Tensioning Blade; Adjusting Blade Support Bearings - Grizzly G0555 Owner's Manual

Tensioning Blade

A properly tensioned blade is essential for making
accurate cuts, extending the life of the blade, and
making many other bandsaw adjustments.
Note: Before you performed the Test Run, you
tensioned the blade according to the blade ten-
sion scale, which is only an approximate tension.
The following procedure fine tunes the blade ten-
sion to ensure more accurate cutting results.
To tension the bandsaw blade:
1.
Make sure the blade is properly center
tracking as instructed in the Blade Center
Tracking subsection previous to the Test
Run.
2.
To tension the blade, pull the tension quick
release lever down to the horizontal position.
Tension
Adjustment
Knob
Tension
Scale
Figure 26. Blade tension controls.
3. Turn the bandsaw ON.
4.
Slowly rotate the blade tension adjustment
knob counterclockwise one quarter of a turn
at a time—this will release blade tension.
When you see the blade start to flutter, stop
decreasing tension.
Now, slowly rotate the knob clockwise to
increase the tension until the blade stops flut-
tering, then tighten the blade tension adjust-
ment knob one more quarter of a turn.
-24-
Quick Release
Lever
5. Look at what the tension gauge reads and
use that as a guide for tensioning that blade
in the future.
Note: Do not rely on this setting for long
periods of time because the blade will stretch
with use.
Additionally, with extended use, the blade
tensioning system may need to be reset for
correct operation. Refer to the Resetting
Blade Tensioner in the Service section on
this manual.
When using a ⁄ " blade, the blade tensioning
3
4
system may need to be reset for correct
operation. Refer to Blade Tensioner on Page
51 for detailed instructions.
Adjusting Blade
Support Bearings
The support bearings are positioned behind the
blade to prevent it from deflecting backward dur-
ing cutting operations. Proper adjustment of the
support bearings is an important part of making
accurate cuts and keeps the blade teeth from
coming in contact with the blade guides while
cutting.
There are support bearings on the upper and
lower blade guide assemblies. Both adjust in the
same manner.
Whenever changing a blade or adjusting
tension and tracking, the upper and lower
support bearings and blade guides must be
re-adjusted before cutting operations.
Model G0555 (Mfd. Since 5/11)