between .003'' and .005'' away from
the edge of the blade. It may help to use a
feeler gauge to check the gap. Be sure to
adjust both the left and right hand sides.
Securing
Cap Screws
Support
Bearing
Fine Adjustment
Set Screws
Securing
Cap Screws
Figure 5. Support Bearing Adjustments.
2. Guide Bearings - The guide bearings ride
on either side of the blade and ensure that
the blade is not pushed too far laterally. To
adjust the guide bearings, loosen the cap
screw at the bottom of the bearing assem-
bly. Use an open end wrench to move the
brass hex nut which is an eccentric bush-
ing. Turning the hex nut will move the bear-
ing assembly into or away from the blade.
When the bearings are just touching the
blade, tighten the cap screw. Repeat this
procedure for all four guide bearing assem-
blies. The bearings should be able to be
rotated by hand while still touching the side
of the blade. See Figure 6.

3. Blade Square To Table - The blade guide

bearings must also be adjusted to make

sure the blade is perpendicular to the sur-

face of the table. Lower the saw bow all the

way down until it contacts the stop screw.

Use a machinist’s square with one edge on

the bed table surface and the other against

the side of the blade. With the upper secur-

ing bolt still loose, rotate the guide bearings

assembly block until the blade is square.

Now tighten the upper and lower bolts to

secure this position.