ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTING BLADE TENSION
See Figures 10 and 11.
■Turn off and unplug the saw. Remove the switch key.
WARNING:
Failure to turn the saw off, remove the switch key, and unplug the saw could result in accidental starting causing possible serious personal injury.
■Before using the band saw, turn the blade tension knob on the top of the saw clockwise to engage tension. See Figure 10.
■To check tension, raise the blade guide assembly all the way up to expose the blade.
■Push the blade to the side with moderate force; the blade should flex approximately 1/8 in. (3 mm).
Note: Adjustments of blade tension can be made at any- time.
Another method of checking blade tension has to do with the sound the blade makes when plucked like a guitar string.
■Pluck the back straight edge on the coasting side opposite the blade guides while turning the tension knob. Sound should be a musical note. Sound becomes higher pitched as tension increases.
Using either method to check blade tension can be developed with practice.
■Never increase blade tension so tight as to completely compress the spring. When completely compressed, the spring can no longer act as a shock absorber.
Note: Too much tension may cause the blade to break. Too little tension may cause the blade to slip on the wheels.
BLADE
TENSION
KNOB
| Tracking | |
| View | |
BLADE ON | Window | |
TRACKING | ||
WHEEL | ||
VIEW | ||
| ||
| WINDOW |
BLADE TRACKING
KNOB
Fig. 11
Note: Adjust blade tension properly before making tracking adjustments. Check that the blade guides are not interfering with the blade.
To Adjust:
TO DECREASE
TENSIONTO INCREASE TENSION
BLADE TENSION KNOB | Fig. 10 |
TRACKING THE BLADE
See Figure 11.
WARNING:
Failure to turn the saw off, remove the switch key, and unplug the saw could result in accidental starting causing possible serious personal injury.
■Open the front cover by releasing the upper and lower latches. Watch the blade’s position on the upper tire through the tracking view window as, by hand, you slowly turn the upper wheel clockwise. If the blade moves away from the center of the tire, the tracking must be adjusted.
If the blade has moved left or right of center:
■Turn the blade tracking knob (clockwise if blade has moved left and counterclockwise if blade has moved right) while turning the wheel by hand until the blade moves back and rides in the center of the tire.
■Check the position of the blade on the lower tire. The blade should be completely on the tire. If not, adjust the tracking until the blade is on both tires.
■Rotate the upper wheel by hand in a clockwise direction for a few more turns. Make sure the blade stays in the same location on the tires. Readjust, if necessary, until blade is tracking properly.
■Close front cover and relatch.
Note: The 1/8 in. (3 mm) blade may not track properly in the center of the wheel. It may be better to track this blade on the back half of the upper wheel.
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