Ryobi BS903 - Manual (Page 10)

10 — English
ASSEMBLy
SQUARING THE SAW TABLE TO THE BLADE
see Figure 8, page 19.
 Turn the lock knob counterclockwise to unlock the blade
guide assembly. Turning the blade guide knob clockwise,
raise the blade guide assembly as far as it will go. Turn
the lock knob clockwise to retighten.
 Place a small combination square on the saw table beside
the blade.
 Loosen the table lock knob and rotate the angle
adjustment knob to tilt the saw table up or down to align
table 90° to blade (0° position). Retighten the table lock
knob.
 Using a 4 mm hex key, adjust the zero stop set screw
until the set screw just touches the saw housing.
 Check squareness of the saw table to the blade. Make
readjustments if necessary.
 Loosen screw on scale indicator with a phillips screwdriver
and align scale indicator to zero.
 Tighten all screws securely.
ADJUSTING BLADE TENSION
see Figures 9 - 10, page 19.
 Remove the switch key.
 Before using the band saw, turn the blade tension knob
on the top of the saw clockwise to engage tension.
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 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 devel-
oped 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.
TRACKING THE BLADE
see Figure 10, page 19.
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.
If the blade has moved left or right of center:
NOTE: It may be necessary to loosen the hex nut for a larger
range of adjustments. Be sure to retighten after adjusting.
 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. 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.
WARNING:
The blade guides have been preset at the factory.
These settings are functional for some applications. We
recommend that you check and adjust blade guide
settings before first use of your saw. Refer to “Adjusting
blade guide support, thrust bearings, and blade guide
bearings” procedures explained in the adjustments
section of this operator’s manual.