Craftsman 315.214770 - Manual (Page 15)

I J
NOTE: The blade may need to be turned inside out if
the teeth are pointing in the wrong direction. Hold the
blade with both hands and rotate it inward.
With the teeth of the blade toward the front of the saw
and facing downward, place the blade through the
tower blade guides and around the lower wheel. Puli
down on the upper wheel to place the saw blade on
the wheel.
Slowly turn the upper wheel to the right or clockwise
by hand to center the blade on the rubber tires.
Adjust the blade tension. Check or adjust the blade
tracking.
Adjust both upper and lower blade guides and thrust
bearings. See page 16.
Reattach the saw table and the aligning bolt, washer,
and wing nut. Tighten securely.
Reattach the blade guard.
Close front cover.
ADJUSTING BLADE TENSION
See Figures 10 - 11.
■ Turn off and unplug the saw. Remove the switch key.
■ Before using the band saw, turn the blade tension knob
on the top of the saw clockwise to engage tension.
■ 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.
NOTE: Adjustments of blade tension can be made at
anytime.
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 white 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.
TO INCREASE
TENSION
Fig. 11
TRACKING THE BLADE
See Figure 12.
NOTE: Adjust blade tension properly before making
tracking adjustments. Check that the blade guides are not
interfering with the blade.
To Adjust:
■ 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.
15