General 90-125 M1, Setup & Operation Manual, Page: 21 / 42

BLADE CLEARANCE
Note: As previously stated, when performing blade installation, removal, tensioning or tracking, maximum clearance
between the blade and both upper and lower bearing assemblies is required to minimize friction, which would be
damaging to the blade. Refer back and follow the instructions for “blade clearance” before performing blade track-
ing adjustments.
To adjust the blade tracking:
1. Open the upper wheel cover door then rotate the wheel
slowly forward by hand. The blade should remain as cen-
tered as possible on the wheel as it turns. (Fig. 30)
2. If the blade tracking must be adjusted, turn the tracking
knob
on the rear of the bandsaw: (Fig. 31)
A) Clockwise if the blade moves toward the front of the
wheel. This tilts the top of the wheel to the back and mo-
ves the blade toward the center.
B) Counter-clockwise if the blade moves toward the back
edge. This tilts the top of the wheel to the front and mo-
ves the blade toward the center.
Note: Turn the tracking knob in 1/2 turn increments, re-
check and adjust again as needed.
Fig. 30
Fig. 31
ADJUSTING BLADE TRACKING
Blade tracking means centering the blade on the wheels.
Ideally, the blade should stay relatively centered on both
the upper and lower wheels (Fig. 28).
Due to natural variations in castings, blade thickness or
density and tire wear, absolute perfect centering align-
ment is rarely attainable. A slight misalignment of the
blade on the wheels is inevitable and as long as it is kept
to a minimum (following the steps listed below) will not hin-
der the performance of the saw.
This misalignment is controlled and kept to a minimum by adjusting the tilt angle of the upper wheel.
When adjusting blade tracking to center the blade on the wheels and assuming that perfect centering is not attain-
able, it is preferable to have the blade slightly off-center towards the front of the wheels rather than towards the rear
because the teeth on most bandsaw blades have alternating hook (one inner, one outer) – therefore if the blade is
centered too far back on the wheel (or if the blade tension is too tight), inner hooked teeth will dig into the wheel
tire and cause premature wear of the tire.
Nonetheless, to avoid having the blade come off of the wheels on it’s own during operation, the front edge of the
blades teeth should never be any closer than 3 mm (1/8”) from the front edge of the wheel (Fig. 29).
3 mm - 1/8"
Fig. 28 Fig. 29
21