Use and Care Manual

14
9.5 Counterbalance spring
The counterbalance spring helps control the
amount of weight the saw bow puts on the
workpiece when the hydraulic control valve is fully
open. The hydraulic cylinder will not compensate
for improper counterbalance.
If the spring is not set properly, one can expect
poor performance, crooked cuts, tooth stripping,
stalling, and/or the blade running off the wheels.
Spring tension has been set by the manufacturer,
and should not require adjustment. If future
problems arise, indicating improper
counterbalance, adjust spring as follows:
1. Disconnect machine from power source.
2. Turn ON hydraulic cylinder valve and place
saw bow in horizontal position.
3. Turn feed rate valve on hydraulic cylinder
counterclockwise until it stops.
4. Place a weigh scale (such as a spring or
hanging scale) beneath blade tension handle,
and lift saw bow. Scale should indicate
approximately 5 to 6 kg (11-13 lb).
5. If adjustment is needed, loosen one nut and
tighten the other (A, Figure 18) on the eye bolt,
until scale indicates 5 to 6 kg.
Figure 18
9.6 Blade installation/replacement
This band saw is designed for
use with blades that are 3/4" wide by 0.032”
thick x 93” long. Use of blades with different
specification may cause inferior performance.
A general-use variable-tooth blade is provided with
this band saw.
The choice of blade pitch is governed by the
thickness of the work to be cut: the thinner the
workpiece, the more teeth advised. A minimum of
three teeth should engage the workpiece at all
times. If the teeth of the blade are so far apart that
they straddle the work, severe damage to the
workpiece and to the blade can result.
To replace a blade:
1. Disconnect machine from power source.
2. Raise bow to vertical position, and secure in
place by turning off hydraulic cylinder.
3. Remove red blade guard by removing two
screws (A, Figure 19).
Red blade guard must be
reinstalled after new blade is fitted.
Figure 19
4. Remove brush assembly (B, Figure 19) by
removing two screws.
5. Loosen blade tension by turning handle (C,
Figure 20) counterclockwise.
Figure 20
6. Open back cover by loosening two lock knobs.
7. Carefully remove old blade. NOTE: Leather
gloves are recommended when handling saw
blades.
8. Install new blade first between bearing guides.
Make sure blade teeth face same direction as
shown on the blade direction label on saw. (If
teeth still point in wrong direction despite
mounting blade properly, the blade has been
turned inside-out. Twist blade right side-out
and reinstall.)
9. Position blade around wheels, making sure it
rests near the flange on both wheels.
10. Tension blade using handle. Do not over-
tension. See section 9.7, Blade tension.