-30-
Model G0886 (Mfd. Since 01/19)
Figure 35. Blade tension properly set.
3. Remove left blade guard extension, as shown
in
Figure 34.
4. Loosen adjustable handle on left blade guide
arm and move arm as far left as it will go,
as shown in
Figure 34. Tighten adjustable
handle to secure arm position.
5. Turn blade tension handwheel (see
Figure 35) clockwise to tighten blade or
counterclockwise to loosen blade.
6. Adjust blade tension handwheel until indica-
tor on blade tension gauge moves into green
section, as shown in
Figure 35.
Figure 34. Left blade guide arm positioned for
blade tensioning.
Blade
Tension
Handwheel
Green
Section
Blade
Tension
Gauge
Indicator
Adjustable
Handle
Left Blade
Guide Arm
Loosen blade tension at the end of each day
to prolong blade life.
Tensioning Blade
Proper blade tension is essential to avoid blade
vibration, twist, or slippage on the wheels. A cor-
rectly tensioned blade provides long blade life,
straight cuts, and efficient cutting times.
The three major signs of incorrect blade tension
are: 1) The blade stalls in the cut and slips on the
wheels, 2) the blade frequently breaks, and 3) the
bandsaw does not make straight cuts.
To tension bandsaw blade:
1. DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER!
2. Perform a quick blade tracking check by slid-
ing a fingernail between end of blade and
wheel shoulder.
— If there is just enough space to fit a fin-
gernail, then blade tracking is properly
adjusted. Continue to
Step 3.
— If there is too little or too much space to fit
a fingernail, then blade tracking must be
properly adjusted before tensioning blade.
(Refer to
Adjusting Blade Tracking on
Page 54.)
Tensioning Blade
Left Blade
Guard Extension
Removed
