Shopsmith 11” Manual page 12

SHOPSMITH 11" BANDSAW
This mechanism compensates for slight in-
consistencies in blade length and tensions the
blade.
The tension is adjusted by turning the blade
tension screw (23) to the left of the idler wheel.
This screw moves the flat spring, increasing
or decreasing tension. The proper tension for
various blades is indicated on a scale above
the blade tensioning screw. See Fig. A-1.
Pivot Arm
Flat
Spring
Blade
Tension
scale
Blade
Tension
Screw
Unlike many other bandsaws, blade tracking
for the Shopsmith Bandsaw is done automati-
cally with no need for adjustment. A roller
bearing to the right of the blade tension indi-
cator keeps the blade properly positioned on
the wheels.
A Bandsaw blade is supported and guided
from both above and below. See Fig. A-2. The
lower blade guide consists of a roller bearing
(98) to back up the blade and two guide
blocks (101,106) to keep it from twisting. Each
guide block is adjusted side-to-side by loos-
ening an Allen screw (100), and front-to-back
by turning the lower blade guide adjusting
knob (103). You need only to adjust the lower
blade guide roller bearing side-to-side. This
is done by loosening the mounting bolt (110).
The upper blade guide is similar, but it has
two additional adjustments. The upper blade
Page 12
Auto-track
roller bearing
Fig. A-1
guide's roller bearing (63) is adjusted front-
to-back by turning two screws (68). The blade
guide post (71) and roller bearing can be
adjusted side-to-side with the mounting bolts
(64). The entire assembly can be raised and
lowered after loosening the upper blade
guide's height lock handle.
Upper
Wheel
Aligning the Blade Tension Scale
The blade tension scale (12) is aligned at the
factory, and under normal conditions it
shouldn't need adjustment. To check the
blade tension scale's alignment, perform the
following steps:
View the tensioning screw through the window.
1. Release the blade tension so the blade is
completely slack on the wheels.
2. Loosen the screw (10) near the top of the
scale, as seen in Fig. A-3.
Fig. A-2
NOTE
Fig. A-3
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